Rose, Randle lead Knicks to series tying win at MSG
Derrick Rose scored 26 points, Julius Randle shook off a miserable first half to lead a third- quarter turnaround and the host New York Knicks beat the Atlanta Hawks, 101-92, in Game 2 at Madison Square Garden to tie the series.
Randle was 0 for 6 with just two points at halftime and the Knicks were staring at a 13-point deficit. But with Rose moving into the starting lineup to open the third quarter, Randle scored 11 points on 4-for-5 shooting in the period as the Knicks surged into the lead.
The winner of the NBA’s Most Improved Player award finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds despite another poor shooting night. He was 5 for 16 after going 6 for 23 in the opener.
But he came through when it counted along with Reggie Bullock, who made four 3 -pointers in the second half and also had 15 points as the Knicks guaranteed there will be at least one more home game in this surprising season.
Trae Young scored 30 points for Atlanta after having 32 and hitting the tiebreaking shot in Game 1. Bogdan Bogdanovic and De’Andre Hunter added 18 apiece.
Game 3 is Friday night in Atlanta, where the Hawks could welcome a full capacity crowd for the first time.
Other game 76ers 120, Wizards 95:
Ben Simmons put a spin move on Russell Westbrook that sent him sprawling to the floor several minutes before a leg injury sent the NBA’s tripledouble king to the locker room. With Simmons soaring and Westbrook ailing, Philadelphia beat Washington to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series. Game 3 is Saturday night at Washington.
Notes
The Charlotte Hornets picked up the team option on coach James Borrego’s contract for next season. He is 95-124 in three seasons with the Hornets, including a 3339 mark this season.