Julius Randle got another triple-double, but allowed a big 3 and lost a big 2.
On his first trip to the Barclays Center since his teammates had to stop him in front of referee Scott Foster after a controversial final on March 15, Randle added 19 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists. . But, just like last time, the Knicks lost to the Nets, who had no team, even though their best player owned the ball with a chance to tie.
“I looked fantastic, something I practice every day,” Randle said after losing the final shot in a 114-112 loss. “I felt good getting out of my hands and not getting in.”
Three weeks ago, the Nets finished, 115-112, when Randle was called to travel. Rehearsals showed Kyrie Irving hit the ball when Randle rose by a 3. But Randle never lost possession of the ball and officials ruled it as a trip when he returned with the ball. Two teammates prevented him from hunting Foster after the final buzz, but did not turn a chair on the walk back into the locker room.
There was no whistle on Monday and Randle said that sequence was not new in his mind. Only a horn that sounded as his 18-foot jump pulled up over Jeff Green came out of the back edge.
Outside of downtime, the Knicks drew Randle by forging a screen and curling out of the arc for Alec Burks ’pass pass.
“The last play has three different options and obviously he’s the focal point,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “He has two more readings he can go to. I thought it looked good. “
The Knicks squandered a 13-point lead in the third quarter as Irving scored 40 to lead the comeback. One of Irving’s biggest baskets, to open up a 100-94 lead, was a 3-yard dribble back pass that left Randle out of position on a defensive change.
Three minutes later, Randle and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarroot were called up for two double technical fouls after becoming physical.
“I really don’t know what his problem was,” Randle said. “He’s not a man on the court that really worries me when I play. He tried to give me a little forearm or whatever, so I hit him with my arm. “
Four of the ten doubles triples in Randle’s career have worn Knicks ’uniforms, including three in the last 12 games. Only five players, all guardians, have more in the history of the franchise. That the upcoming stats and losses don’t matter much.
“It doesn’t do anything for me,” Randle said. “It’s a victory or a defeat. There really is no moral victory. “
Randle, who has been playing with a sore thigh, grimaced in pain for the past two minutes. He held his right knee after catching a defensive rebound, but that didn’t stop him from sliding through his legs in isolation and shooting from mid-range over the next possessions. His two free throws reduced the Knicks ’deficit to 112-109.
“I’m fine,” Randle said. “Do not you worry.”