The Knicks are not going down quietly.
New York has filed a protest with the NBA over their 105-103 loss to the Rockets after officials admitted they botched a foul call against Jalen Brunson in the final seconds, The Post’s Stefan Bondy confirmed.
With the game tied, Brunson was called for a foul as the Rockets’ Aaron Holiday took a last-second heave from 3-point land.
The All-Star guard immediately argued the call made by referee Jacyn Goble to no avail.
Holiday sank two of three free throws to win the game for Houston.
After the game, crew chief Ed Malloy opened up about the call being incorrect.
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“After seeing it during postgame review, the offensive player was able to return to a normal playing position on the floor,” Malloy said to the pool reporter.
“The contact which occurred after the release of the ball therefore is incidental and marginal to the shot attempt and should not have been called.”
Neither head coach Tom Thibodeau nor Brunson would directly address the call on the court by the refs.
“The thing with the officials — this is how I feel that in general — is that I don’t really care how tight the game is called,” Thibodeau said after the loss.
“You can call it tight or you can call it loose, I just would like consistency to be the same. They have a job. They have to control and manage the game. That’s their No. 1 responsibility, so they have to use their judgment and I have respect for that.”
Brunson responded “great call, next question” every time he was asked about the foul.
This article first appeared on The New York Postand was reproduced with permission.
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