Twice in the last 10 days, the Nucks had wasted opportunities to push their record to .500 points in terrible losses to Magic and the Warriors.
They came forward on Saturday night to give the crowd another chance to participate in the Eastern Conference. Tom Thibodo’s rising team bounced back from a 16-point deficit in the first half, and turned into a tie for fourth place in the playoff standings with a 110–107 win over the Pacers at the Gardens.
“We didn’t start the game well, it was cowardice, and we had to work our way through it,” Thibodo said. “It is a long game, but the most important thing was just to find a way to victory in the end.
He said, “We took a lot of steps and made big plays. … we just pulled it out. “
RJ Barrett clinched two free throws with 14.6 seconds left, but with Derrick Rose’s steal and Frank Nitilina’s two free throws sealed the Knots’ sixth win in 2.9 seconds in eight matches, as they improved to 17–17. they were finished. He notably started the final season 17–42 and finished with 21 wins from 66 matches.
Big man Taj Gibson suffered a sprain in the first quarter and suffered an ankle injury. Centering Mitchell Robinson has already been sidelined after hand surgery.
Rose debuted for the second straight game in place of Elfried Payton (hamstring) and scored 17 points for the Knights with 11 assistants and five styles to tour the conference-worst Pistons (9-24) on Sunday night.
All-Star forward Julius Randle filled the stat sheet again with 28 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, including two major free throws in the final minute. Barrett scored 24 runs and Immanuel Quickley scored 10 in 13 minutes, along with his second four-point game in the fourth quarter, as the Knicks played a home series (2-1) from Indiana.
Myles Turner’s 3-pointer put the Pacers at 94-91 with 6:37 remaining and their drive extended the lead to five with barely four minutes to go. But Barrett connected on his fourth 3-pointer of the night and then converted a traditional three-point play to regain for the Nucks in the 3:32 mark.
Randall also scored from long range and Barrett added the inside scoop for the game 104–98 with 2:22 left. The Pacers came back with the next five points, but Nerlens Noel threw two free throws after stealing eight points in 41 minutes of the season.
Randall’s fellow All-Star power forward, Domantes Sabonis, was awarded 15 points for the Pacers, who played without point guard Malcolm Brogdon (knee) for the first time this season. Former Knox Doug McDermott (20 points) and Justin Holiday (13) scored 33 for Indiana (15-17).
To start the day, the teams that finished fourth and formerly ranked 10th were separated by a game, but the Knicks went into a tie with a defunct Raptor.
“It’s a long season and that’s what we have to understand,” Thibodo said. “Every game is equally important. One game does not carry more meaning than another. They are all the same. Wherever you end up can be the difference between a lot of things. “
The Knicks lost their first five shots and gave Indiana an 8–0 lead, with Holiday adding a pair of early 3-pointers to give Thibodeau a quick two-minute quick time in the game.
The Knicks scored more than half of 16 points at halftime and a season-high 140 total in Thursday’s win over the Kings. But his defense equaled a 24-6 closing run, which ended with Rogers leading 54-52 at three straight buzzers.
Quikley also has a second 3-pointer in this spart, two docks by Randall and two more made by Barrett from downtown.
Barrett’s breakaway dunk with four minutes left in the third, followed by a technical foul on pacers coach Nate Bjorkgren, seven free throws by Rose free throws and Randall helped the Nucks take an 81–78 lead in the final quarter.
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