Internet sleuths are trying to decode a conversation between Mike Brown and referee Marc Davis.
During the Spurs’ 115-111 Game 3 victory over the Knicks Monday night at MSG, the Knicks coach called out the referees for the obscene free-throw differential between the two teams in the second half, though one conversation in particular has fans particularly interested.
It is unclear exactly what Brown said to the referee during the third quarter, with the Spurs up 81-80, though it appears that Brown was complaining about one play being called a foul while another didn’t go the Knicks’ way.
“Over here, you called it a foul, but over there, you called it a travel,” Brown appears to say.
“Ah, s–t you’re right,” Davis is speculated to have said in response, though some commenters argued he said, “[Jalen] Brunson’s drive”
During the play, Landry Shamet was called for a personal foul on Keldon Johnson, who extended the lead to 82-80 after splitting the pair of free throws at the line but it is unclear if that is part of the discussion or not.
The Spurs are 64-for-84 at the line in the Finals, compared to 50-for-61 for the Knicks.
Afterward, Brown criticized officiating for the Spurs’ 24-to-8 free-throw attempt advantage in the second half of Game 3.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst suspects that the Knicks’ front office told Brown to complain about the officiating postgame, as the Knicks have had fewer free-throw attempts in all three games thus far.
The Knicks head back to The Garden for Game 4 Wednesday night where they will look to claim a 3-1 advantage in the NBA Finals.