Julius Randle was furious at referee Scott Foster for calling a travel on him late in the fourth quarter on Monday night – a call that essentially sealed the win for Brooklyn.
Randle had to be held back by teammates and senior Knicks vice president William “World Wide Wes” Wesley after the buzzer because he was incensed over Foster’s call.
Forster, though, defended the call after the game.
“The defender was deemed to touch the ball, but not cause it to be dislodged or loose. Upon that when the player alights he cannot purposely drop the ball or dribble the ball or be first to touch after he dropped the ball,” Foster said.
Kyrie Irving touched the ball as Randle gathered for a 3-point shot with 3.2 seconds to play and the Knicks down three. The ball seemed to get dislodged after Irving tapped it. But it didn’t leave Randle’s hands.
Based on his explanation, Foster clearly felt that the ball didn’t get dislodged on the play.
“Basically prior to Julius alighting the ball was touched,” Foster said. “He alighted and he can pass or shoot but he cannot purposely drop the ball and be the first to touch nor can he dribble.”
The call ended the Knicks’ bid for a come-from-behind win. They trailed the Nets by as many as 18 points but rallied behind a strong defensive effort, particularly late in the fourth.
After the game, Randle said he was ready to put the call – and the loss – behind him.
“I think it’s just best that I just don’t comment on the situation,” he said. “There was a lot of frustration behind it and – I mean from both sides – so I’ll just let it be in the past and move on to the next game.”
Randle had 33 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and three steals. RJ Barrett added 23 points, six rebounds and four assists (10-10 from the free-throw line). Immanuel Quickley, in his first start at point guard, had 21 points on 6-of-19 shooting (4-12 from beyond the arc).
The Knicks play the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night.
