Game 3 of the NBA Finals took place Monday night as the Knicks hosted their first home game of the series. The Spurs defeated New York 115-111, and youd think the conversation would be centered around the play of their young star, Victor Wembanyama. Instead, much of the discussion across the internet and social media has been about the lopsided officiating. Why is that the case? Lets take a deeper look.MORE: 3 NBA stars whose value has never been lowerOfficiating on Jalen BrunsonNew York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) reacts in the second quarter against the San Antonio Spurs during game three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectBrunson has developed a reputation as one of the leagues biggest foul-baiters. That reputation has followed him into the playoffs, and it hasnt done him or the Knicks any favors. The Spurs are arguably the best defensive team in the league, and theyve been extremely physical when guarding Brunson. Many possessions consist of Brunson being bumped, grabbed, or knocked off his spots, yet the whistle often stays silent.Through three games, Brunson has attempted 32 shots within 10 feet of the basket. Its hard to believe an already undersized guard has generated only 17 free-throw attempts outside of those drives.In Game 3, Brunson was actually the player who found himself in foul trouble despite San Antonios physical defense. He was assessed a controversial flagrant foul that was probably the correct call, but there was still debate over whether he gave enough landing space to Julian Champagnie.The Flagrant Foul ControversiesJun 8, 2026; New York, New York, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) looks on during game three of the 2026 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks in the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn ImagesBrunson was thrown to the floor once by Stephon Castle and once by Wembanyama. In both instances, the broadcast team called for a flagrant foul, yet officials didnt even assess a common foul. Those no-calls left fans, and commentators stunned. So when Brunson was later assessed a flagrant foul, the Madison Square Garden crowd was understandably frustrated.Some fans have speculated that Wembanyama avoided a flagrant because another Flagrant 2 could have put him at risk of suspension. Whether thats true or not, it has only added fuel to the controversy.There was also a sequence where Josh Hart scored a layup and, while retrieving the ball from the net, was run over by Spurs center Luke Kornet. Hart got up and shoved Kornet, but instead of offsetting penalties, San Antonio was awarded free throws.The Whistles the bigger storyGame 3 wasnt the only game with questionable officiating. Similar moments occurred in Games 1 and 2, but they received less attention because the Knicks won. Right now, it feels like the officiating is becoming the main storyline of this Finals matchup. The focus should be on the Knicks and Spurs, yet too often the conversation keeps returning to the officials. Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead