Knicks Hold Off Second Half Lakers Surge
KNICKS 106 – LAKERS 100 For a little while, everything was going the Knicks way on Tuesday night at the Garden. They were enjoying a 25-point lead, and there was…
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 23: Evan Fournier #13 of the New York Knicks watches his three point shot in the second half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Madison Square Garden on November 23, 2021 in New York City. The New York Knicks defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 106-100. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
KNICKS 106 - LAKERS 100
For a little while, everything was going the Knicks way on Tuesday night at the Garden. They were enjoying a 25-point lead, and there was no LeBron James on the court, who was serving a suspension for getting into a fight with Detroit Pistons' Isaiah Stewart. It looked like, with seven minutes to go, as Alec Burks completed a three-point play at the free-throw line to make it 54-29 New York, that the Knicks were going to earn a laugher against the Lakers.
Not so fast.
From the seven minute mark in the second quarter to the midway point of the thrid quarter, the Lakers stormed back on a 31-9 run to cut the Knicks lead down to just three points, 63-60, with Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook nailing a couple of clutch shots to get LA back into it.
The Knicks opened the third quarter completely cold. New York was 0-for-4 shooting, committed a pair of costly turnovers, and drew two personal fouls all within the opening three-and-a half minutes of the third quarter.
Then, Evan Fournier quieted things down when he connected on a 22-foot three pointer to build the Knicks lead back up to six, 66-60.
"We can be really good man, we just have to trust how we play and when we have a way to play, just stay with it," Fournier said afterwards.
Fournier would hit another three pointer at 6:15 to go in the third to give New York a 72-65 lead, before Westbrook answered with a three of his own to cut the Knicks lead back down to four.
That would be the case the rest of the way as both the Lakers and Knicks found their groove offensively. LA would tie the game at 81 on Westbrook's driving layup, but New York responded when Obi Toppin slammed home a dunk to give the Knicks an 83-81 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Toppin would add another dunk to open the fourth quarter, but that was quickly answered by ex-Knick Carmelo Anthony who drilled a three-pointer, cutting the Knicks lead down to one-point, 85-84 with 10:24 to go in the game.
On the Knicks next possession, Immanuel Quickley answered with a 24-foot jumper of his own to push the Knicks lead back out to four points, 88-84. The Lakers would never lead, as the Knicks took the Quickley three-pionter to jump start a 10-3 run to built a 95-87 lead.
For his heroics, Fournier led both teams in scoring with 26 points for the Knicks. Julius Randle contributed 20 points in the victory. Off the bench, Toppin and Burks finished with 12 points, while Quickley had 14 points.
The Knicks (10-8) host the Phoenix Suns on Friday.
