The Knicks' furious comeback effort against the mighty Nets fells short on Monday night, but it didn't end without controversy.
New York, after trimming an 18-point deficit to just three, had a chance to send the game to overtime on the final possession, and had the ball in their All-Star's hands with the final seconds ticking down. Julius Randle went up for what would have been an attempt to tie the game with a three, but on his way up for the shot, Kyrie Irving got a hand on the ball, leading Randle to come back down from his jump, thinking he'd have another shot at tying the game.
Instead, referee Scott Foster whistled Randle for a travel. Randle went into a tirade, while Brooklyn escaped with a narrow victory.
Foster explained the call after the game, defending his ruling that resulted in Randle needing to be restrained by teammates and others after the final whistle blew.
"The defender was deemed to touch the ball, but not cause it to be dislodged or loose," Foster said. "Upon that when the player alights he cannot purposely drop the ball or dribble the ball or be first to touch after he dropped the ball."
Randle argued that the ball had become dislodged, but Foster didn't agree.
"Basically prior to Julius alighting the ball was touched," Foster said. "He alighted and he can pass or shoot but he cannot purposely drop the ball and be the first to touch nor can he dribble."
It was a deflating end for the Knicks, who were hoping for overtime and a chance to steal a win over one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. Now, as they continue to fight for a playoff spot, they will deal with the top dogs in the East on Tuesday night, when they play the 76ers.
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