The New York Knicks lost to the Houston Rockets Monday, but they have a real reason to believe they were robbed — as do their bettors.

With the game tied at 103, Rockets guard Aaron Holiday hoisted a long-range three-pointer as time expired in the fourth quarter. He missed, which should have sent the game into overtime. However, the officiating crew whistled Jalen Brunson for a foul on the shot, giving Holiday three free throw attempts with less than a second remaining. He made two to give Houston the win and -1 cover.

After the game, crew chief Ed Malloy admitted it was a bad call.

FOUL OR NO FOUL!?

Jalen Brunson gets called for a foul at the buzzer and Aaron Holiday hit two free throws to win it for the Rocketspic.twitter.com/5vYsd7H5IT

— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) February 13, 2024

“After seeing it during postgame review, the offensive player was able to return to a normal playing position on the floor,” Malloy told The Athletic’s Fred Katz as part of his pool report. “The contact which occurred after the release of the ball therefore is incidental and marginal to the shot attempt and should not have been called.”

Ed Malloy, to pool reporter @FredKatz, on the call in the Knicks game, which Malloy admits was the wrong call. pic.twitter.com/Y0E2T3w9rg

— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) February 13, 2024

Of course, it’s possible the Knicks would have still lost in overtime if no foul was called, but I’m sure they would have appreciated the opportunity to find out. Especially considering they came back from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to tie the game.

This was just a badly botched call by that officiating crew.