NEW YORK – The ultimate seconds of the sport had been ticking off the clock when Jalen Brunson drove the basket in opposition to two Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder defenders, made the powerful layup after which crashed to the court docket whereas the Madison Sq. Backyard crowd erupted in euphoria.
Brunson’s bucket, which got here with some uncalled contact by the Thunder, handed the Knicks a one-point lead with 4.1 seconds left. A wild sport regarded like it could end within the Knicks’ favor.
Then Thunder MVP-candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made a three-pointer from the left nook on the opposite finish to place OKC again on high with 2.1 seconds left.
These Backyard cheers turned to groans.
The Knicks known as timeout. They then had 1.1 seconds left, and obtained the ball to Brunson, who couldn’t drain the shot as time expired.
What almost was an inspiring Knicks victory as a substitute changed into a irritating 113-112 loss, the Knicks’ second in a row.
The Knicks at one level held a 10-point lead. They could not maintain it.
Brunson completed with 30 factors on 11-of-25 capturing (4-of-11 from lengthy distance) whereas Deuce McBride had 19 factors and Isaiah Hartenstein added 17.
An enormous drawback all night time for the Knicks?
Free throws.
They missed 11 of them, pricey in a one-point loss.
” This sport — they’re good,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau stated. “They’re sitting on high of the West. We’re a basket away from successful the ball sport, and so Alexander’s shot goes out, we’re sitting right here speaking about a complete totally different narrative. And so, it didn’t, we’ve obtained to regroup, go all the way down to Miami and we’ve obtained to prepare for that. And that’s the mindset I need us to have. We’ve obtained a resilient group, tough-minded. Generally you get knocked down. You’ve obtained to get again up. You’ve obtained to battle.”
So now the Knicks, sitting within the No. 4 seed within the Japanese Convention, flip the web page as April begins.
How this staff finishes the common season and the way they appear within the playoffs is the massive query.
“We simply obtained to be centered, obtained to proceed to organize, and we won’t simply flip it on as soon as the playoffs begin,” Brunson stated. “So clearly we’re in a good place however we won’t get comfy. That must be our mindset going ahead.”
The Knicks have eight video games remaining, beginning with Tuesday’s contest in opposition to the Warmth in Miami. 4 of these remaining video games are in opposition to groups with sub.-500 data – three in opposition to the Chicago Bulls and one in opposition to the Brooklyn Nets.
In addition they must play the Bucks and the Celtics on the street.
In addition they nonetheless aren’t absolutely wholesome.
The Knicks had been nonetheless with out OG Anunoby and Julius Randle Sunday, and it’s unclear when both of them will return.
Randle, recovering from a dislocated shoulder, has not but been cleared for contact in follow.
“I feel that’s how we have now to strategy it, that these guys aren’t coming again and clearly we’ll be pleasantly shocked if they arrive again,” Josh Hart stated. “I’m not in these medical conversations or something like that, so I don’t know shit from shit. However we’ve obtained to strategy it each sport and the tip of this season that these guys aren’t coming again and in the event that they do be pleasantly shocked.”
The Knicks had been additionally with out heart Mitchell Robinson, who tweaked his left ankle in Friday’s extra time loss to the San Antonio Spurs – simply his second sport again after recovering from surgical procedure on the identical ankle.
These Knicks have proven loads of occasions this season simply how good they are often, how powerful and gritty and feisty they are often.
They’ve additionally had loads of powerful losses to lament.
The common season is winding down.
Which Knicks staff will present up for the video games that stay and into the playoffs?
We’re about to seek out out.