Tensions boiled over in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Saturday night, and New York Knicks star guard Jalen Brunson could not contain his fury. Brunson screamed at an official during the third quarter after San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama nearly caused a catastrophic injury on a contested three-pointer.
The dangerous sequence unfolded when Brunson knocked down a clutch triple despite heavy closing pressure from the 7-foot-4 big man. Wembanyama appeared to contest the shot carelessly, completely violating Brunson’s landing zone. Brunson awkwardly collapsed to the floor and narrowly avoided a severe ankle or knee injury. Despite the clear physical contact, the referees kept their whistles silent, sending the Knicks’ lead guard into an absolute frenzy on the court.
Jalen Brunson was visibly upset after no foul was called on Victor Wembanyama.
If Wemby had been called for a landing-area flagrant, he would’ve been automatically suspended for a potential Game 6.
Thoughts?
pic.twitter.com/Mt501KskUt
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 14, 2026
The missed whistle carried massive stakes for the remainder of this championship series. If officials had reviewed the play and hit Wembanyama with a landing-area flagrant foul, the consequences would have been devastating for San Antonio.
Wembanyama entered the night carrying previous flagrant points from earlier in the postseason. Upgrading the play to a flagrant would have triggered an automatic suspension for a potential Game 6, severely threatening the Spurs’ survival.
Instead, the non-call allowed San Antonio to keep its generational star on the floor and mount a massive first-half surge. Sparked by the defensive break, the Spurs went on a quick 7-3 scoring run to extend their lead to 40-32. Wembanyama anchored the run, racking up 16 points and 11 rebounds in his first 24 minutes of action to help build a 69-55 advantage for San Antonio.
For the Knicks, the missed landing-zone call highlights just how razor-thin the margins are in June. Brunson has every reason to be irate about the non-call, but New York must quickly channel that frustration into execution if they hope to weather the storm in San Antonio.
The post Knicks’ Jalen Brunson screams at ref after Victor Wembanyama nearly causes Game 5 injury appeared first on ClutchPoints.
