Knicks top Hornets, win 7th in row
NEW YORK — RJ Barrett scored 18 of his 24 points in the third quarter and the New York Knicks beat the Charlotte Hornets 109-97 on Tuesday night for their seventh straight victory.
Barrett’s offense and the Knicks’ defense changed the game after the Hornets scored 66 points in the first half. New York held Charlotte to just 31 after halftime.
Derrick Rose and Immanuel Quickley each scored 17 points off the bench for the Knicks. who moved into fifth place in the Eastern Conference. They are on their longest winning streak since winning eight straight in March 2014.
Julius Randle and Reggie Bullock each had 16 points.
P.J. Washington scored 26 points and Terry Rozier had 21 for the Hornets.
HAWKS 112, MAGIC 96
In Atlanta, Trae Young scored 25 points, Lou Williams added 22 in his best game since returning to Atlanta and the surging Hawks pulled away in the final quarter.
The Hawks began the day clinging to the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference, which would mean home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
Atlanta won for the fifth time in six games to move a step closer to locking up its first postseason berth since 2017.
NETS 134, PELICANS 129
In New Orleans, Kyrie Irving capped a 32-point performance with a tough turnaround jumper, a driving layup through converging defenders and four free throws in the final minute, and Brooklyn edged New Orleans.
Joe Harris also hit a pair of late free throws to cap his 24-point night for the Nets, who won despite being without both Kevin Durant and James Harden. The team announced Harden suffered a setback in his rehab from a hamstring injury and will be out indefinitely.
TIMBERWOLVES 134 KINGS 120
In Sacramento, Calif., Minnesota pulled away from a 103-99 deficit in the fourth quarter, outscoring Sacramento 35-17. Karl Anthony Towns led the Timberwolves with 26 points and 18 rebounds.
CLIPPERS 113 TRAIL BLAZERS 112
In Portland, Ore., Paul George made the winning free throws with less than 5 seconds left to cap a 33-point performance.