Heartbreak in Houston: Knicks fall to wicked call

In a gut-wrenching matchup against the Houston Rockets, the New York Knicks suffered a devastating defeat, falling 103-105 after a controversial call by the referees on the last play of the game.

With the score knotted at 103, Aaron Holiday attempted a three-pointer with just 0.3 seconds remaining on the clock. Despite missing the shot, the referees inexplicably called a foul on Jalen Brunson, sending Holiday to the free-throw line where he sank two shots to seal the Rockets’ victory.

Brunson, who had been instrumental in helping the Knicks overcome a four-point deficit with less than a minute remaining, found himself at the center of the controversy. His heroic efforts, including a game-tying basket with just 8.1 seconds left, were overshadowed by the controversial call that ultimately decided the outcome of the game. Crew chief Ed Malloy later admitted that referee Jacyn Goble was wrong to call the foul after reviewing the play, adding to the Knicks’ frustration.

“After seeing it during postgame review, 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.”

– Ed Malloy

Despite the disappointing loss, the Knicks showcased resilience throughout the game, rallying from deficits on multiple occasions. Brunson led the team in scoring with 27 points and contributed seven assists, while Donte DiVincenzo added 23 points and Josh Hart recorded a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Precious Achiuwa also delivered a strong defensive performance, tallying 17 rebounds, including nine on the offensive glass, and three blocks.

The Knicks found themselves in a tough spot midway through the fourth quarter, trailing 91-80 against the Rockets. However, a resilient effort sparked an impressive 11-2 run, allowing them to claw their way back into contention and make it a competitive game once again.

Earlier in the contest, the Knicks staged another comeback in the third quarter. After trailing by a significant margin of 43-28 in the second quarter, they turned the tide by outscoring the Rockets 28-17 after halftime. This strong surge enabled them to erase the deficit and tie the game at 69-69 with less than three minutes left in the third quarter.

For the Rockets, Dillon Brooks led the scoring with 23 points, supported by Jabari Smith Jr and Alperen Sengun, who each contributed 20 points. Aaron Holiday also made significant contributions with 18 points.

With the defeat, the Knicks logged their first loss against a team with a sub-.500 record this season, ending their undefeated streak of 18 matchups against such teams.

Up-next: The Knicks (33-21) will take on the Magic (29-24) in Orlando on Wednesday night from 7:00pm, last game before the All Star break