Best team of the moment with its streak of eight straight wins, Utah is cold-picked by the Knicks without complexes. It is the New York left-handers who immediately stand out, namely Julius Randle and RJ Barrett. The ball circulates well, and at the slightest opening, the Knicks go to challenge Rudy Gobert. Opposite, the defense is forced to ignore a player: Royce O’Neal. Twice, he finds himself alone at 3-points, and he puts it in.
No rounds of observation, and RJ Barrett is handing out caviar for his interiors. New York signs a 10-0 to escape (17-8). Tom Thibodeau replaces Alec Burks with Austin Rivers, and watch your eyes, we’re only going to see him! The New York full-back will simply catch fire, and no Jazz player is able to stop him.
As soon as he comes into play, he plants a 3-point, and the Knicks attack the second quarter with a nine-point lead (27-18). Moment chosen by Rivers to transform into a human torch.
Austin Rivers in fusion!
In all positions, Doc’s son crashes! At 3-points with his defender stuck to him, in step-back on the free throw line, or on this rainbow shot to avoid Rudy Gobert’s counter. The ball hits the circle, then the board, before returning. Austin Rivers can’t miss a thing! On the scoreboard, the Knicks are still ahead (36-30), but we haven’t seen anything yet! Because Rivers doesn’t stop there. His 3-point festival continues, and he just scored 18 of his team’s last 21 points. On the bench, the substitutes get up and hold their heads with both hands. Rivers is on fire, and the Jazz are standing KO, led by 14 points at home (48-34).
Tom Thibodeau brings him back to the bench to make him breathe, and Utah takes the opportunity to get closer by Gobert then Donovan Mitchell, very erased this evening. At the break, the Knicks have the game in hand (59-46) and Austin Rivers is already 25 points! Back from the locker room, Mike Conley has a hot hand.
This season, the Jazz discovered a passion for 3-point shooting, and it is showing everywhere. Under the panels, Rudy Gobert and Mitchell Robinson counter all-out, and after a 3-point from Mitchell, the Jazz came back to -5 (67-62).
Rudy Gobert reigns under the panels
Tom Thibodeau needs a spark, and Austin Rivers pawns impatiently on the bench. The Knicks coach leaves his holders, but the momentum has changed sides. The Jazz nibbles its delay, and equalizes on a 3-point from Bojan Bogdanovic (69-69). Moment chosen by Thibodeau to finally bring Rivers in. The back of the Knicks lost his warm hand, and now we must contain Gobert. The Frenchman is unleashed under the circle. The Knicks can’t contain it, but they continue to play just on offense. Randle is perfect and Barrett, well offset by Rivers, puts in the 3-point which feels good. At the start of the last quarter, the Knicks keep a small point in advance (81-80).
Unfortunately for them, the rest will get tough … Jazz will simply kill the match! The New York substitutes lose a silly ball and Jordan Clarkson rushes to score to take the advantage.
Then that same Clarkson sends Gobert for the alley oop with back dunk! Utah rolls out his basketball, makes the show, and Georges Niang punctuates a first 10-0 (91-81). Barrett stopped the bleeding at 3-point, but Utah followed with another 10-0. This time, it’s O’Neale who does damage, first by his technique in the middle of the racket, then by his interception which he finishes on a lay-up. The Jazz has just signed a 20-3 to soar to the score (100-84).
New York has taken a big hit in the back of the head, and Julius Randle’s efforts will be in vain. Once again, Donovan Mitchell finds Rudy Gobert under the circle. One, then two fakes, and finally the big dunk. The Frenchman was royal, and Utah won 108-94 thanks to an exceptional start to the last quarter. It is the 9th victory in a row, and the Jazz move to second place in the West.
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