Mike Brown calls out Knicks-Spurs Game 3 officiating: 'Never thought I'd see that in an NBA Finals game'

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Mike Brown calls out Knicks-Spurs Game 3 officiating: 'Never thought I'd see that in an NBA Finals game' originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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The New York Knicks haven't had to respond to adversity in quite some time.

Despite being two wins from a championship, the last time the Knicks dealt with the lingering letdowns and disappointment of a loss was in April — before they were widely considered title contenders. After dropping Game 3 of the Finals to the Spurs on Monday night, Mike Brown's squad will go back to the drawing board.

Brown, however, came out with some fiery postgame comments on the officiating in San Antonio's road win, addressing a massive free-throw discrepancy between the teams.

Here's what Brown said about the Game 3 officiating and a look at the team free-throw numbers.

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Mike Brown calls out NBA Finals Game 3 officiating

Brown took the podium soon after the Knicks' 115-111 loss on Monday night, the team's first defeat in its last 14 playoff games. It came at home as well, with a loud environment not enough to rattle the Spurs in Game 3.

Brown, however, had officiating on his mind as he opened his press conference. After giving props to Mitch Johnson and the Spurs, he began a rant.

"I will say this. I never thought I'd be in the NBA Finals and see a team get 24 free throw attempts in the second half to another team's eight. And I don't think I complain much about officials, or the fairness when it comes to free-throw attempts," Brown said. "They're a great team. It's gonna lower our odds big time, big time, if we play Game 4 and in the second half, they get 24 free-throw attempts to our eight. And maybe we were fouling. But they fouled too."

"There were opportunities for fouls to be called. To at least try to even the free throws out. Now, we didn't play good, San Antonio played great, we could've played better. ... I don't complain much. I never thought I'd see that in an NBA Finals game. And I saw it tonight."

On "Inside the NBA," Charles Barkley said the Spurs simply out-played the Knicks, while Kenny Smith said "officiating did not lose this game."

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Knicks vs. Spurs Game 3 free throw stats

As Brown indicated, it was the second-half free throw numbers that showed a lot of discrepancy. The Spurs had 24 free-throw attempts in the last two quarters, while the Knicks had eight.

The overall numbers for Game 3 weren't quite as skewed, but still in San Antonio's favor:

  • Knicks FT-FTA: 18-22 
  • Spurs FT-FTA: 25-32

Victor Wembanyama and OG Anunoby led the game with nine free-throw attempts each, while Jalen Brunson had eight.

While there weren't a ton of controversial calls, one blatant non-call came in the first half, when Wembanyama clearly shoved Brunson aside with no whistle.

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