Knicks bow to Suns after OT drama

Trailing by 11 after the first three-quarters, in a game that the Suns seemed to be in control, the Knicks started the fourth quarter on a 19-4 run to turn the game in their favor.

A photo posted by New York Knicks 🏀 (@nyknicks) on Dec 13, 2016 at 8:55pm PST

New York could have easily walked away with the win if it weren’t for a few key moments that allowed Phoenix to send the game in OT, and then win it, 113-111.

Down by 2, with 3 minutes to go, Ron Baker misses an easy layup but he manages to save it and pass it to Lance Thomas for a three. Thomas shoots it but gets fouled by Tyson Chandler as the ball hit the rim. Chandler got a technical as well so the Knicks were awarded with 4 free throws. Thomas and Carmelo Anthony made all of them to put New York up by six but then Baker misses a new layup. After P.J. Tuker and Eric Bledsoe cut the lead to two, Baker makes a bad pass that allows Chandler to tie it from the free throw line, 101-101 and send it in overtime.

The Knicks had another chance to conceal the win with Kristaps Porzingis and Kyle O’Quinn playing at max level but as Porzingis got fouled out right after he made a 25-foot three pointer, his team was left without a sharp shooter. Down by one, Anthony missed an 18-foot step back jumpshot with 6 seconds left and O’Quinn’s offesnive rebound was useless as the shot clock expired before having the chance to shoot it.

In the foul game, Tucker made both of his free throws, O’Quinn made the first one, then intentionally missed the second one for a chance to rebound it and get a 2 pointer for a second overtime. Thomas makes the rebound but misses and the Suns get their 8th win of the season, against their former coach, Jeff Hornacek.

Porzingis led the Knicks with a game high 34 points, shooting 12 for 23 and 4-4 from behind the arc, added 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks. Kyle O’Quinn seconded him with 22 pointss and 14 rebounds off the bench, while Courtney Lee contributed with 14 points.

Derrick Rose played only 10 minutes in the first half and left the game with back spasms. Anthony had a washed out night shooting just 3 for 15 and finished the game with 13 points.

The Knicks miss their chance of starting a west coast trip with 3 straight wins and fall to 14-11 before meeting the Warriors on Thursday night.