Controversy Surrounds Knicks’ Final Moments Against Hawks
During the NBC broadcast of the Knicks vs. Hawks game, Noah Eagle discussed how a timeout could have impacted the closing 5.6 seconds of Game 2. Inside the studio, Carmelo Anthony expressed surprise that the Knicks didn’t capitalize on what appeared to be their last timeout opportunity to attempt a game-winning shot.
Viewers at home likely shared that sentiment, especially as they watched Mikal Bridges sink a last-second jumper in the Hawks’ surprising 107-106 victory. It was a bit of a letdown, considering the potential for a designed play following a timeout.
It later emerged that the confusion around the timeout stemmed from a “data issue,” which misrepresented the Knicks’ timeout situation leading up to that frantic final play. NBC’s Malia Taylor clarified, stating, “The scoreboard indicated a timeout for the Knicks that didn’t actually exist due to this data issue.” This added layer of frustration for Knicks fans and analysts alike, as it skewed the viewers’ interpretation of the game’s final moments.
With the Hawks ahead 107-106 and only 5.6 seconds remaining, a glitch in the scoring system indicated that the Knicks were out of timeouts right before CJ McCollum attempted his first free throw. The Knicks were then left scrambling to score without the benefit of a set play, making the situation even more chaotic.
Following McCollum’s missed free throw, the Knicks suddenly showed they had a timeout available, allowing them potentially to advance the ball and set up a play, instead of rushing their shot.
Eagle commented on the potential impact of having that timeout, suggesting, “New York will almost certainly take a timeout here.” Yet, as McCollum missed his next shot, Josh Hart grabbed the rebound and surprisingly passed to Bridges, who took a contested long-range jumper—far from the ideal shot if the Knicks thought they had called a timeout.
Reflecting on the play, Anthony admitted his initial frustration was rooted in the belief that the Knicks could have used a timeout effectively. “I thought there was a timeout,” he noted, addressing the confusion around the situation.
In the end, Mike Brown, the Knicks’ coach, didn’t seem to provide a definitive answer about the timeout strategy, simply mentioning that he often trusts his gut in such moments. “There was a chance we could have taken a timeout… but there’s also a chance we didn’t. I thought it was a good shot,” he stated. Still, the NBC error didn’t completely excuse Brown, as there were moments earlier in the game where timeouts were not utilized properly. He used a timeout at an odd point during the game, and by the end, he used his last timeout with 10.2 seconds left while trailing 107-103, which raised questions about his decisions throughout that crucial phase.
