The Knicks fought all the way to the buzzer against the juggernaut Nets. And after the buzzer.
All-Star Julius Randle had to be repeatedly stopped from going after referee Scott Foster after Knicks’ 117-112 loss to the Nets on Monday at Barclays Center.
Randle, who had been called up for a traveling foul in the closing seconds, had calmed down 40 minutes into the game.
“It was a conversation – it’s best that I don’t comment on the situation,” said Randle. “There was a lot of frustration for both sides. I’ll leave it in the past and move on to the next game.” ‘
When asked about his fiery response to the buzzer, Randle said, “I was frustrated. We fought so hard to come back and win the game. I was just frustrated. ”
It was a match that left the Knicks 18 points behind in the first half, and they took it to last possession after Tom Thibodeau won a challenge after a controversial steal by Alec Burks.
But the Knicks coach had no more challenges in the final stretch calling Randle up for a trip – a rarely seen old-fashioned up-and-down foul.
Knicks senior vice president William Wesley had to wrestle Randle off the track, his star was so pissed off, but probably not in time to stop the NBA from issuing a penalty for the showing.
Randle bumped into Nets’ Jeff Green on his way to the referees, but Wesley may have at least saved an old Brooklyn street fight in an arena off Flatbush Avenue. Knicks president Leon Rose was on court and also tried to make peace.
After Thibodeau won the challenge with seven seconds to go, the Knicks checked the tip after a jump ball and quickly called for a timeout.
Randle got the ball on the right wing past the three-point line. He went on for the potential equalizing goal and Kyrie Irving got a hand on the ball. Randle landed without firing and immediately dropped the ball to dribble.
But it was too late. Foster called the trip because Randle appeared to be landing with possession. He finished with 33 points, 12 rebounds and six assists.
Foster told a pool reporter that when he called, Irving had touched the ball but not chased it away, and Randle got up with possession. That is the rule.
“It’s an emotional game, he calmed down immediately,” said Thibodeau. “It was a hard-fought game for both teams. Sometimes it goes your way with whistles, sometimes it doesn’t. I thought Julius was playing a great game. He played the 5, was switching. It didn’t go our way in the end. ”
Irving said he tried to harass Randle before going upstairs.
“I’d make a mistake early on, but I saw him lining up for a jump shot,” Irving said. “I felt I could get a good hand on it. Scott called travel. I thought Julius had done a good job after that by putting it down. I then wanted to bother him to get him to the free-throw line. That’s how it went. “
Perhaps Randle was educated about the rule after the game because he seemed remorseful.
“I just think it’s best to get past it and not comment on what I think and what the official thought is,” Randle said.
In the previous action, the referees reversed a call on a theft by Burks that was originally labeled a foul on RJ Barrett after they double-teamed Joe Harris of Nets in the backcourt, trailing three.
Thibodeau would have challenged Randle’s game, he said, if he had any challenge left.
“That’s what they said they saw, I didn’t see it that way,” said Thibodeau, whose club fell to 20-20 and faces the Sixers on Tuesday. neither does it. ”
The Nets built an 18-point lead in the first half, but the Knicks didn’t back down or move away, staying within five points for most of the last four minutes.
And then Randle was ready for more.
– Additional reporting by Brian Lewis