The Knicks already have had their share of involvement with the NBA’s crackdown on flopping, no one more than Jalen Brunson.
The team’s starting point guard was fined $2,000 by the league for a non-called violation in Friday’s win in Atlanta.
That came one game after the NBA admitted officials erroneously had whistled Brunson for flopping in the season opener after a 3-point shot against the Celtics because replays showed he had landed on the foot of Boston star Jayson Tatum.
Brunson also received a technical foul during Saturday’s loss in New Orleans for arguing that he similarly landed on the foot of Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram.
“They didn’t call it, so yeah, I guess they’re not calling it. It is what it is at this point,” Brunson said. “I don’t know. I know Game 1, Tatum’s foot was under mine. The second time [in Atlanta], I landed on one foot, tried to catch my balance and fell. I mean, [Saturday night] it wasn’t called. No one’s ever going to be perfect. Just got to go out there and continue to play.”
Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo also had been fined $2,000 for a flop against the Celtics.
Four players saw their first action of the season Saturday night.
Jericho Sims and Miles McBride played the final five minutes, while DaQuan Jeffries (five points) and Dylan Windler (three) logged three minutes apiece.
Tom Thibodeau on the Knicks’ 7-for-37 showing Saturday from 3-point range: “I thought we missed some good ones early and then we just didn’t have a good rhythm. And then when we turned it over, we were giving them good rhythm shots, and that hurt us. But then once we got going a little bit, when we cut it to six, we had a crack right there to get back and we couldn’t get it done.”