Mike Brown called the free throw gap “pretty alarming” after the Knicks fell to the Cavaliers on Wednesday night. The Knicks took just 11 shots from the line while Cleveland took 25. Jalen Brunson played nearly 35 minutes without a single free throw attempt. This missed chance to score points in the paint hurt New York in their 115-107 loss at Madison Square Garden.
The Whistle Went Silent
Brown did not hold back his frustration with the officiating crew. He noted that Brunson played a huge role in the offense yet never got to the line. “Jalen plays 34 minutes or almost 35 minutes and he has zero free-throw attempts,” Brown said, according to the New York Post. “That’s pretty alarming. I’m not sure how or why it’s that way.” The coach pointed out that James Harden made as many free throws as the entire Knicks team combined. This disparity made it hard for New York to close the gap late in the game.
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The game saw the Knicks trail for most of the night. They cut the deficit to seven points with 7:33 left in the fourth quarter. Karl-Anthony Towns scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for his 11th straight double-double. That streak matches a franchise record set by Willis Reed in 1970. Yet the lack of foul calls kept the score tight against a strong Cleveland squad. The team had only one free throw attempt midway through the third quarter.
Harden Takes Over Late
James Harden flipped the script when the game got tight. He scored a game-high 32 points and hit key shots to seal the win. With 5:22 left, he drilled a jumper to give the Cavs a two-point lead. A minute later, he hit a three-pointer to put Cleveland up by three. The Knicks wilted in the final minutes and lost their four-game winning streak. Donovan Mitchell added 23 points for Cleveland, while Jalen Brunson led New York with 27 points.
Miles McBride praised Harden despite the loss. “MVP, scoring champ,” McBride said of Harden. “He’s a tough matchup for anybody in this league. You gotta tip your hat to him.” The Knicks tried to rally, but they could not get the timely stops they needed. Brunson acknowledged the effort but noted the specific things missing. “We were in it,” Brunson said. “But just timely stops and timely buckets were needed.”
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Other Voices in the League
Zion Williamson called for accountability after his team lost to the Brooklyn Nets 145-111. New Orleans has now lost four straight games. The loss was “Unacceptable” according to Zion Williamson, who stated the team must look itself in the mirror. He scored 29 points in the defeat but urged his teammates to take ownership of their effort.
In three consecutive games, the Pelicans have surrendered 138 points or more. They lost their past two contests by more than 30 points. This loss dropped New Orleans to a 4-8 record on the season. Since his 2019 draft, Williamson has never played in a playoff game. The team is missing starting wing Trey Murphy III due to knee soreness. They will try to bounce back when they host the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night.
What Comes Next for New York
The Knicks must find a way to get better calls or score more efficiently without them. Brunson said he just has to control what he can control. “I just gotta control what I can control,” Brunson said, “and keep it at that.” Miles McBride was also upset about a non-call during a key moment late in the game. Peyton Watson blocked a shot by him as the Knicks fell behind by five. “I thought it was a goaltend,” McBride said. “The guys behind the bench said that as well.”
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Coach Brown also noted that Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart might see fewer minutes soon. “It’s gonna be hard to find minutes at times for Mikal,” Brown said, according to the New York Post. “And maybe even at times for Josh. Because those two guys [McBride and Shamet] are playing at a pretty high level.” The Knicks need to fix their depth issues if they want to win close games.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
