The physicality between the Spurs and Knicks in Game 3 has been a prominent topic of discussion among fans and coaches alike following Monday’s hard-fought contest, in which the Spurs were the victor.
A play between Victor Wembanyama and Jalen Brunson, in which the Spurs’ star appeared to shove Brunson in the head during the first quarter, was a particular point of contention.
However, the league has reviewed the play and opted not to upgrade the play to a flagrant foul, per Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Twitter link).
Senior vice president of referee development and training Monty McCutchen spoke to ESPN on Tuesday and admitted that the play should have been called a foul, notes ESPN’s Shams Charania (via Twitter), but also explained what the process of reviewing such an incident is and why it would take something definitive to overrule the in-game referees.
Wembanyama is two flagrant foul points away from a suspension, due to the flagrant two he picked up when he hit the Timberwolves’ Naz Reid in the head in the second round of the playoffs. The play against Brunson being upgraded would have earned him another flagrant foul point and moved him just one flagrant away from a one-game suspension. As it stands, he will face no further discipline.