The New York Knicks are not taking their recent loss to the Houston Rockets lying down. In a controversial game that ended with a score of 105-103 in favor of the Rockets, the Knicks have decided to file a protest to dispute the outcome. The league source confirmed this news on Tuesday, revealing that the Knicks are determined to rectify what they believe was an incorrect call.
The pivotal moment in question occurred when Rockets guard Aaron Holiday attempted a prayer 3-pointer with only 0.3 seconds remaining on the clock. Referee Jacyn Goble ruled it a foul on Knicks guard Jalen Brunson for running into the shooter. Holiday successfully converted two out of three free-throw attempts, securing the victory for Houston.
However, after the game, crew chief Ed Malloy admitted in an interview that Brunson’s contact with Holiday was “incidental” and should not have been called a foul. This admission by Malloy has fueled the Knicks’ desire to challenge the decision and seek a fair resolution.
The Knicks’ perspective is clear – they believe that the game should have continued into overtime. If their protest is successful, New York and Houston will have to face off again in a five-minute overtime period. The Knicks are not satisfied with just an admission of an incorrect call; they aim to prove that the officials misapplied a rule, thereby justifying their protest.
To support their case, the Knicks can draw a comparison between the final play of regulation and a similar incident that occurred at the end of the first half. In the latter instance, Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo attempted a deep 3-pointer just before the buzzer sounded. Holiday, rushing to close out on him, made contact with DiVincenzo’s leg, resulting in officials calling a three-shot foul.
However, upon reviewing the play, the officials determined that there was still time on the clock when the foul occurred. The Rockets challenged the call, and not only did they win the challenge, but the foul was also changed to one on DiVincenzo himself. The Knicks could argue that the final play of the game was not significantly different from this incident, highlighting the inconsistency in the officials’ decisions.
Nevertheless, filing a protest is a challenging endeavor, and winning one is even more difficult. The odds of a successful protest are historically low, with the last one being granted back in the 2007-08 regular season. The Houston Rockets, who have previously gone through this process in 2019, filing a protest over a missed James Harden dunk, seem unfazed by the Knicks’ actions. Despite an admission of fault by the official in charge, the league ultimately denied the Rockets’ claim.
The process of filing a protest is not only arduous but also costly, requiring a $10,000 fee. While this amount may seem insignificant to billionaires, the extensive legal proceedings and effort involved may deter teams from pursuing a protest, especially when the odds are stacked against them.
In conclusion, the New York Knicks are taking a stand against what they believe was an incorrect call that cost them the game against the Houston Rockets. Filing a protest is a bold move, but history shows that it is an uphill battle. Only time will tell if the Knicks can successfully challenge the outcome and secure another chance to prove themselves on the court.
