High-wire, roller coaster game — Knicks took on James Harden and Houston at the Garden. Game went down to the final seconds — the underdog Knicks fighting to the very end, based on the spectacular play of Allonzo Trier. Alas, Eric Gordon hit a big 3 with 9.8 seconds left to erase a 1-pt Knick lead — which they had taken on a spectacular, clutch Trier drive with 29 seconds left.
Big time bucket by Allonzo Trier. Wow. pic.twitter.com/UgkeeLdR5x
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) January 24, 2019
And then Noah Vonleh had the ball stolen on the inbounds — by James Harden for the layup and victory.
Harden finished with 61 points, missing Carmelo Anthony‘s all-time Madison Square Record of 62 so Knick fans were happy (especially those pulling for the ‘tank’).
Kanter Controversy
This was the game where afterwards Enes Kanter said coach Fizdale had told him he was starting earlier in the day, and then he got a DNP. Fizdale later said it was assistant Keith Smart‘s job to tell Kanter he wasn’t playing. Kanter was sitting on the bench 10-feet away from Fizdale all night but apparently there was no communication between the two.
Enes Kanter says he was told this morning by the Knicks he would start tonight vs the Rockets. He got a DNP instead.
"What they're doing to me is pretty messed up. I deserve better."
Kanter pretty much asks to be traded.
"You either play me or let me play." pic.twitter.com/EufOCAkidF— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) January 24, 2019
Reporter Chris Iseman of a New Jersey newspaper quoted Fizdale as saying it was his underling’s job to tell Kanter he wasn’t going to play — and if you read the comments to this tweet — you’ll see most Knick fans thought that was bullshit on behalf of the coach.
David Fizdale said that when he told Kanter he was gonna start yesterday morning, nothing was set in stone at that point. And then after he made the change, "Keith Smart’s my messenger when I have to make a change." #Knicks
— Chris Iseman (@ChrisIseman) January 24, 2019
Allonzo Trier — Tim Hardaway Jr Controversy
Meanwhile, at the end of the game — on that 3 by Gordon — Allonzo Trier went behind the screen and Tim Hardaway Jr should have switched onto Gordon — he didn’t and Gordon was left wide open for the 3. Walt Frazier absolutely called this mess up immediately after it happened — “But normally on that play the Knicks are always switching. So why didn’t Hardaway switch out, with Trier. Trier went behind; Hardaway stayed with the pick, that’s why Gordon was uncontested.”
After the game, when fans on Twitter were blaming Trier for screwing up on that play, Trier responded:
The press picked up on this, and asked Hardaway about it — and he said, “So he (Trier) is blaming other people”.
Tim Hardaway Jr. on Allonzo Trier's DM:
"Who DMed? … Oh so he's blaming other people, basically?" pic.twitter.com/v6QftZ3Had
— SNY (@SNYtv) January 24, 2019
Earlier in the game, Hardaway popped off at Trier for not passing him the ball on the break.
Tim Hardaway Jr. pops off at Allonzo Trier heading into the last timeout for the Knicks. He looked angry that Trier didn't hit him with a pass on a 2-on-1 break and THJ was open near the basket. Looks like some expletives were shared. pic.twitter.com/cZ42kunsBe
— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) January 24, 2019
After the timeout, Hardaway gave Trier a teamwork-sideway-high-five so it seemed ok.
This was also the game where Frank Ntilikina stole a pass and swung it to Mitchell Robinson for a dunk.
Ntilikina steal/behind the back/Mitch with the slam on the break
Pinch me. pic.twitter.com/saRpBiHZjp
— Posting and Toasting (@ptknicksblog) January 24, 2019
Mitchell Robinson had 12 pts (5-5, 2-2 FTs), 4 blocks
Allonzo Trier had 31 points (on 12-18, 2-4 from 3, 5-5 FTs), 10 rebounds, 3 assists, a +19
Kevin Knox did some nice things and finished with 12 points but bad shooting (4-15)
Emmanuel Mudiay with 14 pts on 4-9 and we found out a day later he played the end of the game with a strained shoulder that will keep him out three weeks.
Despite the controversies, we left this game thinking about Allonzo Trier and Mitchell Robinson highlights. Here’s Trier’s:
Overshadowed by Harden's performance, Knicks rookie Allonzo Trier scored a career-high 31 PTS (12-18 FG, 5-5 FT), 10 REB, 3 AST in 33 MINS off the bench!
(Via @NBATV)pic.twitter.com/FzL5JSHh8r
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) January 24, 2019
The Boxscore:
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