Carmelo Anthony and Knicks lose to Rockets on controversial call (GIF)
By Mike Dyce
The New York Knicks were trailing the Houston Rockets by three points with five seconds left in the game. The Knicks had just used a full time out and were throwing the ball in-bounds. Carmelo came out of the pain to get the ball. It looks like he stops as he is trying to bring in the ball.
He had already turned his head so it wasn’t a clean catch, he juggled it. While he was trying to get in under control, Rockets guard James Harden runs into him from behind. That bump draws the foul. Then Carmelo Anthony turns to throw up a three and Harden is all over him as he takes the shot and the whistle sounds. The ball falls through the hoop and Knicks fans think Carmelo just tied the game and is headed to the line with a chance to sink a free throw for a one point lead.
Instead, the referee ruled the shot no good. His reasoning being that the foul occurred before Anthony turned to shoot or begin the motion of shooting. You can see what he was trying to call.
There is always the old “let them play adage.” It was a tough and gutsy call in Madison Square Garden. The Knicks went on to lose by three points, 109-106.
Spike Lee is upset: