The Warriors fired 24 free throws. The Knicks threw 22 free throws.
That didn’t stop the Knicks from expressing concern for officials after the Garden’s first game this season with fans.
Derrick Rose was the most vocal after hearing a foul on some raids on the hoop. The Knicks shot up 39 percent and disappeared in the second half, a recent trend.
“I felt like 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 did not receive calls. It looked like the guys were going in the lane and we weren’t getting the same calls. It makes it difficult when it’s so uneven. “
The statistics do not show much deviation, but coach Tom Thibodeau was also upset and Julius Randle picked up two technical fouls to be sent off.
Do the Warriors just have more respect?
“I really don’t know,” Rose said. “We are professionals. I don’t even want to show their names. It just makes it hard when you’re already fighting offensively.
“He drives and doesn’t get the same call. It looks like something else is happening. “
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he has enjoyed the games with a wide variety of fans. San Francisco will still not have fans for the near future due to California law. The Warriors ’property has been offered to pay for fans’ COVID-19 tests.
“There’s a different atmosphere in the games we’ve played with a couple of thousand fans – in Salt Lake, Phoenix and Orlando,” Kerr said. “Even just having a couple of thousands of fans makes a difference. It feels more normal, more real. People make noise at the right time and don’t laugh at a sitcom. This is the mecca. “
Austin Rivers was available after losing Sunday’s game with an illness. Rivers, who was not playing, has been out of rotation since Rose’s trade.