Jalen Brunson found himself at the center of controversy for a questionable play during Game 3 on Thursday against the Detroit Pistons.
Brunson attempted to contest a shot by Pistons forward Tim Hardaway Jr. but wasn’t close on the block, striking Hardaway square in the face and appearing to poke him in the eye.
Brunson was assessed a flagrant-1 foul on the play but fans felt the punishment should have been more severe.
“That’s an ejection honestly,” one fan said.
“That’s a flagrant 2 all day,” another fan added. “Why does he get special treatment?”
Another replied: “How are you the most unethical flopper in the league and pull stuff like this.”
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson.
© Brad Penner-Imagn Images
It’s been a bruising series, and Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau isn’t thrilled with the whistle. After Game 2, he voiced frustration over the officiating disparity — the Pistons went 28-of-34 from the free-throw line, while the Knicks attempted just 19 free throws.
“Huge discrepancy in free throws. Huge. Guy’s getting fouled and it’s not being called. I really don’t give a crap how they call the game as long as it’s consistent on both sides,” Thibodeau said. “If (Cade) Cunningham’s driving and it’s marginal contact and he’s getting to the line, then Jalen deserves to be getting to the line. It’s really that simple.”
The Knicks entered Game 3 as a 1.5-road favorite, per ESPN BET.
