New York’s basketball rivalry got a bit chippy at the end of Friday’s game.
In the final minute of the Knicks’ come-from-behind, 111-107 win over the Nets, the teams got a bit heated after Cam Thomas intentionally fouled Jalen Brunson.
With the Nets down by two and 4.1 seconds left, Thomas intentionally fouled Brunson hard, giving him a big shove on the near side of the court.
With the Madison Square Garden crowd — including Spike Lee — incensed, OG Anunoby also was perturbed, getting in the face of Thomas before officials separated the two teams to quell any further issues.
On top of the personal foul, Thomas was issued a technical, as was Anunoby.
Fans began chanting “OG, OG,” after Anunoby found himself in the scrum.
“I just asked what that was about. I thought it was an excessive push,” Anunoby said after the win. “I don’t ever want to see a teammate be pushed. That’s it, nothing more.”
Thomas said after the game that he believed Brunson flopped.
“He just over-exaggerated and flopped. … So kudos to him for that,” he told reporters. “He got a tech on me though, I don’t like that.”
Brunson, for his part, sank both of his free throws and the Knicks won by four to keep lock up at least a top-four playoff seed.
“It means a lot,” Brunson said repeatedly after being asked about Anunboy stepping in. “[Anunoby] is known for getting overly animated.”