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[Saba Sports News] Jalen Brunson sparked controversy with a questionable move during Thursday’s playoff clash.
The New York Knicks guard came under fire for poking Detroit Pistons guard Tim Hardaway Jr. in the eye during the first quarter of Game 3. Brunson was contesting a three-point attempt when his hand made direct contact with Hardaway’s face. The play was reviewed and ruled a flagrant 1 foul.
Brunson drew widespread criticism as alternate angles of the incident circulated online, with many suggesting the eye poke looked intentional. The backlash intensified given Brunson and Hardaway were former teammates with the Dallas Mavericks from 2019 to 2022, including a run to the Western Conference Finals.
Hardaway converted all three free throws and followed them up with a three-pointer on the ensuing possession—turning the flagrant foul into a six-point swing for Detroit and, in the eyes of some, poetic justice.
Brunson, a two-time All-Star, has already earned a reputation in this series for excessive flopping, which has irritated both Pistons players and fans. The eye poke only added fuel to the fire, drawing comparisons to the antics of notorious agitator Draymond Green.