It was the Charlotte Hornets, penultimate in the East, who ended the impressive streak of the New York Knicks by winning their visit to Madison Square Garden 112-105.
those of North Carolina they took advantage of the fatigue of the New Yorkers after playing a double overtime in Boston, and put an end to their 9 consecutive victories. Up to three players from the visitors added at least 20 points led by Kelly Oubre Jr. with 27; his teammate Terry Rozier III added 25 points and Gordon Hayward finished with 23.
In the Knicks, bad percentages in general, especially from RJ Barrett, his greatest exponent with 27, although with 10/24 from the field. Along with him, his entire starting five contributed double-digit scorers: Julius Randle (16); Mitchell Robinson and Immanuel Quickley (14), and Quentin Grimes (12).
“We ran out of fuel,” Julius Randle acknowledged to the outlet. ESPN.
“I think at this point in the season everyone is tired,” Gordon Hayward said. “You’re going through it, and you play games every other night. And obviously some of his victories were moral, which is another part of fatigue. The mental and the emotional. So beating them tonight was very important for us,” he explained.
Brunson, come down again.
For the second day in a row, Jalen Brunson was absent due to discomfort in his left foot. Despite the fact that Tom Thibodeau assured that his problems were not serious, the Knicks were cautious and preferred that he rest again.
In his absence Quickley repeated ownership, although with different luck than in the previous matchup against Boston. His from him were 14 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists through 5/16 shooting from the field.
“We weren’t good in defensive transition and we didn’t run like we have on previous occasions,” Thibodeau admitted.
On the next day, the Hornets will face Dwane Casey’s Pistons on March 10, and the Knicks will also play that day against Mike Brown’s Kings.
(Cover photo: Al Bello/Getty Images)
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