Knicks rout Hornets, earn wild-card spot in East to advance in the In-Season Tournament
NEW YORK (AP) The New York Knicks were already making plans for a trip to Las Vegas after learning they had advanced to the quarterfinals of the NBA In-Season Tournament.
Their destination is actually Milwaukee, where they would need a victory over the Bucks to reach the Final Four in Vegas.
Even the players are still learning how the NBA's new event works.
Julius Randle had 25 points and 20 rebounds, RJ Barrett scored 16 points and the Knicks advanced to the knockout stage with a 115-91 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night.
“We all thought we were going to Vegas, I cannot lie,” reserve guard Immanuel Quickley said. “When we first won, we all were saying we were going to Vegas like we were going to Disney World when you go to the Super Bowl.”
The Knicks missed their chance to win Group B when the Bucks beat the Miami Heat to finish unbeaten in pool play. But the Knicks took the wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference by tiebreaker because of their point differential in the preliminary round.
New York will visit the East’s No. 1 seed next Tuesday.
The Knicks and Bucks were already scheduled to meet four times this season. An extra game is now on the calendar against an NBA Finals favorite with the chance to really go to Las Vegas.
“If they tell us we got to play this team five times, we play them five times and be ready,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “Whatever the schedule says, that’s what you have. Sometimes it’s in your favor, sometimes it’s not. Just be ready to play.”
Quickley scored 23 points and Josh Hart chipped in 17 as the New York bench outscored Charlotte’s 50-35.
Hart was not too fond of the idea that in order to advance out of group play the Knicks had to run up the score on their opponent.
“It was interesting. I don’t really like it,” he said. “We were focused at first just about winning. The last couple of minutes it feels weird. At a certain point you just start chasing points, doing all that. So it kind of messes with the integrity of the game a little bit.”
Brandon Miller, the No. 2 pick in the draft, scored 18 points and fellow first-rounder Mark Williams had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Hornets, who were without star point guard LaMelo Ball, who was out with a right ankle injury that could sideline him for a number of games.
The 91 points scored by Charlotte was a season-low.
“Our effort was really good tonight. Our purpose of play was not,” Hornets coach Steve Clifford said. “That’s what we have to learn from.”
New York led by as many as 16 points late in the second quarter and had its lead trimmed down to 56-55 with 8:12 to play in the third quarter after the Hornets went on a 11-2 run, capped by five points from Miles Bridges.
It was the closest the Hornets would get, as they shot just 4 for 11 from the field and committed five turnovers en route to being outscored by the Knicks 24-11 the rest of the period to head into the fourth quarter with New York leading 80-66.
Randle and Barrett combined for 28 points to lead the Knicks to a 53-44 lead at halftime.
UP NEXT
Hornets: Remain in New York to play the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night.
Knicks: Host the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Mark Williams vs. Mitchell Robinson (Jalen Brunson gains possession) | ||
| 11:41 |  | Gordon Hayward shooting foul (RJ Barrett draws the foul) | ||
| 11:41 | | +1 | RJ Barrett makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 0-1 |
| 11:41 | | +1 | RJ Barrett makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 0-2 |
| 11:24 | | Miles Bridges misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 11:22 | | Mitchell Robinson defensive rebound | ||
| 11:14 | | +3 | Julius Randle makes three point jump shot (Jalen Brunson assists) | 0-5 |
| 10:57 | | Mitchell Robinson blocks Brandon Miller's two point driving layup | ||
| 10:55 | | Jalen Brunson defensive rebound | ||
| 10:50 | | RJ Barrett misses two point running layup | ||
| 10:48 | | Mark Williams defensive rebound | ||
| 10:41 | | +2 | Terry Rozier makes two point running layup | 2-5 |
| 10:23 | | Julius Randle misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:21 | | Mark Williams defensive rebound | ||
| 10:06 | | Terry Rozier misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 10:04 | | Julius Randle defensive rebound | ||
| 9:52 | | Quentin Grimes turnover (bad pass) (Brandon Miller steals) | ||
| 9:38 | | +2 | Gordon Hayward makes two point pullup jump shot | 4-5 |
| 9:22 | | +2 | Julius Randle makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 4-7 |
| 9:01 | | Mitchell Robinson blocks Mark Williams's two point driving layup | ||
| 8:59 | | Mitchell Robinson defensive rebound | ||
