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Tim BontempsESPN
New York Knicks forward Julius Randle had to be held back by his teammates to confront Scott Foster after the veteran referee called him off in the final seconds of New York’s 117-112 road loss to the Brooklyn Nets Monday night.
“It was a conversation, but I think it’s just best that I do not comment on the situation,” Randle said afterwards. ‘There was a lot of frustration behind it – and I mean it from both sides – so I’ll just let it go in the past and go to the next game.
“It was just frustrating. It’s clear we fought so hard to come back and try to win the game. So I was just frustrated. And it was quite a lot. But we still have an opportunity to work tomorrow after that. that. “
Randle had a chance to level the game in the final seconds as he stood up to take over a three-pointer with five seconds. But Nets star Kyrie Irving managed to hit the ball on the way up, which left Randle juggling and unable to get the shot.
“Of course we had a play designed, and I thought Ky would get up and break right away, so I tried to go a little faster,” Randle said. ‘But the play happened -‘ whatever happened is what it is and in the past. ‘
As a result, when he tried to dribble the ball to the ground, he was asked by Foster with a journey of 3.2 seconds.
After James Harden received the incoming pass and kicked off some free throws to clinch the win for Brooklyn, who have now won 13 of their last 14 games, Randle was still furious with Foster. Among other things, he had to be held back by the rookie Obi Toppin when he wanted to go to Foster after the game.
Randle, who finished with 41 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and three steals in 41 minutes, was eventually knocked off the floor, in part by William Wesley, the Knicks’ executive officer, although he overturned a chair on his way out of the bottom bowl as he marches back to the visiting dressing room.
“I would be dirty early too, but I saw him stand on a springboard,” said Irving, who led all scorers with 34 points. “I felt like I could get a good hand at it. Scott called for travel. I thought Julius made a good play after that to put it down. I would have violated him afterwards just to get him to the release line. to get.
“So it seemed. So it went.”
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, on the other hand, was not so generous.
“I thought it was a difficult call,” Thibodeau said. “I thought we had some very difficult calls.”
Foster explained why the travel call was made after the game.
“The defender is considered to touch the ball, but not to let it drift or loosen,” he told the pool reporter. “When the player catches fire, he cannot intentionally drop the ball or dribble the ball, or be the first to touch after dropping the ball.”
The anger surrounding the call against Randle overshadowed a wild return by the Knicks, who were 115-108 behind with 28.6 seconds left to force just two bouncing balls by tying Harden and Joe Harris.
In the end, however, Irving’s play ensured that Brooklyn won the Battle of the Boroughs.
“I think we feel like players, of course,” said Irving, who was a Nets fan who grew up in northern New Jersey, about the rivalry between the Knicks and the Nets.
“But of course, from here on out, it’s a little different sentiment, because I had to go home and actually be with Knicks and Nets fans. It’s my family. It’s basketball, it’s competition. It’s a world sport. “So it’s just nothing but respect. But of course you want to come here and just have fun against the New York Knicks. They played well this season. It’s a well-coached team and appreciates the opportunity.”