The Knicks fought valiantly, but a last-second free throw miss saw the team fall to the Pacers 109 – 104 on Saturday.>>Box Score
Five things to know from Saturday’s game
********** 1 InMike Miller’s debut as the team’s interim coach, the Knicks came out of the gates playing well.
Marcus MorrisandRJ Barretteach scored an early four points, leading to a 16 – 7 Knicks’ lead midway through the quarter. Miller said before the game that he wanted to see more ball movement, and that was the case early on. The Pacers fought back though, led byTJ Warren( (points) and (Domantis Sabonis) **************** (points).
Early in the fourth quarter, the Pacers pushed their lead to – 89, but the Knicks did not let the game get out of hand. New York went on a 16 – 4 run, spurred on by
Elfrid Payton, to get back within one point. Later, the scored stayed put at – 103 for a long stretch, until Morris hit a floater to bring the Knicks within two points with under two to go.
In the closing seconds, trailing by two, the Knicks came up with a loose ball and
Julius Randlewas fouled with 0.1 seconds left down by two. Randle knocked down the first, but he missed the second, and the Knicks walked away with the loss.
********** 2 Randle appeared to be much more aggressive in the early going, attacking the basket in the first half. At the break, Randle was tied for the team lead with points, while adding three rebounds and an assist. He finished the game with 18 points, (rebounds, and three assists.)
3) Mitchell Robinsonlooks to be getting more comfortable in his role coming off the bench. The Knicks once again elected to start
Taj Gibson
at center , but Robinson brought his typical energy off the bench. In the first half alone, Robinson contributed 12 points to go along with four rebounds. He ended the game with 16 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks.
********** 4 After allowing Denver to hit a staggering 21 – of – 38 three-point attempts in their last game, the Knicks’ defense of the three-point line had nowhere to go but up, but the Pacers nonetheless had a lot of success from beyond the arc, hitting – of – (threes) .9 percent).
5)Morris led the Knicks in scoring on the night with 27 points, 9-of-shooting – 22 from the floor. Randle, Robinson, Barrett (*************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** (points), andDamyean Dotson(11 points) all scored in double digits.
Highlights
Taking it strong to the rack 💪@ J _ RANDLEpic.twitter.com/PFxgL1Cou9– NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks)December 8, 2019************
HE’S ONLY (🤯) pic.twitter.com/tujvHrof4o– NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks)December 8, 2019
RJ IT MITCH
pic.twitter.com/tsMfpsZ9zg
**************) – NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks)
December 8, 2019
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****************************** @ MookMorris2 pic.twitter.com/sq EBDWWn – NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks)(December 8, 2019************
– Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) December 8, 2019************ What’s next
The Knicks will be back in action on Tuesday night, as they begin a west coast swing against
Carmelo Anthonyand the Portland Trail Blazers at (PM. *)************
Tags:Damyean Dotson
,Frank Ntilikina, Mitchell Robinson (******************************************** (******************************************** (********************************************* (************************************************