Knicks blame officiating for treatment of Randle, loss to Nets

New York Knicks forward Julius Randle Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Knicks blame officiating for treatment of Julius Randle, loss to Nets

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 12/1/21

Tuesday's matchup between the Knicks and Nets ended up being a very compelling game.

But New York didn't quite see it that way, and after ultimately falling 112-110, had a bone to pick with the officiating crew with how star center Julius Randle was treated.

"I don't know what they're watching or what they're seeing," Randle told the press postgame, via ESPN. "As aggressive as I played, attacking the paint, I can't be penalized for just being stronger than people. And that is an answer that I got today."

Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau was also unhappy with the officiating on Tuesday, especially since a technical call on Randle with less than two minutes to play led to Kevin Durant's deciding three-point shot.

Thibodeau didn't like the lopsided number of free throws the two teams were assessed -- Brooklyn got 25 chances from the stripe compared to NY's 12 -- but was more "pi--d" with how Randle was treated in the game.

"I am watching what is going on both ways. [The Nets] are a good team. They played well. But I know Julius is driving that ball pretty darn hard," Thibodeau said.

Randle ended the night with 24 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, but the postgame focus was on the fact he only went to the free-throw line twice, which was a far cry from the 10 FT attempts James Harden got for Brooklyn.

"I don't really care about how the game is called. I really don't. You can call it tight. You can call it loose. But it's got to be the same," Thibodeau said.

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