Tom Thibodeau vaguely explains the botched Knicks final play in regulation in OT loss to Lakers

The New York Knicks inability to get the ball into their best clutch player with the game on the line cost them a shot at beating LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers Tuesday night. Instead, they were reduced to a footnote to James’ historic night.

Brunson, a top-three clutch player in the league this season, was not rewarded with the most important play of the night for the Knicks after he willed them back from a six-point deficit inside the final two minutes.

Brunson gave the Knicks a chance to win it in the regulation after drawing an offensive foul from Anthony Davis with 4.5 seconds left.

But Brunson, who belonged to the top-three clutch players in the league this season, did not get the chance to complete his heroics. Instead, Julius Randle, who struggled with his shot all night, opted for an isolation play against Davis at the baseline. LeBron James came to help and partially blocked Randle’s attempt which didn’t beat the buzzer.

As a consequence, the Knicks went on to lose the fifth of their league-leading eighth overtime game this season.

“There were three options on that play. So they have to read the defense,” Thibodeau said. “LeBron [James] was on Jalen and [Anthony] Davis was on Julius, and depending on what they’re doing, they could go either way. So there were options on that play. That’s why it’s set up the way it is.”

With 4.5 seconds left, there was enough time to keep the Lakers’ defense guessing. But there was no cutting, screens, or moving off the ball — actions that could have disrupted James, who went for a double team.