Rockets win after foul that ‘should not have been called’،
HOUSTON — The Rockets won after a call officials ruled was wrong.
Aaron Holiday had 18 points, capped by two free throws after a contested foul on Jalen Brunson from behind the 3-point line, lifting the Rockets to a 105-103 victory over the New York Knicks on Monday night.
Houston had a four-point lead with less than a minute remaining before Brunson scored the next four points, capped by a jump shot with 8.1 seconds remaining to tie the score at 103.
New York's Precious Achiuwa then blocked a short shot from Jalen Green, and Holiday caught the ball beyond the arc and shot it as Brunson rushed at him and was booked for a foul.
After the game, crew chief Ed Malloy said that in live action, the referees thought “lower body contact was illegal contact.” But their opinion changed following a rereading.
“After seeing him during the post-game review, the offensive player was able to return to a normal playing position on the field,” Malloy said. “The contact that occurred after the ball was released is therefore incidental and marginal to the shot attempt and should not have been reported.”
Holiday was asked about the play before Malloy's comments.
“I just tried to get the ball and shoot,” Holiday said. “I saw him tip it, and he came close to me, so I just tried to grab him and I tried to make a 3, and Jalen slammed into my chest.”
Holiday made the first two free throws before intentionally missing the third to run out of time.
Brunson was asked what he thought about the foul call three times and responded with the same four words each time.
“Great call,” he said. “Next question.”
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau was asked about the end of the game.
“It’s difficult to lose a game,” he said twice in a row.
Thibodeau was then asked what he thought of the officiating, and he said it was “great.” But when asked directly if he thought Brunson fouled Holiday, he avoided the question.
“Look at him,” he said, shaking his head slightly.
“The thing about officials is how I feel about it, in general,” Thibodeau added. “I don't care how close the game is. You can call it tight. You can call it loose. We like the consistency to be the same. And they have a job. They have to control and manage the game . That's their No. 1 responsibility. So they have to use their judgment, and I have respect for that. We didn't have our way tonight.”
Dillon Brooks scored 23 points, Jabari Smith Jr. added 20 and Alperen Sengun scored 18 to help the Rockets end a four-game skid.
“It was good to see us close out the game in the fourth in a back-and-forth game,” Houston coach Ime Udoka said.
Holiday was happy that the Rockets finished this one after losing a few close games.
“It was huge,” he said. “We lost the last two games. I feel like we could have won, but we just didn't get it done. So I'm happy we were able to get through it.”
Brunson scored 27 points and Donte DiVincenzo scored 23 as the Knicks lost their third straight.
The Rockets led by three points early in the fourth before Holiday went on an 11-5 run to push the advantage to 85-76 with about nine minutes left. Holiday opened the quarter with a dunk before scoring a 3-pointer. He then added a jump shot before throwing a dunk to Smith and ending his hot period with a layup.
A 3-pointer from Brooks put Houston ahead by 11 before the Knicks scored the next nine points – the last seven coming from Bojan Bogdanovic – to cut the lead to 91-89 with 5½ minutes left. END.
Brooks made a 3 to give Houston a five-point lead with about 3½ minutes left, but Josh Hart connected a second later to bring the Knicks within 98-96.
Another 3 from Brooks came afterward, but this time Alec Burks scored a triple for New York to cut the lead to two again with less than two minutes to play.
Houston played without Fred VanVleet, who missed a fourth straight game with a left adductor strain, and without rookie Cam Whitmore, who was out for a second game with a sprained right ankle.
The Rockets led by 14 at halftime before the Knicks opened the second half with a 16-4 run that brought them within 61-59 with about 7½ minutes left in the third. Brunson scored the first four points in that span, and Hart hit two 3s to help New York narrow the deficit.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
