Knicks rally past Pelicans for sixth consecutive win
NEW YORK — The Knicks’ longest winning streak in seven years was seconds away from ending and the New Orleans Pelicans were told what to do to stop it.
They didn’t follow instructions, and a few minutes later the Knicks were still rolling right along.
Julius Randle had 33 points and 10 assists, Derrick Rose made huge plays all over the court to spark New York’s streak-saving finish and the Knicks beat the Pelicans 122-112 in overtime on Sunday for their sixth consecutive victory.
“I mean I haven’t had this feeling in a long time, let alone be on a winning streak,” Rose said. “So I’m grateful to be in this situation.”
Rose scored 23 points. He had the assist on Reggie Bullock’s 3-pointer with 2.3 seconds left in regulation, blocked a last shot by the Pelicans that would’ve won it and then opened overtime with a steal and layup to give New York the lead for good.
Most of that wouldn’t have been possible if the Pelicans had first listened to Stan Van Gundy’s plan to foul intentionally with a three-point lead, or if once they didn’t, Lonzo Ball hadn’t cheated off Bullock to help on a driving Rose when a layup wouldn’t have hurt.
HEAT 109, NETS 107
MIAMI — Bam Adebayo’s 13-foot jumper rattled in as time expired, and the Miami Heat defeated Brooklynto snap a threegame slide.
Adebayo had 21 points and 15 rebounds for the Heat, who trailed by six points in the final minutes before finishing the game on a 10-2 run. Goran Dragic scored 18 points, Kendrick Nunn scored 17 and Trevor Ariza had 15 for Miami.
Landry Shamet had 30 points for Brooklyn, and Kyrie Irving scored 20 for the Nets. Brooklyn played again without James Harden, sidelined with a hamstring issue, and lost Kevin Durant early in the first quarter with a left thigh contusion.