The Knicks have won a lot more this season than anyone could have imagined and do so gracefully.
And in the last six days, the Knicks have lost three games with the final possession against the top two teams in the Eastern Conference: one against the Nets and twice against the Sixers.
And the Knicks have done so gracefully.
Knicks star Julius Randle may begin writing his NBA donation check after his profane 25-second Zoom call. A Randle smoker blamed the official crew of two people who cost them the loss: a 101-100 overtime heartbreak in the garden.
It was less than a week ago when a furious Randle tried to find referee Scott Foster at the Barclays Center, but was held back by his teammates.
A last-minute play in which Randle was asked to take a trip up and down threw him into a tizzy. He was not fined by the league, but this time it is a blow.
Sunday night ended with Sixers ’Tobias Harris sinking two free throws with 5.3 seconds left to give Philly a 1-point lead after a Randle free-kick.
It ended with Randle – and Tom Thibodeau – calling the official crew who had called the offense. Randle has been a rocker and an iron man, but he may have to tone down a few things. It already has seven technicians. Due to the safety protocols of COVID-19, the official crew did not have a referee, forced to work with two instead of three. According to the referees, the Knicks tried to challenge Randle’s call, but never transmitted the message in the allotted time.
In the disputed play, Randle was marked by a forearm on Harris’ back while Long Islander was ready for the rebound. With Harris dislocated, Knicks center-back Nerlens Noel snatched the carom.
He was agitated by the whistle and Harris had his shots free. And Long Islander, who beat the Knicks five days ago with 30 points, got both in the clutch.
Randle answered a question after the game before facing off, stating that this tough defensive battle should not have been decided by such a lean act.
“An incorrect call from officials,” Randle said. “There is not enough contact for them to call the work. I don’t know who … Nerlens was [Noel] – but he clearly had the possession. After all the fouls and everything that happened, to say so and decide the game is ridiculous. They have to do a better job. It’s too many games like this. “
Randle then left the Zoom call before he could be asked about the next play.
After Harris ’free throws, the Knicks star rushed to the low court, looking decent before his potential winner of the game came out to ring. Randle ended the night shooting 7 of 21, one of his worst shooting lines of his masterful season.
Thibodeau also became enraged on the sidelines and even got on the court at a joint time.
“They said we didn’t challenge,” Thibodeau said.
He also raised the idea that Randle’s absence would not turn into a battle in late overtime.
“Normally, at the end of the game, there will be, as they say, marginal contact, incidental contact, any other kind of contact,” Thibodeau said. “All I know is that we were hit a lot and there was no marginal contact, so …”
And what. If the Knicks’ argument is that it’s not called foul in this situation, it won’t be overridden in the video review. It is a bloodless process.
From the mouths of the girls came the statements of RJ Barrett, 20, who was not going there.
“I just want to win,” Barrett said. “Referees or non-referees, we have to win the match.”
This was a fantastic defensive fight as the Knicks fought back without leading guards Derrick Rose and Elfrid Payton.
Thibodeau used swinger Alec Burks for the stretch to traverse the point. A Burks-led offense forced the Sixers into overtime and nearly squeaked with the swingman scoring 20 points.
The Knicks might feel angry, but on that day it seemed off.
They are not Charlotte, an enemy of the East, who reportedly lost her star LaMelo Ball during the season with a fractured hand. And it’s not the Lakers, who will play without LeBron James indefinitely after his ankle sprain.
And it’s not the Rockets, Stephen Silas ’rookie coach who buried his face and could barely pronounce a good Sunday when asked if the team’s 20-defeat streak was coming to his club.
Between the ages of 21 and 22, the Knicks might have wanted to look on the bright side. They begin to be healthy and Burks may soon return to their usual position.
Rose could return on Tuesday against Washington and will recover an offense that totaled 85 points during regulation.
Center Mitchell Robinson returned from his 15-game absence and was extremely rusty, blowing out three generally automatic setbacks. Rookie Immanuel Quickley, after an absence from a match with an ankle sprain, started again and was unprepared (4 of 12). The Knicks are the best when Quickley comes off the bench as a sixth man and lines up with Rose. It will happen soon.
Barrett admitted the locker room was angry.
“Everyone wants to win,” Barrett said. “When we lose, especially a game like this, a game we should have won, it’s a hard way to lose.”
It’s also a hard way to overreact, particularly Randle.