Scoreboard
Knicks 108, Celtics 105
Grizzlies 118, Pistons 88
Pelicans 101, Warriors 96
Suns 106, Clippers 89
What went down
It’s always a thriller when the New York Knicks host the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden, and this matchup absolutely did not disappoint.
RJ Barrett hit an off-balance bank shot triple at the buzzer to help the Knicks complete a 108-105 comeback win over the Celtics. With Tatum draped all over him, Barrett had to stretch his limbs (and imagination) to get the shot over the Celtics star. When the shot fell through the net, his teammates mobbed him as The Garden faithful roared in approval.
RJ BARRETT'S UNBELIEVABLE #TissotBuzzerBeater COMPLETES THE @nyknicks 25-POINT COMEBACK! 🤯🤯🤯#ThisIsYourTime pic.twitter.com/Qb0WXALG7F
— NBA (@NBA) January 7, 2022
The Knicks got the win courtesy of Barrett’s heroics but they wouldn’t have been in that position if not for the career night of Evan Fournier. He torched his former team with a career-high 41 points. The Knicks, who also got 22 from Julius Randle, erased a 20-point deficit midway through the third quarter in one of the biggest comebacks so far this season.
The Celtics were led by Tatum’s 36 points, followed by Dennis Schroder’s 20. With the victory, the Knicks remained in 10th place in the Eastern Conference at 19-20. The Celtics, on the other hand, have now lost back-to-back games and are now 11th with an 18-21 record.
Big-time baller
The Point God was at the peak of his powers in the Phoenix Suns’ 106-89 win over the LA Clippers. Chris Paul recorded a triple-double of 14 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists. The rebounding total is a career-high for Paul as the Suns have now climbed to the top of the Western Conference standings with a 30-8 record.
What he said
Celtics head coach Ime Udoka had this to say about the team’s endgame struggles this season: “I think it’s a lack of mental toughness to fight through those adverse times… it’s across the board. It’s a turnover here, a bad shot here, a missed defensive assignment here, and several missed rebounds tonight.”
Did you see that?
Did the New Orleans Pelicans need Steph Curry and Draymond Green to be unavailable for the Golden State Warriors to get the 101-96 win?
Probably.
But basketball is all about opportunities and seizing the moment. Just ask NBA G League call-up Gary Clark, who blocked Jordan Poole’s 3-point attempt with 10 seconds remaining in the game that sealed the victory for the Pelicans.
Gary Clark with a CLUTCH block to seal the win for the @PelicansNBA ! pic.twitter.com/oo21Ar5x7g
— NBA (@NBA) January 7, 2022
