The New York Knicks find themselves in a shaky position following their Monday clash against the Houston Rockets, resulting in a 105-103 loss.
A defeat that could significantly affect their campaign for better seeding in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
The pill is made even harder to swallow as league and game officials confess that the result should have been otherwise.
The NBA’s Last Two Minute Report and chief referee, Ed Malloy, admitted an erroneous foul call against Knicks guard, Jalen Brunson, in favor of Rockets guard, Aaron Holiday, in the game’s dying second.
In the wake of this revelation, as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the New York Knicks lodged an official protest with the NBA on Tuesday, seeking redress over the unmerited loss.
ESPN story on the Knicks filing a protest with the NBA over the loss to the Rockets: https://t.co/akHQr7MTdM
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 14, 2024
However, the Knicks’ grievance might find little consolation in the history books. Successful game protests are rare occurrences in NBA annals.
The feat has been achieved only six times, with just one instance in the past 41 years, as researched by ESPN Stats & Information.
At a time when the New York Knicks are vying for a better position in the top half of the Eastern Conference playoffs, every game counts. The recent loss to the Houston Rockets may throw their seeding ambitions off track.
Unfortunately, the Knicks’ appeal may be futile. The odds are stacked against them, with only six successful protests made and upheld in NBA’s long history.
