The Warriors made 24 free throws. The Knicks hit 22 free throws.
That did not stop the Knicks from expressing concern for the officials after Garden’s first game this season with fans.
Derrick Rose was the most vocal after he felt he was knocked down in a few forays into the hoop. The Knicks rose 39 percent and faded in the second half – a recent trend.
“I felt we were getting good shots,” said Rose, who scored 16 points, eight assists, but missed nine of his last 11 shots. “To be honest, we weren’t getting any calls. It looked like the guys were going to the track and we weren’t getting the same calls. It becomes difficult when it is so unbalanced. ”
Statistics do not show much inequality, but coach Tom Thibodeau was also upset, and Julius Randle suffered two technical fouls to be sent off.
Do warriors simply get more respect?
“I really don’t know,” Rose said. “We are professionals. I don’t even want to mention their names. This only makes it more difficult when you are already fighting on the offensive side.
“You are driving and you are not getting the same call. It makes it look like something else is going on. “
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he liked the games with mixed fans. San Francisco will still have no fans in the near future because of California law. The Warriors estate offered to pay for the fans’ COVID-19 tests.
“There’s a different vibe to the games we play with a few thousand fans – in Salt Lake, Phoenix and Orlando, ” said Kerr. “Even having only a few thousand fans makes a difference. It looks more normal, more real. The noise of the crowd really comes at the right time and doesn’t laugh out loud on a sitcom. This is Mecca. ”
Austin Rivers was available after losing Sunday’s game due to illness. Rivers, who has not played, has been out of the rotation since negotiating with Rose.