Austin Rivers becomes Knicks’ Mariano Rivera – a closer elite.
No lead is certain against these Knicks. And Rivers.
Two days after the rally from 15 points down, the Knicks screamed back from an 18-point hole to clear the Jazz, 112-100, with more magic from the fourth quarter of Rivers, their new standout closer .
Doc Rivers’ clutch son scored 14 straight points on the stretch, which included four straight triples and a float, with the clock shot as the Knicks went 5-3 after winning the fifth game in six outings. It is their best record after eight games in the 2012-13 magic season.
Rivers finished with 23 points on 9 of 14 shots. Rivers was the key in the fourth quarters of the last three games, after missing the entire preseason and the first five games of the season, with a groin attraction.
Thibdodeau said he watched Rivers grow up as an assistant coach at Doc Rivers when Austin was in high school. So this crazy madness doesn’t shock Thibodeau.
“I’ll tell you one thing, he’s never missed it,” Thibodeau said. “He never lacked confidence.”
Thibodeau recalled that Rivers would participate in the practice of Celtics – a club with a few guys from Hall-of-Fame.
“He wanted to play individually, including Kevin Garnett,” Thibodeau said. “Rivers wanted to play (Kevin). Austin even thought he could beat him. “
Julius Randle started very slowly before leading the charge and recorded another 39 minutes with the Knicks decimated in front. Randle recorded 30 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists.
The Knicks also got a huge performance from the start of goalkeeper Reggie Bullock, a decision during the game with a painful knee. Bullock scored 12 points, hitting 5 of 8 shots. Goalkeeper Elfrid Payton entered the paint and added 22 points and six assists.
A third quarter of 34-19, without turnover, brought the Knicks back from a lethargic start, as they took a 78-75 advantage after three quarters in rallies from an 18-point hole.
To end the third quarter, the Knicks played two sterling defensive games that led to transition circles. Kevin Knox had a rare blockage, which led to Payton’s rapid disappearance to give the Knicks their first lead since the start of the first quarter.
Then Rivers started his big night. He pulled the ball from Joe Ingles of Utah, knocking Barrett out for a dive in the final seconds of the quarter to give the Knicks a 78-75 lead after three, capping 8-0.
Payton started the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer to bring the Knicks five points and extend the lead to 10-0. A goal from Mitchell Robinson put the score at 12-0 and gave the Knicks an 82-75 lead which Rivers protected more.
The Knicks fell 18 points in the second quarter. Randle and RJ Barrett, who are first and second in the league, respectively, in a few minutes played, seemed tired of going 3-1. Utah led 56-44 through the break, and Barrett passed 0 of 6 in the first half.
Everything was forgotten in the end.