New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson found himself at the center of controversy during Thursday night’s Game 3 of the first-round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons. The incident occurred in the first quarter and led to a flagrant foul call, as well as a chorus of boos from Pistons fans.

With the Knicks leading 20-11 and 6:20 remaining in the first quarter, Detroit’s Tim Hardaway Jr. attempted a 3-pointer from the left wing. As Hardaway was in the air, Brunson closed out on him defensively, but his defense turned dangerous as he jammed his right hand toward Hardaway’s face, poking him in the left eye.

Hardaway immediately clutched his face in pain and fell to the court. Referees reviewed the play, and after the review, they ruled Brunson’s actions a flagrant 1 foul for “unnecessary contact above the shoulder level to the shooter with a followthrough to the eye of the shooter.” Referee Zach Zarba explained that Brunson’s motion did not constitute a “natural play on the basketball.”

As the replay was reviewed, Detroit fans erupted in anger, chanting “F*** you, Brunson!” in response to the eye poke. Meanwhile, Hardaway was treated on the bench, recovering from the incident.

The foul resulted in three free throws for Hardaway, all of which he made. He then hit a 3-pointer on the Pistons’ next possession, sparking a 6-0 run to cut New York’s lead to 20-17. However, the Knicks managed to withstand the surge, finishing the first quarter with a 33-27 advantage. New York eventually held off a late Pistons push to win the game 118-116.

Brunson had a standout performance, finishing with 30 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds. Hardaway led the Pistons with 24 points, including a hot 7-of-12 shooting from beyond the arc.

The Knicks’ victory in Game 3 gave them a 2-1 series lead, and the tension between the teams is clearly escalating as the series intensifies.

Key Takeaways:

• Jalen Brunson draws a flagrant 1 foul for poking Tim Hardaway Jr. in the eye.

• Detroit fans express their anger toward Brunson after the flagrant foul.

• Hardaway scores 24 points for the Pistons, while Brunson leads the Knicks with 30 points.

• The Knicks win 118-116 and take a 2-1 lead in the playoff series.