Mike Brown says Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ‘sways refs’ after Thunder edge Knicks
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NEW YORK — New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown challenged the officiating after Wednesday night’s 103-100 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, arguing that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander routinely persuades officials he is being fouled.
Brown received his first technical foul since taking over the Knicks when he protested a no-call with 1:57 left in the first quarter. The coach believed Gilgeous-Alexander should have picked up a third personal foul for crashing into Jalen Brunson before converting a layup.
“SGA is a tough cover, and he does a great job of convincing the referees — probably better than anybody in the league — that he’s getting hit,” Brown said during his postgame news conference.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 26 points, eight assists and a game-high seven free-throw attempts in 35 minutes. The reigning MVP’s three-pointer with 1:18 remaining gave Oklahoma City a 103-96 cushion, and the Knicks missed two potential game-tying threes in the final six seconds.
Entering the night, the Thunder star averaged 9.2 free-throw attempts per game, second only to the Los Angeles Lakers’ Luka Doncic, and he leads the NBA in free throws made per game for the third straight season.
Brown argued the disputed first-quarter play mirrored an earlier offensive foul whistled on Oklahoma City’s OG Anunoby. “Jalen was there, and he ran him over,” Brown said. “That should’ve been his third, the bucket shouldn’t have counted and we should’ve gone the other way with the basketball.”
Despite the frustration, Brown stopped short of blaming the officials for the Knicks’ failure to secure a fourth consecutive win.
Brunson, who drew three offensive fouls during the contest, praised his coach’s fervor. “I’m gonna have his back every single night. He has ours,” the guard said, sporting a bruise under his right eye that he quipped was “probably a no-call.”
Source: ESPN
