The Mike Brown choice that went wrong in the Knicks’ Game 3 defeat

Coach Mike Brown Faces Criticism After Game 3 Loss

For one night, it seems, Mike Brown’s decisions didn’t quite hit the mark.

The Knicks coach faced some pushback for allowing star player Jalen Brunson to sit for over seven minutes, right between the third and fourth quarters during Monday’s Game 3 defeat.

Brunson exited with the Knicks ahead by a single point, yet the game slipped away as they lost 115-111, reducing their lead in the NBA Finals series to 2-1.

Twitter user and sports commentator Stephen Bondi noted, “Brown waited too long to bring in Brunson and (Josh) Hart. The offense is stagnant.” Another analyst, Sam Quinn from CBS Sports, mentioned that he hesitates to critique Brown after a winning streak but felt that the game changed when Brunson was sidelined.

Throughout this impressive run for the Knicks, Brown had shown exceptional skill with his game-time choices, often getting the right mix of players on the floor. But, well, foul trouble can really throw a wrench in things. It does make you wonder if they could’ve subbed Brunson back in a tad sooner after his fourth foul.

At 4:29 left in the third quarter, with the Knicks up 79-78, Brunson’s ejection coincided with the Spurs gaining momentum, particularly with Victor Wembanyama also stepping back.

The Spurs, seeing an opening, soon took a lead. The Knicks managed to keep it close, entering the fourth with a slight advantage at 92-91. But missing key players made it harder for them.

Once Wembanyama returned, the Spurs quickly took a 96-91 lead. Hart was substituted in, followed by Brunson shortly after. The Knicks struggled initially in the fourth, missing their first basket until there was about 8:30 left, only narrowing the gap to 98-93. They couldn’t regain the lead until late in the game.

In the final quarter, the Knicks struggled offensively, making only 7 of 27 shots. “I liked some of the looks, but we were quite stagnant,” Brunson reflected on the fourth quarter. “We can definitely learn from that… especially in how we started the game. Personally, I know I could’ve done better.”