RJ Barrett has encountered some problem changing free throws this season, so it figured that one he was making an attempt to overlook on function discovered nothing however internet.
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 Heart.
“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 capturing 70.3 p.c from the road this season. ”I used to be making an attempt to simply shoot it fast, so it will 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 shedding 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 go supposed for an open Robinson inside was deflected by Brooklyn’s Bruce Brown to Durant, who was fouled and likewise drained each free throws in that sequence.
“I had a straightforward go, I tousled. It’s that straightforward,” Fournier mentioned. “If we make that go, that’s a dunk, we’re up one. Nothing else to say, actually. Dangerous go.”
And with it, there’s not a lot left to say in regards to the Knicks’ remaining schedule in what has turned out to be a thrown-away season following final 12 months’s run to the playoffs.
“Simply attempt to hold racking up wins. You by no means know,” Barrett mentioned. “Different groups might additionally go on shedding streaks, too. So that you don’t know what’s going to occur. … It’s the NBA.
“Issues occur generally. We’ve been enjoying wonderful basketball because the All-Star break. I all the time 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.”
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