The NBA fined New York Knicks All-Star forward Julius Randle $15,000 for directing inappropriate language toward a game official and his public criticism of the officiating, the league said in a statement on Tuesday.
Randle’s beef with the officials stemmed from the critical loose ball foul called on him with 5.3 seconds left in their 101-100 overtime loss to the Philadelphia 76ers last Sunday.
The Knicks were holding a slim 100-99 lead when Randle was hit with the foul that led to Harris’ two free throws sealing the Knicks’ second straight loss to the 76ers in the same week.
“Blown call by the officials. Not enough contact for them to call the play. Nerlens (Noel), clearly he had possession. After all the fouling and everything that was going on for them to call that and decide the game is f—ing ridiculous. It’s ridiculous! They’ve got to do a better job. There are too many games like this,†Randle said in an explosive postgame interview.
The Knicks tried to challenge the call but fell on deaf ears. Crew chief Courtney Kirkland later explained that Tom Thibodeau was late in challenging the call.
“They said we didn’t challenge. Two officials. Tough calls. That’s all I’m going to say about it,†Thibodeau said postgame.
The NBA’s Last Two Minute report upheld the loose ball foul and confirmed Kirkland’s statement.
Randle and the Knicks will be looking to move on from the incident as they host the lowly Washington Wizards at 7:30 p.m. tonight at The Garden.
Kirkland will return as the crew chief in tonight’s game.
The Knicks have lost four of their first six games since the All-Star break. Three of those losses came at the hands of the Eastern Conference’s top two teams—Philadelphia and Brooklyn Nets—by an average of three points.
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