Jalen Brunson hit his head several times as he retreated onto the court in the first half Thursday and tried to explain to the officials that he had been fouled.
Late in the game, the Knicks’ newly elected All-Star was literally slapped in the face by Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, again without any calls from officials.
In fact, Brunson ranks 20th in the NBA in free throw attempts this season entering Friday’s league game, with 6.2 per game, but coach Tom Thibodeau believes that number should be higher. It is claimed that.
“Well, most of us could say [it was a foul]” Thibodeau said of the play between Nembhard and Brunson in the fourth quarter. “Bang Bang, but it’s like — that guy, his determination is so great. He gets hit. I think he needs to be protected.
“There were some plays where he got hit, and if it’s a foul, it’s a foul. Call that. But at that point in the game, it was just…what can I say? He came right back on the next play. He came and hit an and-1. Umpires aren’t perfect sometimes. None of us are. So they missed it, they missed it. Move on. That’s what I think about Jaylen. That’s what I like about it. He goes to the next play. And I think that’s very important.”
Brunson, as usual, declined to comment to the officials after Thursday’s game. Thibodeau said in December that he was “tired” of referees ignoring contact with point guards.
LeBron James and the Lakers (25-25) are one game away from defeating the league-leading Celtics on the road despite sitting James (sore ankle) and Anthony Davis (lower back, Achilles tendon). On Saturday night, I will make my only garden visit of the season. Out due to injury.
Both All-Stars are listed as questionable for the game against the Knicks.
Former Nick Cam Reddish is out with a sprained ankle, and forward Jared Vanderbilt is expected to miss several weeks with a foot injury sustained in Boston.
Quentin Grimes will miss his second consecutive game with the Knicks due to a sprained right knee.
OG Anunoby (elbow inflammation) has missed the past three games and is still listed as questionable.
