Knicks' Hornets' Showdown: Game of the Week

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NEW YORK – Madison Square Garden roared to life Tuesday night as the New York Knicks hosted the Charlotte Hornets in a crucial Eastern Conference battle that delivered everything promised. The contest, a back-and-forth affair featuring dazzling individual displays and clutch moments, ultimately saw the Knicks secure a hard-fought 124-121 victory in overtime, cementing their position in the playoff race.

The Knicks, fueled by a passionate home crowd, jumped out early behind Julius Randle's dominant inside presence, who notched a double-double with 28 points and 14 rebounds. RJ Barrett complemented him with 24 points, his drives to the basket consistently keeping the Hornets' defense on its heels. However, the Hornets, led by the electrifying LaMelo Ball, refused to wilt. Ball orchestrated the offense brilliantly, finishing with 30 points and 15 assists, hitting several impossible shots that silenced the Garden temporarily. Miles Bridges provided a crucial scoring spark off the bench, pouring in 22 points.

The game seesawed throughout the second half, neither team able to build a lead larger than six points in the final quarter. Tension mounted as the clock wound down. With the Knicks clinging to a 118-117 lead and just 14 seconds left in regulation, Ball drove the length of the floor, absorbing contact, and converted a tough three-point play to give Charlotte a 120-118 advantage with 5.2 seconds remaining. The Knicks' ensuing possession looked bleak, but Immanuel Quickley, a key sparkplug all night, buried a deep, contested three-pointer from the wing as the buzzer sounded, sending the game into overtime deadlocked at 121.

The extra period was pure drama. Both teams traded baskets, but it was the Knicks' defense that ultimately made the difference. With the score tied at 124-124 and 30 seconds remaining, the Hornets' final possession ended in a turnover. On the ensuing Knicks possession, Mitchell Robinson set a perfect screen for Quickley, who drove the lane and drew a foul with 2.1 seconds left. He calmly sank both free throws, putting New York up 126-124. Charlotte's final heave from half-court was off the mark, sealing the win for the Knicks. Quickley finished with 20 points and 6 assists, while Robinson contributed 12 points and 18 rebounds. The Hornets were led by Ball's triple-double effort and Bridges' scoring, but fell just short in the thrilling overtime finale. The victory keeps the Knicks firmly in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

Knicks' Hornets' Showdown: Game of the Week

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