Julius Randle didn’t feel like sitting and talking after Knicks’ second landslide loss to Philadelphia in less than a week.
The All-Star striker forced overtime with a 3-point pointer near the end of regulation, but was called up for what he thought was a “blown call” and a “ridiculous f-mistake” with the free ball away from the game – leading to to give free throws from Tobias Harris in the last seconds.
Randle also missed an 18-foot jumper as time expired for a terrible 101-100 loss to the Sixers in the garden, and he stepped off the podium after answering a question in his call. post-game Zoom.
“It simply came to our notice then. There is not enough contact for them to play the song, “said Randle. “I don’t know who it was – Nerlens [Noel] – but he clearly had possession [of the ball].
“After all the fouls and everything that happened, for them to call it that and decide that the game is becoming ridiculous. He needs to do a better job. There are too many games like this. ”
The game was played with two referees because Dannica Mosher was not available due to the health and safety protocols of the league, and both teams complained throughout the officer’s, both Randle and Thibodeau winning technical mistakes earlier in the game.
Randle had also been angry with officials after being called for a trip in the final seconds of another one-possession loss last Monday in Brooklyn. The NBA decided the next day that the call was correct.
The All-Star striker scored 24 points and Alec Burks finished with 20, including seven in overtime, but the Knicks fell to 21-22 before two home games on Tuesday and Thursday against Washington.
Mitchell Robinson played for the first time since breaking his right hand on Feb. 12 against the Wizards and finished with four points and six rebounds in 16 minutes off the bench. He appeared to be limping with a possible ankle injury in the bench at the end of the fourth trimester.
Immanuel Quickley also returned after a one-game absence due to an ankle problem, scoring 10 points when shooting 4 for 12.
The messy game, which featured 36 combined turnovers between the two teams, was tied for three quarters.
The Sixers led by 14 points with 3:31 left in the second, but the Knicks finished the half in a 13-0 lead with two 3-pointers from Quickley and a steal and layup from Barrett to close in 43 -42 at the break.
Noel’s buckets (13 points) and RJ Barrett (19) pushed the Knicks forward in the opening minutes of the third quarter and led by up to six at the end of the period before the Sixers faked a tie. 64-64 entering the quarterfinals.
Danny Green’s float gave Philly an 88-85 lead with 19.1 seconds left, but his Long Island teammate Harris made two free throws a few seconds later. Randle connected for a 3-game tie in the right corner with 6.4 stitches per clock to force overtime.
Reggie Bullock’s 3-pointer brought the Knicks 100-96 1:10, but Harris (20 points) responded with another long-range mark. Shake Milton missed a potential start arrangement, but Randle was whistled for a weak ball error, while Noel took over and Harris sank the two free throws by 5.3 seconds for a one-point lead at Philadelphia.
After the match, referee Courtney Kirkland told a pool reporter that Randle “made a weak ball mistake” and that Thibodeau did not signal to contest the game in the allotted time.
“They said we were not provoking – two officials, heavy calls. That’s all I’m going to say about this. It’s pretty obvious, “Thibodeau said.” I didn’t look [the replay] yet. Usually, at the end of the game, there will be – as they say – marginal contact, incidental contact, any other type of contact.
“All I know is that we were hit very hard and there was no marginal contact in that regard.”