| 8:59 | | Mitchell Robinson turnover (out of bounds step) | ||
| 8:43 | | +2 | Mark Williams makes two point cutting dunk (Gordon Hayward assists) | 6-7 |
| 8:23 | | RJ Barrett misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:22 | | Mark Williams defensive rebound | ||
| 8:07 | | Brandon Miller misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:04 | | Mitchell Robinson defensive rebound | ||
| 7:49 | | RJ Barrett misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:47 | | Miles Bridges defensive rebound | ||
| 7:39 | | Brandon Miller turnover (bad pass) (RJ Barrett steals) | ||
| 7:36 | | Mark Williams shooting foul (RJ Barrett draws the foul) | ||
| 7:36 | | +1 | RJ Barrett makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 6-8 |
| 7:36 | | +1 | RJ Barrett makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 6-9 |
| 7:24 | | Gordon Hayward turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 7:12 | | Miles Bridges shooting foul (Julius Randle draws the foul) | ||
| 7:12 | | +1 | Julius Randle makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 6-10 |
| 7:12 | | +1 | Julius Randle makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 6-11 |
| 6:57 | | P.J. Washington misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:55 | | Mitchell Robinson defensive rebound | ||
| 6:47 | | +3 | Julius Randle makes three point jump shot (RJ Barrett assists) | 6-14 |
| 6:33 | | Mitchell Robinson blocks Terry Rozier's two point finger roll layup | ||
| 6:31 | | Julius Randle defensive rebound | ||
| 6:20 | | +3 | RJ Barrett makes three point jump shot (Jalen Brunson assists) | 6-17 |
| 6:20 | | Hornets 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:03 | | Terry Rozier turnover (bad pass) (Jalen Brunson steals) | ||
| 5:56 | | Julius Randle misses two point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 5:54 | | Mark Williams defensive rebound | ||
| 5:45 | | +3 | Brandon Miller makes three point jump shot (Terry Rozier assists) | 9-17 |
| 5:19 | | Brandon Miller shooting foul (Julius Randle draws the foul) | ||
| 5:19 | | +1 | Julius Randle makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 9-18 |
| 5:19 | | Julius Randle misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 5:17 | | P.J. Washington defensive rebound | ||
| 5:08 | | Gordon Hayward misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:06 | | Josh Hart defensive rebound | ||
| 4:45 | | +3 | Quentin Grimes makes three point jump shot (Josh Hart assists) | 9-21 |
| 4:34 | | Ish Smith turnover (bad pass) (Mitchell Robinson steals) | ||
| 4:28 | | Jalen Brunson misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 4:27 | | Hornets defensive rebound | ||
| 4:12 | | Brandon Miller misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 4:11 | | Hornets offensive rebound | ||
| 4:11 | | Jalen Brunson personal foul (Loose ball) (Mark Williams draws the foul) | ||
| 4:07 | | +2 | Miles Bridges makes two point driving dunk (Ish Smith assists) | 11-21 |
| 3:53 | | +2 | Mitchell Robinson makes two point alley-oop dunk (Jalen Brunson assists) | 11-23 |
| 3:34 | | +2 | Ish Smith makes two point pullup jump shot (P.J. Washington assists) | 13-23 |
| 3:19 | | +3 | Jalen Brunson makes three point stepback jump shot | 13-26 |
| 3:09 | | Ish Smith turnover (bad pass) (Julius Randle steals) | ||
| 3:00 | | +3 | Josh Hart makes three point jump shot (Julius Randle assists) | 13-29 |
| 2:42 | | P.J. Washington misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:41 | | Immanuel Quickley defensive rebound | ||
| 2:22 | | Immanuel Quickley misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:20 | | Mitchell Robinson offensive rebound | ||
| 2:04 | | Mitchell Robinson turnover (lost ball) (Bryce McGowens steals) | ||
| 1:52 | | Bryce McGowens misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 1:50 | | Julius Randle defensive rebound | ||
| 1:41 | | Julius Randle misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 1:39 | | Ish Smith defensive rebound | ||
| 1:35 | | Miles Bridges misses two point running layup | ||
| 1:33 | | Immanuel Quickley defensive rebound | ||
| 1:28 | | Josh Hart misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 1:26 | | Brandon Miller defensive rebound | ||
| 1:12 | | Bryce McGowens misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:10 | | Julius Randle defensive rebound | ||
| 1:00 | | Immanuel Quickley turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 1:00 | | Knicks 60 second timeout | ||
| 0:46 | | Miles Bridges misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 0:45 | | RJ Barrett defensive rebound | ||
| 0:36 | | Donte DiVincenzo misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:34 | | Miles Bridges defensive rebound | ||
| 0:22 | | +3 | Miles Bridges makes three point jump shot (P.J. Washington assists) | 16-29 |
