Knicks protesting Game 3 loss

Knicks team president Isiah Thomas issued the protest after the 81-78 loss, claiming the clock malfunctioned twice in the final 1:50 of the game. Thomas says the stoppages gave the Nets more than the allotted 24 seconds on two possessions late in the game.

The first malfunction occurred with 1:50 remaining and eight seconds left on the shot clock. On that possession, New Jersey forward Kenyon Martin was fouled, but the All-Star missed both tries. A video replay showed that the foul would have still taken place within the 24-second shot clock, although Thomas is contesting that Martin would have been under more pressure with the clock winding down.

The second stoppage happened with 29.2 seconds left and the Nets leading 77-76. There were just 11 seconds remaining on the shot clock when Martin was again fouled, but this time he converted a three-point play. The videotape revealed that the basket and ensuing foul would have taken place with around five seconds left on the shot clock had it not stopped.

New Jersey leads the best-of-seven series 3-0 and will try and close out the set in Game 4 on Sunday night at Madison Square Garden.