April 24, 2024

Canada’s RJ Barrett banks in game-winning trey at buzzer to lift Knicks over Celtics | CBC Sports

Canadian RJ Barrett banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the New York Knicks 108-105 comeback victory over the Boston Celtics on Thursday night.

Evan Fournier scored a career-high 41 points, and the Knicks overcame a 24-point, second-quarter deficit. The teams will finish the home-and-home set Saturday night in Boston.

Jayson Tatum scored 36 points for Boston. He tied it on a long step-back jumper with just over a second to play. The Knicks inbounded after a timeout, and Barrett banked in the long-distance shot for the victory.

Julius Randle added 22 points for New York, Immanuel Quickley had 16, and Barrett 13. The Knicks didn’t lead until there were just over two minutes left.

Dennis Schroder added 20 points for Boston, and Jaylen Brown had 16.

Robert Williams’ tip-in with 1:16 left in the first half gave the Celtics their final 24-point lead before the Knicks ended the quarter on an 8-0 run to pull to 63-47. Consecutive 3-pointers by Barrett, who finished with 13 points, and Fournier brought the Knicks within 10 to open the second half.

The Celtics re-established a 20-point lead, 81-61, on Schroder’s 3-point play with 5:33 left in the third quarter. Fournier followed with back-to-back 3s, and the Knicks pulled to 82-73 on Quickley’s 3-point play with 1:44 remaining.

Randle’s driving layup with 23 seconds left brought the Knicks to 84-77 heading into the final quarter. Boston built its lead back up to eight points, but Fournier’s long jumper tied it at 96-96 with 4:04 left.

The Knicks took their first lead, 99-98, on Fournier’s 3 with 2:06 to go.

After Tatum’s three-point play and Mitchell Robinson’s dunk, Quickley’s floater gave the Knicks a 103-101 lead with 44 seconds remaining.

Schroder turned the ball over on Boston’s next possession, and Barrett made one of two free throws with 18 seconds left. Smart made two free throws with 15 seconds left, and Randle made one with 12 seconds remaining. Tatum then made his jumper before Barrett ended it.

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