If the Knicks plan to make a serious and upward move in the Eastern Conference standings, Friday night’s game kicked off a favorable streak of home games for them to do so.
And their furious comeback in a 133-129 victory over the Grizzlies in a dizzying backyard may well serve as a springboard.
Leading scorers Julius Randle and RJ Barrett were largely invisible for three-quarters, but the duo combined for 23 points in the fourth quarter and extra time as the Knicks frantically recovered from a late 13-point hole. The comeback completed enabled coach Tom Thibodeau’s team to win the first of an 11-game stretch in which it will play nine times for the home fans.
“I loved our fight. The persistence, ”said Thibodeau. “And in the end, we got things going our way.”
Randle didn’t score his first field goal until 3:16 was left in the third quarter, but he finished with 15 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for his fifth triple-double of the season.
Barrett scored just five points in three-quarters, but he scored 15 for the remainder of the match, including a game-tying late in the regulation and a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:15 overtime remaining.
He had missed the last second of shots against the Heat last month and the Timberwolves last week, leading to a post-game dis from Minnesota guard Anthony Edwards.
‘It always comes back. We’ve played really hard over the past few games, and we got our hands on them, ”said Barrett. “It just feels good to know that we are doing the right thing and will continue to work together, and it will pay off. … Hopefully we will build on this. “
Alec Burks scored nine of his 19 points in the extra session, Immanuel Quickley finished with 20 points and Derrick Rose added 19 points off the bench for the Knicks (26-27), who had lost five of their previous six games – three at two points or less – to fall to eighth playoff position in the East.
With the top six teams in each conference automatically qualifying for postseason matches – and the seventh through 10th place finishers subject to play-in scenarios – the Knicks will have another major match-up on Sunday. take on the No.11 Raptors at home.
‘We needed it badly. This is the way to get out of that little slump, ”Randle said. Boys came forward. This is how we got out. “
Barrett did not mince words when asked before the game if he was keeping an eye on the two players who were taken ahead of him in the draft – former teammate Zion Williamson of the Pelicans and Ja Morant of the Grizzlies (who finished 36 points).
“My game speaks for itself,” said Barrett. “I mean, you can look at our numbers, you can look at the success of our team. It doesn’t really matter, as long as I get better as a player, I’ll be happy. “
While Barrett and Randle combined for just six points in two quarters, Rose finished the first half with 13 in 16 minutes to keep the Knicks within 60-51 during the break.
Jonas Valanciunas and Morant combined 10 points in a run of 16-7 to bring Memphis’ lead back to 13 in the middle of the third quarter (84-71).
But the Knicks’ second unit made another comeback bid, with an Obi Toppin lobdunk and a Quickley 3 pointer pulling them back to the final period within seven times. Toppin (eight runs) added a put-back slam early in the fourth.
Randle’s three-point play caught the Knicks with 61 seconds left in regulation within 112-109 before Barrett equalized with three free throws with 37 ticks on the clock.
One free throw each by Morant and Valanciunas gave Memphis a two-minute lead in the last minute, but Barrett drove to the left and tied for a short runner with 8.8 seconds to go to overtime. to force.
“The thing with Julius and RJ, they’re very confident, they won’t get confused if things don’t go well,” said Thibodeau. “As long as they shoot the ball well, they will keep going and they will figure out a way.”