The Knicks even fought the bell against the giant Nets. And after the bell.
All-Star Julius Randle had to be repeatedly prevented from going after referee Scott Foster after the Knicks’ 117-112 defeat to the Nets on Monday at the Barclays Center.
Randle, who had been called in for a travel violation in the final seconds, calmed down 40 minutes after the game.
“It was a conversation – I better not comment on the situation, ” said Randle. “There was a lot of frustration behind it for both sides. I’m going to let that stay in the past and move on to the next game. ”
Asked about his fierce reaction after the bell, Randle said: “I was frustrated. We struggled hard to get back and win the game. I was just frustrated. ”
It was a game the Knicks lost by 18 points in the first half, and they took possession of the final ball after Tom Thibodeau won a challenge in a controversial robbery by Alec Burks.
But the Knicks coach was unchallenged in the final play, in which Randle was called on a trip – an infraction rarely seen by the old guard.
Knicks senior vice president William Wesley needed to get Randle off the court that his star was so angry, but probably not in time to prevent the NBA from issuing a penalty for the display.
Randle ran into Jeff Green of the Nets as he walked towards the referees, but at least Wesley maybe saved an old Brooklyn street fight in an arena near Flatbush Avenue. Knicks President Leon Rose was also on the court trying to make peace.
After Thibodeau won the challenge with seven seconds remaining, the Knicks controlled the end after a ball in the air and quickly called for a timeout.
Randle caught the ball on the right wing beyond the 3-point line. He went up to the potential tie and Kyrie Irving put his hand on the ball. Randle went down without kicking and immediately dropped the ball to dribble.
But it was too late. Foster announced the trip while Randle seemed to land in possession. He finished with 33 points, 12 rebounds and six assists.
Foster told a billiard reporter that he answered the call that Irving touched the ball, but did not dislodge it, and Randle stood up with possession of the ball. That is the rule.
“It’s an exciting game, he immediately calmed down,” said Thibodeau. “It was a very disputed game for both teams. Sometimes it’s what you want with whistles, sometimes not. I thought Julius played an incredible game. He played 5, he was changing. It didn’t work out our way in the end. ”
Irving said he was trying to trick Randle before going up.
“I was going to miss early, but I saw him lining up for a shot,” said Irving. “I felt like I could get a good hand on him. Scott called for travel. I thought Julius made a good move after dropping him. I was going to miss him after that just to get him into the free throw line. That’s how it happened. “
Maybe Randle learned about the rule after the game, as he seemed sorry.
“I just think it’s better to go further and not comment on what I think and what the officer thought,” said Randle.
In the previous play, the referees reversed a call about a Burks robbery that was originally considered a foul on RJ Barrett after having teamed up with Joe Harris of the Nets in the backcourt, losing by three.
Thibodeau would have challenged Randle’s move, he said, if he still had a challenge.
“That’s what they said they saw, I didn’t see it that way,” said Thibodeau, whose club has dropped to 20-20 and faces Sixers on Tuesday. “Like the other play in the corner, I didn’t see it that way, either. ”
The Nets built an 18 point lead in the first half, but the Knicks did not retreat or leave and stayed five points for most of the final four minutes.
And then Randle was ready for more.
– Additional reporting by Brian Lewis