The Knicks’ injury report wasn’t quite complete. They might need to create a new one for non-players.
Coach Mike Brown tweaked his calf while trying to call timeout in the final seconds of regulation during the Knicks’ 115-104 overtime win over the Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.
As Sam Merrill’s potential go-ahead 3-pointer somehow rimmed out and Mikal Bridges corralled the rebound with just over a second left, Brown basically sprinted onto the court and jumped up and down in an attempt to get the referee’s attention to call timeout.
But the referee did not grant him the timeout, and Bridges had to settle for a heave that did not come close, sending the game to overtime.
Brown could be seen limping after landing following one of his wild leaps. Then there he was, hunched over with his hands on his knees near midcourt as the buzzer sounded. Assistant coach Rick Brunson came over and put his arm around him while also complaining to the referee that the timeout wasn’t given.
“It’s alright,” Brown said after practice on Wednesday of how it felt on Wednesday. “I’m good to go.”
And it could’ve been a whole lot worse.
“I would’ve blown my Achilles out if I didn’t have on my P.F. Flyers. I had on my P.F. Flyers, so they help give me the support I need,” Brown said, sounding like a spokesperson. “It’s old school.”
