Post Game Reaction: Hawks 142 Knicks 139
The New York Knicks were in Atlanta today to face off against the Hawks. They lost a heartbreaker 142-139 in 4OTs. This was their fourth game against these Hawks. After winning the first one, they lost 2 heart-breaking ones and now you can add this one to do that list. One on a game-winning shot and the other 2 in OT. This game went to 4OT's, that is the only the 11th time in NBA history that a game went to 4OTs. Can you believe that? It took 4OTs to figure out the winner in this one. The way these teams play, you could not expect any less. This was a wild one as Melo tied it on two different occasions, to send it to the first OT and then the 2nd OT.
FREE BASKETBALL
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 29, 2017
104-104 heading to OT. #NYKvsATL #Knicks@carmeloanthony: 34p pic.twitter.com/S9TYpoliog
You can throw out the numbers in this one as both teams fought hard and it came down to which team wanted it more. This game was going back and forth as both teams had leads of 7-9 points but neither could pull away. There was a total of 23 ties in this one. Early on it looked like the Knicks were getting whatever they wanted as the offense was clicking. They scored 65pts on 16 assist in the first half. It was one of the best offensive halves the Knicks played. The irony was that Rose was missing in this one and the Knicks offense looked better without him. There was better ball movement and their was flow to the offense. In the 2nd half it was a totally different story as the Knicks offense bogged down, scoring only 39pts, while having a 7-minute drought in the 3rd quarter. They missed 13-straight shot during that stretch.
Once the 4th quarter started, this game just become all about which team made the plays on both ends. Neither could get enough of those plays as they had to play 4 OTs. The Hawks really had a few chances to seal this one as Hardaway missed a crucial free throw in regulation and then Schroeder twice in overtime. They also could have fouled Lee on two different occasions, once when they were up three and instead let Lee tie the game to send it into a 2nd OT and the 2nd time Lee missed the tying three in the 4th OT. This was a long game to watch.
This is an instant classic.
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 29, 2017
We head to triple OT! 123-123. #NYKvsATL pic.twitter.com/keC2KeHegw
Melo had his way. We are seeing the best Melo during this stretch of 7 games. Tonight he finished with 45 points and was the go to scorer all night. Maybe some of it has to do with the trade talks but it also has to do with him playing more at the four position and getting match-ups against poorer defensive teams. The Hawks had no answer for Melo, the only way they stopped him was by Melo fouling out. Melo hit two clutch shots down the stretch, which forced 2 different OTs. The Knicks brass has to love this outing by Melo because it just raises his trade value. If you are the Celtics or Clippers, wouldn't you want him after seeing this performance by Melo.
Stats: For the Hawks all 5 starters were in double-figures. They were led by Millsap, who played a season high 60 minutes, which was 1 minute off the pace of all-time minutes played in a game. Millsap had 37pts 19rebs and 7asts. They also got 22pts and 15 asts from Schroder and Hardaway chipped in 19. We already know that Melo was the top scorer, he also got help from Lee with 17pts and 18pts 11asts from Jennings. The numbers from both teams were way over their season high and that was due to the 4OTs.
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
For all of the 3rd OT and 4th OT, the Knicks played without Porzingis or Melo as both had fouled out. It came down to the last minute of the game as the two teams were tied at 139-139. The Knicks had a 24 second shot clock violation, Millsap had a put back layup and then a turnover by Lee. That is the difference in this game. Even with the mess up by the Knicks, they still had two chances to tie it at the buzzer as Lee's second look was a clean one and just missed it.
The Knicks played a hard fought battle in this one and just came up short. For the Knicks its a tough one to swallow but the Knicks have another game on Tuesday, so they have very little time to sulk over this one.
