Rivers delivers 3rd straight win as Knicks overcome Jazz 100-112

Another stunning performance by Tom Thibodeau’s Knicks took place last night when they muted the Jazz, 100-112 at the Garden.

The hero of the game, Austin Rivers. The veteran had taken the game into his own hands after his team trailed by 18 points in the first half and turned the fourth quarter into his own show.

Rivers, who finished with 23 points on a 9-14 shooting, roasted the Jazz with 14 consecutive points in the final act as he went 4-4 from behind the arc in his first official game as a Knick at Madison Square.

“I love this stage. I know every player says that when they come here, but I really do. I thrive on it. ”

– Austin Rivers

Julius Randle is continuing his All-Star level and logged another double-double night with 30 points and 16 rebounds on top of which he also connected 7 assists.

The Jazz, who were crushed in Brooklyn one day earlier, started the game strong, wanting to return with at least a W from NYC. They took a 7 point lead at the end of the first quarter and stormed New York in the second when they went up 44-26 before Thibodeau called time out.

The Knicks relied on Rivers, Mitchell Robinson, Elfrid Payton and Randle to save the game and they managed to cut the lead to 12 points by halftime.

In the third quarter, Randle emerged with 14 points, supported by Payton and RJ Barrett who added 8 points each as the Knicks played one of their best quarters of the season, outscoring Utah 34-19, to take back the lead for the first time since the early minutes of the first quarter.

Payton had 22 points and 8 assists, Reggie Bullock scored 12 and Barrett and Robinson finished with 9 buckets and 3 steals each. Robinson also added 13 boards and 3 blocks.

The Jazz were led by Jordan Clarkson’s 19 points off the bench. Donovan Mitchell had 18, Joe Ingles added 16 while Rudy Gobert finished in double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.

The Knicks, who now improved to 5-3 have lost just one game in the last 5 and connected 3 straight wins for the first time since February 6.

Next up: The Knicks will host the Thunder on Friday night.