The ending to a recent bout between the New York Knicks and the Houston Rockets has sparked some controversy, prompting the losing team to take action. Following their narrow 105-103 defeat on Monday night, reports have emerged indicating the Knicks are filing a protest.
New York’s decision to file the protest was influenced by discrepancies highlighted in the NBA’s infamous Last Two Minute Report. Primarily, this concerns a foul called on Knicks All-Star Jalen Brunson. In the waning moments of a tie game, Brunson contested a shot on Houston reserve guard Aaron Holiday. Brunson was called for a shooting foul, granting Holiday three free throws on the long attempt.
Holiday made the first two free throws and missed the third, which allowed the remaining 0.3 seconds to run off the clock. The Rockets were awarded their 24th win of the season. Head referee Ed Malloy agreed with the Last Two Minute Report after the game, admitting Brunson was incorrectly called for the foul.
While the Knicks aim to potentially reverse the call through the protest, it’s important to note that such appeals must demonstrate a clear misapplication of NBA rules, rather than simply citing missed calls. This move comes at a challenging time for the Knicks, who have been dealing with several injuries and have now lost four of their last five games. Despite these setbacks, the team maintains a commendable 33-21 record and currently holds the fourth position in the Eastern Conference standings — a half-game ahead of the similarly-depleted 76ers.
Protests in the NBA are exceedingly rare occurrences, with historical precedent indicating that only six such appeals have been upheld. The last instance dates back to 2007, involving an incorrect foul call concerning then-Miami Heat center Shaquille O’Neal. O’Neal’s sixth foul in that game was rescinded after league review, and the two teams met at a later date to resume the final 51.9 seconds of the contest. By the time the game had resumed, O’Neal had already been traded to the Phoenix Suns.
As the situation unfolds, basketball enthusiasts eagerly await the NBA’s decision regarding the Knicks’ protest, hoping for a fair resolution to this contentious issue.
