James Harden’s domination early. Kevin Durant’s snatch performs gradual. And when the Knicks took both away, James Johnson’s free throws at the stop.
It became as soon as the journeyman’s rotten pictures with correct two seconds left — and Evan Fournier’s uncared for desperation heave at the buzzer — that clinched the Nets’ grind-it-out 112-110 victory over the rival Knicks before a yarn sellout of 18,081 at Barclays Middle on Tuesday evening.
Harden bounced aid from a troublesome evening in opposition to Phoenix with a 34 aspects, 28 within the first half of. And Durant had 11 of his 27 within the final 5: 45.
But within the waning seconds, Durant found Johnson open within the lane. He drew a rotten on Mitchell Robinson and flippantly sank both free throws for a two-level lead with 2.2 seconds final in law.
“I wanted the one-on-one effort to correct proceed within the market and get a bucket. But I saw D-Rose creeping, and if I’d’ve went into my proceed, he would’ve correct jumped me. So I correct tried to be affected person and waited for it to open up, and James became on hand and went down the lane,” Durant mentioned. “He became as soon as aggressive ample to the rim and became as soon as able to knock those free throws down. Mountainous play.”
Fournier’s miss — 45 feet away, but aloof a cleaner test than Brooklyn must’ve allowed — ensured Durant’s pass and Johnson’s free throws had been the sport-winning play.
Alec Burks led the Knicks with 25 aspects and five assists. Julius Randle had 24 and nine rebounds and eight assists. He largely had Durant’s number early, but bought outplayed within the fourth, including a costly technical with 1: 36 left. He felt he must’ve earned a rotten, and that he’s no longer getting calls due to the he’s too tough.
“It pisses me off even extra,” Randle mentioned. “To be appropriate with you, due to the that is no longer the very best way you officiate the sport.”
Brooklyn led 82-66 before the Knicks mounted a infected rally.
In the aid of Burks and Randle, they went forward and led 105-103.
Patty Mills tied it for Brooklyn, then Harden found Durant for a proceed-forward 18-foot pull-up.
Randle bought hit with a technical, and Durant sank the ensuing free throw for a 108-105 edge with 1: 36 in law. Durant stole the ball from Randle on the next possession.
The Nets came up empty, and Randle bought free inner to drag the Knicks within one. Fournier tied it at 110-all on a 3-pointer with 17 seconds left.
When the Knicks blitzed Rose (16 aspects) at Durant and Johnson bought free within the paint to plot a rotten with 2.2 seconds left, the journeyman untied it. He made both free throws, and Brooklyn held on.
The Nets had a 25-12 edge in free throws taken, with Harden making an are trying 10 by himself.
“I conception we total did pretty so a lot of correct things. Didn’t shut it out,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau mentioned. “I wish to take a look at out the movie but … there would possibly be a tall discrepancy in free throws, I can describe you that.”
It became as soon as a most attention-grabbing time out from Harden, and noteworthy-wanted. After the Suns loss, he admitted he became as soon as struggling looking out to balance scoring versus facilitating with Kyrie Irving out.
He bought a pregame pep focus on from Hall of Famer-became TNT broadcaster Reggie Miller, and a mandate from Nets coach Steve Nash to correct assault and be himself.
That became as soon as correct ample.
“Yeah, correct being aggressive. Being aggressive. That’s doubtlessly the most productive part every evening is my aggressiveness. I’ve correct bought to continue that,” mentioned Harden, who’s regaining his self assurance going to the rim.
“Yeah, evidently. Exact no longer hooked in to anything else but being aggressive the total sport. The 2d half of became as soon as a limited varied, but we had guys get going. Patty started that 2d half of off sizzling, Kevin bought going a limited bit, so I became as soon as correct aggressive. That’s the mindset for four quarters.”