BOSTON — There certainly was a discrepancy between Carmelo Anthony and the referees on the Knicks star’s final foul of the game last night.
With 21 seconds to go in the Knicks’ 87-85 Game 1 loss to the Celtics, Anthony was hit with an offensive foul while Paul Pierce was guarding him on the wing, a critical call that gave the Celtics possession. The Knicks were up a point at the time, but the Celtics’ Ray Allen proceeded to hit the game-winning three with 11 seconds to play.
“What I thought and what they called were two different things,” Anthony said. “It is what it is.”
PHOTOS: KNICKS LOSE TO CELTICS, 87-85
The officials thought Anthony swung his arm to get free from Pierce, but Anthony obviously disagreed, and Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni wasn’t happy either.
In fact, D’Antoni was upset with not just that call, but a non-call in the final minute as well — when he believed Toney Douglas was run over — with no foul called on the Celtics.
“In my eyes, obviously I’m biased,” D’Antoni said. “I thought [the Anthony offensive foul] was a tough call and I thought the call that Toney [Douglas] went flying trying to chase Ray Allen was a tough no-call. Those things happen. I’m not happy about it, but it happens.”
Still, the Anthony call was the big one.
“I don’t know if [Pierce] drew it, but he took it. And it was the right call. Heck of a call to make, but it was the right call,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “I mean, it was clear. And I give Paul a lot of credit.”
The Knicks attempted more free throws than the Celtics last night — 18 for the Knicks and 16 for Boston. The Celtics were also whistled for more fouls than the Knicks — 17 to 15.
Anthony, however, was also called for two early fouls in the first quarter, even though Bill Walker’s helped make that less of an issue. Anthony’s first foul came 1:15 into the first quarter when he was whistled while guarding Kevin Garnett. Thirteen seconds later, Anthony was called for an offensive foul, and fans jeered him with “Meeeeeh-lo” in response.