Anyone who has watched the last two games of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs can very clearly see officials are favoring the Spurs when it comes to foul calls.
The range of things the Spurs have been able to get away with since Game 2 has been far wider than what we’ve seen for the Knicks.
For example, Victor Wembanyama is allowed to throw Jalen Brunson down by his head, yet if the Knicks literally touch a hair on a Spurs player’s head, they’re whistled for it.
In Game 3, the Spurs had 24 free throw attempts to the Knicks’ eight in the second half alone. San Antonio also made more free throws (25) throughout the course of the game than New York attempted (22).
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Of course, the Knicks didn’t help themselves by getting into the penalty early in the fourth quarter, but with how physical Game 3 was, there should not have been that big of a difference between the two teams.
Mike Brown calls out NBA Finals officiating
Things have gotten so egregious with the officiating in the NBA Finals that even Knicks head coach Mike Brown is publicly calling it out after Game 3.
“I never thought I’d be in the NBA Finals and see a team get 24 free throw attempts in the second half to another team’s eight,” he said. “I don’t think I complain much about officials or the fairness when it comes to the free throw attempts. San Antonio is a great team. It’s going to lower our odds big time if we play Game 4 and in the second half they get 24 free throw attempts to our eight. Maybe we were fouling, but they fouled too.”
Brown isn’t even saying the Knicks didn’t deserve to have that many fouls called on them, but rather the totals should have been more even.
Mike Brown’s frustration is justified
Now, nobody is going to say the Knicks played well on Monday night, because they didn’t.
But even with all of the turnovers (and 21 points allowed off them) and the free throw difference, the Knicks still only lost by four.
It’s certainly fair to wonder what the outcome would have been if officials called Game 3 more down the middle.
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It’s likely the Knicks would be preparing for a series-clinching game on Wednesday night.
Instead, New York’s lead has shrunk to 2-1 ahead of a pivotal Game 4 on Wednesday night.
It’s not hard to see why Brown is frustrated.
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