| 0:01 | | Donte DiVincenzo misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 0:01 | | Knicks offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:44 | | Bryce McGowens misses two point driving layup | ||
| 11:42 | | Bryce McGowens offensive rebound | ||
| 11:40 | | +2 | Bryce McGowens makes two point tip layup | 18-29 |
| 11:19 | | +2 | Josh Hart makes two point driving layup (RJ Barrett assists) | 18-31 |
| 11:19 | | Bryce McGowens shooting foul (Josh Hart draws the foul) | ||
| 11:19 | | +1 | Josh Hart makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 18-32 |
| 11:00 | | +2 | Terry Rozier makes two point pullup jump shot | 20-32 |
| 10:35 | | Immanuel Quickley misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:33 | | Miles Bridges defensive rebound | ||
| 10:27 | | Miles Bridges turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 10:07 | | Donte DiVincenzo turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 9:47 | | +2 | Terry Rozier makes two point driving floating jump shot | 22-32 |
| 9:27 | | Immanuel Quickley misses two point driving layup | ||
| 9:25 | | JT Thor defensive rebound | ||
| 9:22 | | Josh Hart blocks Terry Rozier's two point running layup | ||
| 9:21 | | Hornets offensive rebound | ||
| 9:11 | | +2 | Miles Bridges makes two point pullup jump shot (P.J. Washington assists) | 24-32 |
| 8:54 | | +2 | Immanuel Quickley makes two point driving floating jump shot | 24-34 |
| 8:36 | | +3 | Bryce McGowens makes three point jump shot (Terry Rozier assists) | 27-34 |
| 8:26 | | RJ Barrett misses two point driving reverse layup | ||
| 8:24 | | Isaiah Hartenstein offensive rebound | ||
| 8:24 | | +2 | Isaiah Hartenstein makes two point tip dunk | 27-36 |
| 8:07 | | Terry Rozier misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:05 | | Isaiah Hartenstein defensive rebound | ||
| 7:55 | | +2 | RJ Barrett makes two point layup | 27-38 |
| 7:43 | | Terry Rozier misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:41 | | RJ Barrett defensive rebound | ||
| 7:30 | | RJ Barrett misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:28 | | Bryce McGowens defensive rebound | ||
| 7:14 | | Terry Rozier turnover (lost ball) (Donte DiVincenzo steals) | ||
| 7:11 | | +2 | Josh Hart makes two point running dunk (Isaiah Hartenstein assists) | 27-40 |
| 7:11 | | Hornets 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:58 | | Brandon Miller misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:56 | | Immanuel Quickley defensive rebound | ||
| 6:47 | | Immanuel Quickley misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 6:45 | | Gordon Hayward defensive rebound | ||
| 6:31 | | Immanuel Quickley shooting foul (Miles Bridges draws the foul) | ||
| 6:31 | | +1 | Miles Bridges makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 28-40 |
| 6:31 | | Miles Bridges misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 6:29 | | Julius Randle defensive rebound | ||
| 6:16 | | Julius Randle turnover (lost ball) (Miles Bridges steals) | ||
| 6:12 | | Gordon Hayward misses two point running jump shot | ||
| 6:10 | | Donte DiVincenzo defensive rebound | ||
| 5:54 | | Donte DiVincenzo misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:53 | | Julius Randle offensive rebound | ||
| 5:41 | | +2 | Julius Randle makes two point turnaround jump shot | 28-42 |
| 5:22 | | Ish Smith misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 5:20 | | Gordon Hayward offensive rebound | ||
| 5:13 | | P.J. Washington misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:11 | | Gordon Hayward offensive rebound | ||
| 5:06 | | Mark Williams misses two point jump shot | ||
| 5:04 | | P.J. Washington offensive rebound | ||
| 5:02 | | Gordon Hayward misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:00 | | Julius Randle defensive rebound | ||
| 4:46 | | Julius Randle misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:43 | | P.J. Washington defensive rebound | ||
| 4:37 | | Brandon Miller misses two point running layup | ||
| 4:34 | | Mark Williams offensive rebound | ||
| 4:27 | | Mitchell Robinson blocks Mark Williams's two point driving layup | ||
| 4:25 | | Julius Randle defensive rebound | ||
| 4:20 | | Donte DiVincenzo misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:18 | | Gordon Hayward defensive rebound | ||
| 4:16 | | Jalen Brunson personal foul (Gordon Hayward draws the foul) | ||
| 4:08 | | Terry Rozier turnover (bad pass) (Mitchell Robinson steals) | ||
| 3:52 | | P.J. Washington shooting foul (RJ Barrett draws the foul) | ||
| 3:52 | | +1 | RJ Barrett makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 28-43 |
| 3:52 | | +1 | RJ Barrett makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 28-44 |
| 3:41 | | +3 | Brandon Miller makes three point jump shot (Gordon Hayward assists) | 31-44 |
| 3:24 | | Mitchell Robinson misses two point layup | ||
| 3:20 | | Mitchell Robinson offensive rebound | ||
| 3:20 |