Knicks lose on missed FT in 1st game without Fizdale
NEW YORK — Julius Randle missed a free throw with 0.1 seconds left, sending New York to a 104-103 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night in the Knicks’ first game since firing coach David Fizdale.
The Knicks were much more competitive under interim coach Mike Miller than they had been in recent games under Fizdale, who was fired Friday. They chased after rebounds and loose balls throughout the fourth quarter, erasing an 11-point deficit and giving themselves a shot at overtime when Randle was fouled while trying to put back the rebound of a scramble.
He calmly made the first free throw but the second was well long, sending New York to a ninth straight loss and a 4-19 record. T.J. Warren scored 25 points and Domantas Sabonis had 19 points and 15 rebounds for the Pacers. They bounced back from a loss at Detroit on Friday.
The Knicks lost by 44 and 37 in their last two games under Fizdale and he was fired Friday after running practice. The Knicks offered no details about the decision in their press release announcing the firing, and team executives didn’t speak Saturday.
Players responded with a good effort in the first game since the change but couldn’t overcome their 40.6% shooting.
Tip-ins: The Pacers’ Sabonis, who had a 12for-12 shooting game here last season, made his first five and finished 8 for 11. Malcolm Brogdon sat out with an injured right hand. … The Knicks added Keith Bogans to the coaching staff as an assistant coach after previously serving as an assistant for Westchester. The Knicks also fired assistant Keith Smart on Friday. … G Wayne Ellington missed the game with a sore left Achilles tendon.