NBA official acknowledges blown call on Carmelo Anthony in Knicks-Raptors game

The New York Knicks beat the Toronto Raptors, 111-109, Tuesday night after officials missed a call that could have changed the outcome of the game.

Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, swarmed by Raptors defenders along the sideline, passed to teammate Lance Thomas. Anthony stepped out of bounds, but referees made no call.

Thomas was fouled by guard Kyle Lowry and went on to make two free throws to give New York a 108-105 advantage with 17.2 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

Raptors Coach Dwane Casey emphatically pointed to the spot on the floor where Anthony stepped out of bounds to get the attention of the game officials, but he was ignored.

“Video showed that he stepped out of bounds ... I saw it with my own eyes,” Casey told the Toronto Star. “It’s a tough game to officiate and I wouldn’t say anything if it wasn’t right there in front of me.”

Referee Ed Malloy later reviewed the play and said he and his crew missed the call.

“When we came in, we reviewed the play,” Malloy said. “We did see Anthony step out of bounds and should’ve awarded the ball to Toronto.”

Anthony, for his part, had no interest in reliving the past and was happy to leave the Air Canada Centre in Toronto with the victory.

“I don’t want to see [the replay]. I’m getting out of here,” Anthony told the New York Daily News. “No need for me to look back and watch it. I don’t know if I did or not. We’re getting out of here with a win.”

The Knicks (4-4) visit the Charlotte Hornets (3-4) tonight. The Raptors (5-3) will face the Philadelphia 76ers (0-7) tonight.

Follow Matt Wilhalme on Twitter @mattwilhalme