Jalen Brunson Rumors: Members of Knicks Upset with Refs Missing Pacers' Fouls On PG
May 10, 2024
While the Indiana Pacers are publicly expressing their unhappiness with the officiating in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the New York Knicks aren't thrilled with how the refs have swallowed their whistles for several plays involving Jalen Brunson.
Per SNY's Ian Begley, people within the Knicks organization feel that Brunson is being "grabbed/hit up and down the floor and it's gone unnoticed by refs."
Brunson left Game 2 late in the first quarter due to a right foot injury. He sat out the entire second quarter before returning to the court for warmups prior to the third quarter. The All-Star guard played all 24 minutes in the second half, scoring 24 points on 9-of-16 shooting.
ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported on Thursday the Pacers filed a complaint with the NBA over "78 instances of incorrect or non-calls to the NBA that they felt put them at a disadvantage" in the first two games of their series against the Knicks.
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle was fined $35,000 by the NBA for criticizing the officiating after Game 2.
"I'm always talking to our guys about not making it about the officials," Carlisle told reporters after his team's 130-121 loss on Wednesday. "We deserve a fair shot. There's not a consistent balance and that's disappointing. Give New York credit for the physicality that they're playing with. But their physicality is rewarded and ours is penalized, time after time."
Carlisle also said during his postgame press conference that "small-market teams deserve a fair shot."
Per the NBA's last two minute report from Game 1, the officials got two calls against the Pacers wrong that occurred in the final minute.
Begley noted the Pacers ranked last in the NBA in fouls per game (21.4) and opponent free-throw attempts per game (25.9) during the regular season. The Knicks ranked fourth in opponent free-throw attempts (19.7) and sixth in fouls per game (17.6).
The Pacers have been called for six more fouls (39-33) than the Knicks in the first two games of the series. New York has attempted 12 more free throws than Indiana (48-36).
The Knicks have scored 15 more points at the free-throw line than the Pacers (40-25). The combined margin of victory in Games 1 and 2 was 13 points.
Indiana will look to get back in the series when it hosts the Knicks for the next two games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Game 3 will be played on Friday at 7 p.m. ET. The Pacers went 3-0 at home in the first round against the Milwaukee Bucks.
