The Houston Rockets narrowly escaped with a win on Monday night in a game that ended in controversy. A foul call at the buzzer left both Jalen Brunson and New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau fuming. The call was so questionable that head official Ed Malloy later admitted it shouldn’t have been made in the first place.
The game was tied in the final seconds at the Toyota Center when Brunson hit a step-back jumper to even the score. The Rockets had one last chance to secure the victory on the other end of the court. However, a bad pass to Aaron Holiday near the top of the key led to a desperate one-handed heave by Holiday as time expired.
As Holiday released the shot, Brunson attempted to contest it by flying through with a hand up. Although minimal contact was made and both players landed on their feet, officials called a foul on Brunson. This sent Holiday to the free-throw line, where he calmly sank both shots, securing a 105-103 win for the Rockets.
Both Brunson and Thibodeau were left bewildered by the call. The Knicks were unable to challenge the decision, and replays of the final sequence did not show any significant contact by Brunson. It was a frustrating end for the Knicks, who believed they had a chance to run one final play after Holiday’s free throws. However, after a review, officials determined that the game was indeed over, further fueling Thibodeau’s frustration.
“That’s a tough way to lose a game. A tough way to lose a game,” Thibodeau expressed plainly after the game. When asked about Brunson’s final closeout, Thibodeau kept his response simple, stating, “If you look at the film, you see it. It is what it is.”
Brunson, perhaps trying to avoid fines, chose not to delve into the controversy. When asked about the foul, he responded with the same four-word answer three times: “Great call. Next question.”
Malloy, the head official, acknowledged after the game that upon reviewing the play, he didn’t believe the call was correct. He stated, “The offensive player was able to return to a normal playing position on the floor. 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.” However, despite his admission, the call stood, and the Rockets emerged victorious.
Brunson led the Knicks with an impressive performance, contributing 27 points and seven assists. Donte DiVincenzo added 23 points, and Josh Hart finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Unfortunately, the Knicks have now lost three straight games and four of their last five, leaving them with a 33-21 record heading into the All-Star break.
On the other side, Dillon Brooks led the Rockets with 23 points, shooting an impressive 6-of-7 from beyond the arc. Jabari Smith Jr. added 20 points and seven rebounds, while Alperen Sengun finished with 18 points. The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Rockets, who now hold a 24-29 record.
While the Rockets celebrate their narrow victory, the controversial foul call will undoubtedly be a topic of discussion in the coming days. The Knicks will have to regroup and find a way to bounce back from their recent slump as they head into the All-Star break. As for Brunson and Thibodeau, they will likely continue to question the validity of the call that cost them the game.
