Cavs star Isaac Okoro calls out New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson for his on-court ‘antics’… and reveals he’s spoken to officials to make them aware of him ‘falling on the ground’ as rivalry hots up ahead of Game 2 in playoff series
- Okoro and Brunson ended Game 1 with the exact same number of free throws
- Brunson scored 22 second half points and only two of them from the line
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Cleveland Cavaliers small forward Isaac Okoro has questionably called out New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson over his ‘antics’ in trying to draw fouls from officials, ahead of Game 2 of the two sides’ Round 1 playoff series.
The Knicks ran out winners in Game 1 in Cleveland, but Okoro appeared to take umbrage with Brunson’s supposed regular falls to the ground with little contact.
‘We feel like we played him well last game,’ Okoro said. ‘I mean, probably get him off the free throw line, not falling for his pump fakes and those antics of trying to draw fouls, be more disciplined.’
Okoro also went onto explain what he thinks his team can do to guard Brunson and explained the foul-baiting ‘antics’ he was referring to, which are in fact commonplace throughout the league.
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‘Just being disciplined,’ Okoro said. ‘Knowing, talking to the refs you know, trying to let them know some of the antics.
‘You know he might do, you know staying down on pump fakes, you know trying to use my size and my length just to try and deter shots and passes.
Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro called out Knicks’ guard Jalen Brunson over foul-baiting ‘antics’
Brunson torched the Cavs defense for 22 of his 27 points in the second half of the Game 1 win
‘Just nodding your head back, falling on the ground when not a lot of physicality’s used on you, just little things to help him get fouls and things get to the free throw line.’
Brunson ended Game 1 of the playoff series with 27 points in 30 minutes, despite playing limited minutes in the first half of the game due to foul trouble.
22 of Brunson’s 27 points came in the second half and interestingly enough only two of those points came from the foul line. For the game, in total, Brunson only took four foul shots.
Even more interestingly, Okoro took the same number of foul shots in the game as Brunson and – in fact – shot better from the line that evening, so it raises the question of who truly benefitted from the foul calls made by officials.
All together New York received 20 foul calls throughout the game while Cleveland received 17, showing the foul distribution was relatively even despite any ‘antics.’
Okoro himself played 23 minutes in the game and scored only six points on a highly ineffective night shooting from the field. He was also whistled for three personal fouls.
The two teams will face off again Tuesday night in Cleveland for Game 2, and Okoro’s comments may have drawn more eyes to how the officials will call the game.
Despite his claims over foul-baiting ‘antics’ Okoro and Brunson shot the same amount of FTs
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