NEW YORK — Referees missed a foul call on Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama when he shoved Knicks guard Jalen Brunson in the first quarter of Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday.
Without a whistle on Wembanyama, the play continued with San Antonio on offense. A replay review appeared to show Brunson, who was on defense and working through a screen on the play, making initial contact with his left hand and grabbing a fistful of Wembanyama’s jersey, prompting the retaliatory shove. With his own left hand, Wembanyama aggressively shoved Brunson in the upper back and neck area, sending him toward the floor.
But it remains unclear if either player will be cited for any offense in the review of the matter on the off day before Game 4 at Madison Square Garden.
NBA head of officiating Monty McCutchen said Tuesday the league is reviewing the play, and holds the ability to retroactively assess a flagrant-1 foul. The NBA rulebook deems “unnecessary contact” a flagrant-1 foul, because it goes beyond the actions warranting a common foul.
If the NBA issues a flagrant-1 for the play, Wembanyama would not be subject to a suspension. But the Spurs’ big man would be skating into Game 4 on thin ice.
Wembanyama has already obtained two penalty points for a flagrant-2 foul in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals against Naz Reid of the Timberwolves.
All players can accumulate a total of three penalty points in the playoffs. If Wembanyama’s shove is upgraded to a flagrant foul, he would have three penalty points. His next flagrant in the Finals would prompt an automatic suspension.
Julian Champagnie had the ball on the left wing facing San Antonio’s basket with Landry Shamet defending when the action happened near the foul line and away from the play.
Brunson was also called for a flagrant foul closing out on a Champagnie 3-pointer. Officials said he did not provide ample landing space for the Spurs’ deep threat. Brunson had little to say about the non-call postgame.
“Whatever you saw is what you saw,” Brunson said.
A flagrant-2, described as justified in the rulebook when “unnecessary and excessive or reckless contact” is “committed by a player against an opponent,” would prompt an automatic ejection.
