RJ Barrett has encountered some issue changing free throws this season, so it figured that one he was making an attempt to overlook on goal discovered nothing however web.
Barrett tried to clank one from the stripe with the Knicks trailing by two with 2.6 seconds remaining for an opportunity at an offensive rebound, however his swish arrange Kevin Durant’s two game-sealing free throws on the different finish — giving KD 53 factors — within the Nets’ 110-107 victory Sunday at Barclays Middle.
“My teammates have been laughing at me as a result of I used to be making an attempt to overlook it and it ended up being an ideal free throw. I attempted to overlook it,” mentioned Barrett, who’s taking pictures 70.3 p.c from the road this season. ”I used to be making an attempt to simply shoot it fast, so it might hit the entrance rim and Mitch [Robinson} could try to grab it. But it went in.”
And so ended the Knicks’ fourth loss in seven games on their now-completed road trip, with rough defeats in which they also blew second-half leads against playoff-bound teams in Philadelphia, Phoenix and Memphis. Those wasted close calls left Tom Thibodeau’s team 28-40 overall with 14 games to play, and five full games behind Charlotte and Atlanta for the last two play-in spots in the Eastern Conference, before the Hawks’ home game Sunday night against Indiana.
“Slim, obviously, the odds are against us,” said Evan Fournier, who connected on 5-for-8 from 3-point distance and finished with 25 points. “But that’s exactly what I mean. I think we aren’t looking at the schedule or the [standings], and we’re simply going one recreation by one recreation, making an attempt to be within the second and making an attempt to take advantage of the chance. … However we want each recreation, and that’s why dropping these video games is irritating.”
Thibodeau praised Fournier for “an excellent all-around recreation,” however the veteran guard additionally dedicated a vital turnover one possession forward of Barrett’s unplanned made free throw. The Knicks got here out of a known as timeout with 13.4 seconds remaining and the Nets forward, 106-105, however Fournier’s pick-and-roll cross meant for an open Robinson inside was deflected by Brooklyn’s Bruce Brown to Durant, who was fouled and in addition drained each free throws in that sequence.
“I had a simple cross, I tousled. It’s that easy,” Fournier mentioned. “If we make that cross, that’s a dunk, we’re up one. Nothing else to say, actually. Dangerous cross.”
And with it, there’s not a lot left to say concerning the Knicks’ remaining schedule in what has turned out to be a thrown-away season following final yr’s run to the playoffs.
“Simply attempt to maintain racking up wins. You by no means know,” Barrett mentioned. “Different groups might additionally go on dropping streaks, too. So that you don’t know what’s going to occur. … It’s the NBA.
“Issues occur typically. We’ve been enjoying wonderful basketball because the All-Star break. I at all times return to that Phoenix recreation, I really feel like we undoubtedly ought to’ve had that one. Simply all you are able to do is play good basketball and attempt to shut out these video games on the finish of the fourth. That’s what we’re going to attempt to do each recreation.”
