Brown points to major free-throw disparity but admits turnovers and defensive lapses also hurt New York
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Mike Brown expressed frustration with officiating after the New York Knicks fell 115-111 to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday.
Speaking after the loss at Madison Square Garden, Brown highlighted a significant free-throw imbalance, particularly during the second half. He noted that the Spurs attempted far more free throws than the Knicks, including a 14-3 advantage from the line during the third quarter.
“I talked to the officials,” Brown said. “They outshot us 14-3 in the third quarter from the free-throw line. They said those were fouls, but my question was that they fouled too.”
The coach repeatedly returned to the issue during his postgame remarks, suggesting the disparity played a role in the outcome. However, he also acknowledged that the Knicks had several shortcomings of their own.
Brown pointed to costly turnovers, stagnant offensive play and defensive breakdowns that allowed the Spurs to attack the paint effectively. He stressed that those controllable factors contributed significantly to the defeat.
Despite the controversy, Brown said the team must focus on correcting its mistakes rather than dwelling solely on officiating decisions.
The victory cut New York’s lead in the best-of-seven NBA Finals series to 2-1. The two teams will meet again in Game 4 on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden, with the Spurs aiming to level the series and the Knicks looking to regain momentum.
