Knicks Use Strong Start To Get Past Cavaliers
The New York Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 109-91, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Tuesday.
The Knicks (2-2) moved back to .500 with a dominant display away from home, as they didn’t have problems to defeat the Cavaliers (1-3) despite playing on the road. This game extended Cleveland’s home woes, as the Cavaliers have dropped their first three home contests of the current season. The Knicks used a solid start to secure the lead following a 28-24 score, and they boosted their lead following a 30-28 score in the second quarter. The Knicks pulled away for good in the third quarter with a 28-16 score. The game was essentially over with 12 minutes left in the clock, and the final quarter ended with a 23-23 tie, so New York cruised to an easy win. The Knicks improved to 2-1 away from home.
Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson each scored 19 points to lead the Knicks in this comfortable win. Randle also grabbed 10 rebounds, and Brunson chipped in with five boards, two assists and two steals. RJ Barrett had 16 points and three rebounds. Mitchell Robinson chipped in with eight rebounds and seven points. Immanuel Quickley impressed off the bench with 18 points, three rebounds and two assists.
Donovan Mitchell was the leading scorer for a depleted Cavaliers team and finished with 26 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals. Evan Mobley only scored six points, but he grabbed 12 rebounds, dished out five assists and registered two blocks. Georges Niang ended with 11 points. Craig Porter had 10 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
The Knicks (2-2) moved back to .500 with a dominant display away from home, as they didn’t have problems to defeat the Cavaliers (1-3) despite playing on the road. This game extended Cleveland’s home woes, as the Cavaliers have dropped their first three home contests of the current season. The Knicks used a solid start to secure the lead following a 28-24 score, and they boosted their lead following a 30-28 score in the second quarter. The Knicks pulled away for good in the third quarter with a 28-16 score. The game was essentially over with 12 minutes left in the clock, and the final quarter ended with a 23-23 tie, so New York cruised to an easy win. The Knicks improved to 2-1 away from home.
Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson each scored 19 points to lead the Knicks in this comfortable win. Randle also grabbed 10 rebounds, and Brunson chipped in with five boards, two assists and two steals. RJ Barrett had 16 points and three rebounds. Mitchell Robinson chipped in with eight rebounds and seven points. Immanuel Quickley impressed off the bench with 18 points, three rebounds and two assists.
Donovan Mitchell was the leading scorer for a depleted Cavaliers team and finished with 26 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals. Evan Mobley only scored six points, but he grabbed 12 rebounds, dished out five assists and registered two blocks. Georges Niang ended with 11 points. Craig Porter had 10 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Spurs Rally To Stun Suns
By Dan Bruno
The San Antonio Spurs defeated the host Phoenix Suns, 115-114, at Footprint Center on Tuesday evening.
The Suns were without Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, but got out to a strong start with a nine-point lead after one quarter. They kept the momentum going in the second and outscored the visitors by another nine points to make it an 18-point difference by halftime. The Spurs began chipping away in the third and managed to bring it to a 13-point game heading into the final quarter. They continued the fight in the fourth and brought it down to a three-point deficit with 2:00 left on the clock. Kevin Durant pushed the Suns' lead back up to five, but Victor Wembanyama followed up with four straight points to cut it to a one-point game with 3.0 seconds left. Keldon Johnson emerged as the hero for the Spurs, as he stole the ball off of Durant after an inbound pass and drove to the basket for the game-winning layup.
Johnson led the way for the Spurs with 27 points, three rebounds, four assists and two steals, in 33 minutes of action. Victor Wembanyama added 18 points, eight rebounds and four blocks, while Devin Vassell totaled 18 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals. The Spurs shot 46.7 percent from the field, including 14-for-37 from long range.
Meanwhile, Kevin Durant led the Suns with 26 points, two rebounds, seven assists and two steals, in 37 minutes. Eric Gordon followed up with 20 points, two rebounds and six assists, while Grayson Allen added 19 points, seven rebounds, three assists and a block.
The Suns (2-2) and Spurs (2-2) are set to clash again on Thursday.
The Suns were without Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, but got out to a strong start with a nine-point lead after one quarter. They kept the momentum going in the second and outscored the visitors by another nine points to make it an 18-point difference by halftime. The Spurs began chipping away in the third and managed to bring it to a 13-point game heading into the final quarter. They continued the fight in the fourth and brought it down to a three-point deficit with 2:00 left on the clock. Kevin Durant pushed the Suns' lead back up to five, but Victor Wembanyama followed up with four straight points to cut it to a one-point game with 3.0 seconds left. Keldon Johnson emerged as the hero for the Spurs, as he stole the ball off of Durant after an inbound pass and drove to the basket for the game-winning layup.
Johnson led the way for the Spurs with 27 points, three rebounds, four assists and two steals, in 33 minutes of action. Victor Wembanyama added 18 points, eight rebounds and four blocks, while Devin Vassell totaled 18 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals. The Spurs shot 46.7 percent from the field, including 14-for-37 from long range.
Meanwhile, Kevin Durant led the Suns with 26 points, two rebounds, seven assists and two steals, in 37 minutes. Eric Gordon followed up with 20 points, two rebounds and six assists, while Grayson Allen added 19 points, seven rebounds, three assists and a block.
The Suns (2-2) and Spurs (2-2) are set to clash again on Thursday.
Clippers Defeat Magic, 118-102
The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the visiting Orlando Magic, 118-102, at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday.
While Los Angeles were held to just 13 points in the first quarter, they dropped 105 points across the final three quarters to prevail. A 41-21 third quarter is when the tide turned, with Los Angeles maintaining a double-digit lead for the closing 16 minutes. The Clippers shot 50 percent from the field and 45 percent from three-point range while holding the Magic to 47 percent from the field and 23 percent from long range. Los Angeles also out-rebounded Orlando, 57-52, while out-assisting them, 30-23.
The Magic (2-2) were led by Paolo Banchero, providing 15 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals. Franz Wagner amassed 14 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Markelle Fultz totaled 12 points and five boards, while Jalen Suggs finished with 11 points, six rebounds and three assists. Mo Wagner led the bench with 13 points.
The Clippers (3-1) were led by Paul George, collecting 27 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Russell Westbrook compiled 18 points, six rebounds, seven assists and five steals. Bones Hyland had 17 points and three assists, while Norman Powell led the bench with 17 points, three rebounds and three assists.
Los Angeles has to play the second half of a back-to-back set on Wednesday, staying in LA to face the Lakers. As for Orlando, they return to action on Thursday in a road matchup with the Utah Jazz.
While Los Angeles were held to just 13 points in the first quarter, they dropped 105 points across the final three quarters to prevail. A 41-21 third quarter is when the tide turned, with Los Angeles maintaining a double-digit lead for the closing 16 minutes. The Clippers shot 50 percent from the field and 45 percent from three-point range while holding the Magic to 47 percent from the field and 23 percent from long range. Los Angeles also out-rebounded Orlando, 57-52, while out-assisting them, 30-23.
The Magic (2-2) were led by Paolo Banchero, providing 15 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals. Franz Wagner amassed 14 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Markelle Fultz totaled 12 points and five boards, while Jalen Suggs finished with 11 points, six rebounds and three assists. Mo Wagner led the bench with 13 points.
The Clippers (3-1) were led by Paul George, collecting 27 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Russell Westbrook compiled 18 points, six rebounds, seven assists and five steals. Bones Hyland had 17 points and three assists, while Norman Powell led the bench with 17 points, three rebounds and three assists.
Los Angeles has to play the second half of a back-to-back set on Wednesday, staying in LA to face the Lakers. As for Orlando, they return to action on Thursday in a road matchup with the Utah Jazz.