Tom Thibodeau didn’t call out anybody by name, but there were certainly hints the coach felt referee Jacyn Goble was a problem in Wednesday’s 108-100 loss to the Hawks.
“I just looked at who was refereeing and I knew what it was going to be like,” the Knicks coach said.
Last season, the Knicks filed a formal protest of a loss in Houston because of a phantom call by Goble on the game’s decisive play.
The protest was denied and Goble was part of the crew Wednesday in the NBA Cup quarterfinals, when the Knicks were persistently and visibly upset with several calls.
Despite its issues, New York was only called for one more foul than the Hawks and took five fewer foul shots.
The Knicks missed 6 of 15 from the charity stripe.
Asked if his comment about the officiating was a reference to Goble’s call in Houston last season, Thibodeau responded, “I just said I saw who was refereeing.”
Ariel Hukporti was injured in his G League debut.
The rookie logged just 14 minutes before spraining his ankle in Wednesday morning’s 118-107 victory for Westchester.
Hukporti was still called up for the senior Knicks game against the Hawks — eight hours after Westchester’s tipoff — but was ruled out because of the ankle sprain.
“We’ll know more [Thursday],” Thibodeau said. “Day to day is what I’m being told.”
The Knicks had sent all their rookies to the G League for Wednesday’s game at the Westchester County Center.
Tyler Kolek dropped 18 points with nine rebounds and eight assists on 7-for-20 shooting. Pacome Dadiet had just 12 points with six boards on 5-for-15 from the field. Jacob Toppin was the star with 36 points and 12 rebounds.
All of them were called up for the NBA Cup contest against the Hawks.
Before the injury, Hukporti had a fringe spot in the rotation.
He appeared in 11 games, including a 15-minute appearance in Saturday’s loss to the Pistons.
With Mitchell Robinson still out indefinitely, the backup center spot has been predictably erratic.
Jericho Sims, Hukporti and Precious Achiuwa have alternated the minutes.
In Wednesday’s loss, Thibodeau tried a lineup with Achiuwa and Karl-Anthony Towns but it was quickly interrupted by foul trouble.
“Karl got in foul problems so that shifted us,” Thibodeau said.
Thibodeau briefly turned to Sims in the fourth quarter but pulled him after one mistake.
Landry Shamet, who suffered a dislocated shoulder in the preseason, is practicing with contact, Thibodeau revealed Wednesday.
“So he’s getting closer,” the coach added.
Shamet was considered a lock for the final roster but was waived after suffering the injury. The Knicks then acquired his G League rights so they could monitor his rehab.
Without Shamet, the Knicks met the roster requirements by signing Matt Ryan, who has struggled with his shot and failed to crack the rotation.
Shamet, a 27-year-old guard, is an established veteran but hasn’t played since October.
