Knicks edge Celtics in time beyond regulation thriller, Doncic damage in Mavs win

Julius Randle scored 37 factors to guide the New York Knicks to a 120-117 time beyond regulation victory over the NBA-leading Boston Celtics on Thursday because the Dallas Mavericks held off Phoenix regardless of an damage to star guard Luka Doncic.

Randle added 9 rebounds and Jalen Brunson scored 29 factors with 4 rebounds, seven assists and an important block as time expired because the Knicks thwarted Boston’s comeback bid.

They handed the Celtics a 3rd straight defeat on the heels of their nine-game successful streak.

Boston’s Jayson Tatum celebrated his choice as an All-Star starter with 35 factors and 14 rebounds. Jaylen Brown scored 22 factors with 9 rebounds.

However Boston’s star duo additionally mixed for six key turnovers, and Brown missed two free throws with 7.6 seconds remaining to harm Boston’s trigger.

“I am a greater basketball participant than I performed at present,” a dejected Brown stated. “These two missed free throws sort of embodied the entire recreation for me — did not get it going, did not give my workforce sufficient power to win.”

Randle, in the meantime, drained a pair of clutch free throws with 21.2 seconds left and RJ Barrett added one other two foul photographs earlier than Brunson swatted away a possible game-tying three-pointer by Malcolm Brogdon as time ticked off in time beyond regulation.

“We have been in these video games earlier than,” Randle advised broadcaster TNT after the Knicks squandered a late 12-point lead however managed to hold on.

“All 12 months we have been in up and down video games. We have misplaced these video games on the finish, we have gained them on the finish, so there is a sense of being snug in these positions and realizing how one can execute whether or not you are up or down.”

Tatum scored 11 factors within the fourth quarter, however he missed a possible game-winner and when teammate Robert Williams grabbed the rebound Boston’s Jericho Sims blocked his put-back try.

In Phoenix, Doncic — who got here into the evening main the league in scoring — limped out with a sprained left ankle lower than 4 minutes into the competition.

X-rays have been detrimental, however he did not return, with Spencer Dinwiddie stepping as much as fill the void with 36 factors and 9 assists.

The Mavs led the whole second half, however two driving layups from Chris Paul pulled the Suns inside 96-95 with 19.7 seconds remaining.

Dwight Powell got here up with a key rebound off teammate Reggie Bullock’s missed free throw after which made two free throws of his personal because the Mavs put it away.

“Nobody ever panicked and we discovered a method to win a recreation,” stated Mavs coach Jason Kidd, who didn’t have an instantaneous replace on the severity of Doncic’s damage after the sport.

– Pistons prime Nets –

The Detroit Pistons, house owners of the worst document within the Japanese Convention, sprung a shock in Brooklyn, the place Kyrie Irving’s 40 factors weren’t sufficient for the Nets in a 130-122 defeat.

Saddiq Bey scored 25 factors to guide eight Pistons gamers in double figures — regardless of the absence of star guard Cade Cunningham, backup level guard Cory Joseph and heart Marvin Bagley.

Alec Burks scored 20 factors for the Pistons, who ended a four-game dropping streak as they rebounded from an embarrassing loss to Milwaukee on Monday through which they gave up 150 factors.

“We simply knew we needed to begin off higher than that and simply play higher all through the 4 quarters,” Bey stated. “I feel we have been very keen simply to nip that one within the bud and simply hold going.”

The Pistons capitalized on their dimension benefit in opposition to the short-handed Nets, who have been once more with out star Kevin Durant and noticed Ben Simmons depart early with a sore left knee.

In Charlotte, the Hornets celebrated LaMelo Ball’s return from a three-game damage absence with a 111-96 come-from-behind victory over the Chicago Bulls.

In Los Angeles, Paul George scored 35 factors and Kawhi Leonard added 27 for the Clippers in a 138-100 wire-to-wire rout of the San Antonio Spurs.

bb/sco