Knicks & Clarkson Take Care of Business in 2nd Half. NY 134 Utah 117

March 12, 2026 LouV 2025-26 0
Jordan Clarkson returned to Utah -- where he starred the last 6 years -- and got a halftime tribute, then scored 27 pts to lead NY to the win.

The Jazz — one of the worst teams in the NBA — used a 3-pt shooting barrage to take an 18-pt lead early in the 2nd quarter, but the Knicks steadily came back, then unleashed Jordan Clarkson late in the 3rd into the 4th quarter — and blew the Jazz away, 134-117 on a Wednesday night in Utah.

Clarkson — getting increased minutes due to an injured Josh Hart — scored 27 pts on 10-15 shooting (3-5 from 3) in 26 minutes off the bench.

Jalen Brunson led NY with 28 pts (4-7 from 3); OG Anunoby added 22 pts on only 10 shots (7-10 overall, 3-5 from 3, 5-5 in free throws), and Karl-Anthony Towns had 21 pts on 8-13 shooting (3-6 from 3).

Utah hit 5 of their first 6 3-pointers in the 1st quarter, and 9 (nine) 3’s in the 1st quarter to take an early 41-26 lead that they pushed to an 18-pt lead early in the 2nd quarter on more 3’s. But NY limited them after that — Utah finished 18-36 from 3 (50 percent) vs NY’s 17-40 from 3 (43 percent). The Knicks only turned the ball over 10 times — vs 19 and 18 times in their prior 2 losses to the Lakers and Clippers.

Utah was led by Brice Sensabaugh (29 pts, 6-11 from 3), Ace Bailey (21 pts, 5-10 from 3), Kyle Filipowski (15 pts), and Keyonte George (14 pts).

“We started off slow,” said Jordan Clarkson afterwards. “Good halftime for us — to all kind of get at each other and let us know we got to pick it up. Just a good win. Not the first time I been hot in this building. I’m just glad it happened here, and just continue to keep working and get the next win.”

Clarkson spent the last 6 years in Utah, and had some of the best seasons of his career here. Utah gave him a halftime video tribute and he got a rousing ovation from the fans.

NY improves to 42-25, and are 5.5 games behind Detroit, 2 behind Boston, and 1.5 ahead of Cleveland. Utah falls to 20-46.

1. Utah Hits 11 (Eleven) Early 3’s to Take 18-Pt Lead in 2nd

The Knicks got off to ANOTHER slow start — something they’ve consistently done on this roadtrip. This time it was due to Utah jacking up and hitting 3 after 3 in the 1st quarter into the 2nd quarter.

Utah hit 5 of their first 6 three’s, and 9 overall in the 1st quarter to take a 15-pt lead at 41-26.

The Knicks actually started the game off with a 3 by Mikal Bridges, and Ace Bailey missed a 3 for Utah. But then — in and amongst other buckets:

  • Brice Sensabaugh hit a 3,
  • Sensabaugh hit another 3,

  • Keyonte George hit a 15-foot-jumper-and-1,
  • Ace Bailey hit a 3,
  • Kyle Filipowski hit a 3,
  • Cody Williams scored on a drive,
  • Ace Bailey hit another 3,

That’s 9 (nine) 3’s and a drive-and-1.

Then to start the 2nd quarter,

  • Elijah Harkless hit a 3,
  • KAT responded with a 3 for NY, but
  • Kevin Love hit a 3 — and Utah was up by 18 at 47-29.

2. Knicks Pull Back within 11 at the Half

Finally the Knicks woke up — going on a 13-2 run to pull back within 7 — with KAT getting consecutive buckets inside, Jordan Clarkson scoring on free throws and an offensive rebound and tip-in, KAT hitting a 3, and Mitchell Robinson dunking inside off a Jose Alvarado pass.

Utah 49 NY 42 just like that.

Mohamed Diawara pulled NY within 6 on a spiffy drive.

But Sensabaugh hit two more 3’s by the end of the quarter, and Utah maintained a 9-pt lead at the half — 65-56.

3. NY Takes Lead After 3, 96-94

Jalen Brunson got on his horse to start the 3rd quarter — scoring 11 points in the first 5 minutes on a couple of 3’s, a couple of jumpers, and free throws. KAT and OG added to the scoring but Keyonte George and Ace Bailey kept getting buckets for Utah to keep the Knicks at bay.

A NY run late in the period — on consecutive buckets by Jordan Clarkson and consecutive 3’s by Diawara and OG — finally pulled NY within 3 at 92-89.

Jordan Clarkson free throws off a drive, followed by OG free throws off a drive gave NY the lead at 93-92.

A tough Brunson fadeaway pullup-and-1 with 1.6 seconds left gave NY a 96-94 lead heading into the 4th.

4. Knicks Unleash Clarkson — Blow Utah Away

And then Jordan Clarkson put it into high gear — putting home an offensive rebound to start the 4th, then hitting a 3, and next time down scoring on a drive for a 103-96 Knicks lead.

Other Knicks — OG, Alvarado, and Mitchell Robinson — joined the scoring before a Clarkson 3 put NY up 11 with 7:37 left.

A Jordan Clarkson 3 with 5:29 left put NY up by 17 at 122-105 with 5:29 left and it was pretty much game over.

“Give credit to Jordan Clarkson,” noted NBA Analyst Ross Kreines. “Not just for providing a big lift offensively by shooting the ball with confidence, creating his own but also by doing more with his effort, activity, made himself an active and willing defender, hit the glass, found the open man and he stayed ready.”

Etcetera

Mitchell Robinson had 6 pts (3-4 shooting) and 13 rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench. Mohamed Diawara scored 10 pts off the bench, and Mikal Bridges played good D (2 blocks) but again shot poorly (5 pts on 2-9 shooting, 1-5 from 3).

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401810804

 

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