The Warriors shot 24 free throws. The Knicks shot 22 free throws.
That didn’t stop the Knicks from voicing concern about the officials after the first Garden game this season with fans.
Derrick Rose was the most vocal after he felt he got fouled on a few forays to the hoop. The Knicks shot 39 percent and faded in the second half — a recent trend.
“I felt we were getting good shots,’’ said Rose, who scored 16 points, eight assists but missed nine of his last 11 shots. “To be honest, we weren’t getting the calls. It felt like guys were going into the lane and we weren’t getting the same calls. It makes it hard when it’s that lopsided.’’
The stats don’t show much lopsidedness, but coach Tom Thibodeau, too, was upset, and Julius Randle picked up two technical fouls to get ejected.
Do the Warriors simply get more respect?
“I really don’t know,’’ Rose said. “We’re pros. I don’t even want to bring up their names. It just makes it hard when you’re already struggling on the offensive end.
“You’re driving and not getting the same call. It makes it seem something else is going on.”
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he’s enjoyed the games with assorted fans. San Francisco still won’t have fans for the near future because of California law. Warriors ownership has offered to pay for fans’ COVID-19 tests.
“There’s a different vibe in the games we’ve played with a couple of thousand fans — in Salt Lake, Phoenix and Orlando,’’ Kerr said. “Even just having a couple of thousand fans makes a difference. It feels more normal, more real. The crowd noise actually shows up at the exact right time and not canned laughter in a sitcom. This is the mecca.’’
Austin Rivers was available after missing Sunday’s game with an illness. Rivers, who did not play, has been out of the rotation since the Rose trade.
