At exhaustion, the Knicks get revenge on the Kings

two weeks ago, Kings imposed their law on Nix at home. This time, they are Nix who took revenge on Kings at Madison Square Garden (103-87). Thanks to a completely controlled fourth quarter, on the trail of the inevitable Jalen Brunson (28 points, including 11 in the final four minutes).

Because, at the end of the third quarter, the two teams were still tied: 72-72. Quite a logical result, once we know that New York etc Sacramento they did not stop holding on to two or three possessions from the second quarter, when the guests began to make up for the deficit accumulated in the first (36-26).

In great shape, but lonely, DeMar DeRozan (34 points) then made his defenders desperate, and especially because they had no solution against him – aside from losing too many balls (21) – the Knicks couldn’t get away from the score. However, we can’t say the Kings had a great night, as evidenced by their… 5/30 from 3-point range.

It was this difference in external success that proved to be decisive over time, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Jalen Branson did not fail to make important baskets for the “break” in the last act. Finished 13-2 in favor of New York.

WHAT TO REMEMBER

New York was waiting for the last act. Thrown out, the Knicks eventually found a solution, two weeks after losing in Sacramento to the same Kings. The defense was already satisfactory, but it stepped up in the fourth quarter, and the offense also reached a turning point, with newfound outside skill. At -5 with four minutes left, Jalen Brunson donned his “Captain Clutch” costume despite DeMar DeRozan, quite a customer on the court, and his 11 points (of his last 13 as a team) led Mike Brown’s men to their third straight win, which is only logical.

Sacramento s’incline encore. That makes six straight losses for the Kings, who will have three more trips to the East Coast before returning home. If DeMar DeRozan, the author of a great game, kept his team alive for a long time, the Californians will eventually shine in the last twelve minutes. As in the first quarter, they were unable to slow down New York’s offense, which ignited from long range, and they also failed to stop Jalen Brunson when he started his isolations. Offensively, it wasn’t any better, with a lot of turnovers and no solutions outside of DeRozan.

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How to read statistics? Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive jump; T = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = point difference when the player is on the court; Points = Points; Rating: player rating calculated based on positive actions – negative actions.