NBA Finals: League admits it missed foul call after Victor Wembanyama shoved Jalen Brunson early in Game 3 win

The NBA has acknowledged that a foul was missed when San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama shoved New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson during the first quarter of Game 3 in the NBA Finals. The incident occurred early in the Spurs' 115-111 victory at Madison Square Garden on Monday night, where Wembanyama pushed Brunson with both hands as he attempted to set a screen. Monty McCutchen, the NBA’s head of officiating, confirmed on ESPN on Tuesday that the foul was overlooked and that the league is reviewing whether to retroactively assess a flagrant foul. Wembanyama’s push sent Brunson to the floor, though he did not fall completely, and the play sparked reactions from fans in the arena. Wembanyama finished with 32 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, leading the Spurs to their first series win after dropping the first two games at home. Brunson responded with 32 points and five assists but also had five turnovers. Knicks coach Mike Brown criticized the officiating, particularly the disparity in free-throw attempts, with the Spurs shooting 24 in the second half compared to the Knicks’ eight. This is the second postseason incident for Wembanyama, who was ejected for the first time in his career during a playoff game against the Minnesota Timberwolves after elbowing Naz Reid. Since the game is now over, no further action will be taken unless the league intervenes retroactively. The NBA Finals game marked the first time since 1999 that a Finals matchup was held at Madison Square Garden.