Austin Rivers is becoming Mariano Rivera of the Knicks, a closer elite.
No advantage is safe against these Knicks. And Rivers.
Two days after meeting from 15 points below, the Knicks roared again from an 18-point hole to end the Jazz, 112-100, with more magic at the end of Rivers ’fourth quarter, the its new nearest highlight.
Doc Rivers ’clutch son scored 14 straight points in the stretch that included four consecutive triples and a float with the shot clock that the Knicks went 5-3 after winning their fifth game in six outings. It is his best record after eight games since the magical 2012-13 season.
Rivers finished with 23 points on the 9-of-14 shooting. Rivers has been key in the quarterfinals of the last three games after losing the entire preseason and the first five games of the season with a shot in the groin.
Thibdodeau said he saw Rivers grow, as Doc Rivers ’assistant coach when Austin was in high school. So this loose strike doesn’t surprise Thibodeau.
“I’ll tell you one thing, he’s never missed it,” Thibodeau said. “He never lacked confidence.”
Thibodeau recalled that Rivers would attend training for the Celtics, a club with a couple of Hall of Fame boys.
“I wanted to play them against you, including Kevin Garnett,” Thibodeau said. “Rivers wanted to play (Kevin). Austin really thought he could beat him. “
Julius Randle started very slowly before directing the charge and recording another 39 minutes with the Knicks decimated ahead. Randle recorded 30 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists.
The Knicks also got a great performance from the first Reggie Bullock shield, a decision in the game with a sore knee. Bullock recorded 12 points, scoring 5 of 8 shots. Point Elfrid Payton entered the paint and added 22 points and six assists.
A 34-19 third quarter without a turnover brought the Knicks back from their lethargic start as they took a 78-75 lead after three quarters after meeting from an 18-point hole.
To end the third quarter, the Knicks made two sterling defensive plays that resulted in transition hoops. Kevin Knox recorded an infrequent lockout, prompting a quick throw from Payton to give the Knicks the first lead from the start of the first quarter.
Then Rivers began his big night. He dropped the ball from Joe Ingles, in Utah, and snatched Barrett to make a breakaway in the final seconds of the quarter to give the Knicks a 78-75 lead after three, with an 8-0 lead.
Payton started the fourth quarter with a 3-point lead to increase the Knicks by five points and extend the run to 10-0. A Mitchell Robinson mess put the race 12-0 up and gave the Knicks an 82-75 lead that Rivers protected more than.
The Knicks fell behind by 18 points in the second quarter. Randle and RJ Barrett, who are first and second in the league, respectively, in minutes played, looked tired of the 3-1 road trip. Utah led 56-44 by interruption and Barrett went 0 of 6 in the first half.
In the end it was all forgotten.