Knicks record season-highs in points, shooting percentage in 129-107 win over Hornets
NEW YORK (AP) Julius Randle had 23 points, five rebounds and five assists, and the New York Knicks scored a season-high in their 129-107 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday.
R.J. Barrett scored 24 points, Jalen Brunson had 23 points and Immanuel Quickley had 17 points. The Knicks shot a season-high 54% from the field to win their third straight game.
“We’re playing better basketball,” Randle said. “It’s still super-early in the season, so we’ve got to keep building to where we want to be at.”
LaMelo Ball led Charlotte with 32 points, seven rebounds and six assists, Mark Williams had 10 points and Brandon Miller had 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting before exiting with an ankle injury during the second quarter.
“It’ll be, I think, more day to day,” Hornets coach Steve Clifford said about Miller, adding that he's hopeful he will be healthy enough to play in the team's next game Tuesday.
The Hornets lost for the sixth time in their past eight games and fell to 1-3 without leading scorer Terry Rozier, who missed his fourth straight game due to a groin strain.
The Knicks, who entered play ranked second in the NBA in points-against per game (102.8), put the clamps down on the Hornets after Miller exited. New York forced 12 turnovers that led to 20 points and limited the high-octane Hornets, who rank seventh in points per game (117.2), to 46.8% shooting.
New York also took advantage of the porous Charlotte defense, which is second-worst in the NBA in points-against per game (122.4). The Knicks outscored Charlotte 24-11 over the first 6:08 of the third quarter, turning their 10-point halftime advantage to an 88-65 lead, and led by as many as 28 in the fourth quarter.
“We had a number of guys who made very unselfish plays and then we got going defensively a little bit,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “And that got us some easy scoring opportunities, and we need those.”
New York led 64-54 at halftime and surpassed 60 first-half points for the second straight game and the third time this season. The Knicks made 14 of 21 field goals between the first and second quarters, building a 16-point lead.
“We just played hard from the beginning,” Barrett said. “They were a little undermanned, and in a 12 o’clock game, whoever comes out right from the beginning of the game is going to win the game, so we were able to do that.”
Five Knicks scored in double-figures in the first half, led by Brunson’s 15 points. Randle scored the game’s first five points and closed the first half with 10, and Quickley had 12 points, including a buzzer-beating 3-pointer that capped a 7-0 run to close the first quarter.
UP NEXT
Charlotte: Hosts Miami on Tuesday.
New York: Visits Boston on Monday.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Mark Williams vs. Mitchell Robinson (Jalen Brunson gains possession) | ||
| 11:35 | | +2 | Julius Randle makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 0-2 |
| 11:25 |  | Gordon Hayward turnover (bad pass) (Julius Randle steals) | ||
| 11:21 | | +3 | Julius Randle makes three point running pullup jump shot | 0-5 |
| 10:59 | | Gordon Hayward turnover (bad pass) (Quentin Grimes steals) | ||
| 10:54 | | RJ Barrett misses two point running layup | ||
| 10:54 | | Hornets defensive rebound | ||
| 10:39 | | Gordon Hayward misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:36 | | Mitchell Robinson defensive rebound | ||
| 10:33 | | P.J. Washington personal foul (Jalen Brunson draws the foul) | ||
| 10:27 | | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point pullup jump shot (Julius Randle assists) | 0-7 |
| 10:05 | | +3 | LaMelo Ball makes three point jump shot (P.J. Washington assists) | 3-7 |
| 9:40 | | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point driving floating jump shot (RJ Barrett assists) | 3-9 |
| 9:25 | | +2 | Mark Williams makes two point dunk | 5-9 |
| 9:06 | | Julius Randle misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:03 | | Mark Williams defensive rebound | ||
| 8:52 | | Brandon Miller misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:49 | | RJ Barrett defensive rebound | ||
| 8:39 | | Quentin Grimes misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:37 | | Hornets defensive rebound | ||
| 8:25 | | +2 | Gordon Hayward makes two point driving floating jump shot (LaMelo Ball assists) | 7-9 |
| 7:59 | | Julius Randle misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 7:56 | | Brandon Miller defensive rebound | ||
| 7:49 | | +2 | LaMelo Ball makes two point driving finger roll layup | 9-9 |
| 7:38 | | Gordon Hayward personal foul (RJ Barrett draws the foul) | ||
| 7:31 | | RJ Barrett misses two point driving layup | ||
| 7:30 | | Mitchell Robinson offensive rebound | ||
| 7:29 | | +2 | Mitchell Robinson makes two point putback layup | 9-11 |
| 7:18 | | +2 | LaMelo Ball makes two point driving layup | 11-11 |
| 7:05 | | Mitchell Robinson misses two point layup | ||
| 7:02 | | Mitchell Robinson offensive rebound | ||
| 7:02 | | +2 | Mitchell Robinson makes two point tip layup | 11-13 |
| 6:57 | | Knicks 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:48 | | +2 | Brandon Miller makes two point driving floating jump shot (Gordon Hayward assists) | 13-13 |
| 6:48 | | Jalen Brunson shooting foul (Brandon Miller draws the foul) | ||
| 6:48 | | Brandon Miller misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | ||
| 6:45 | | Brandon Miller offensive rebound | ||
| 6:40 | | Gordon Hayward misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 6:39 | | Knicks defensive rebound | ||
| 6:26 | | +2 | Julius Randle makes two point driving layup | 13-15 |
| 6:05 | | JT Thor misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:03 | | Julius Randle defensive rebound | ||
| 5:52 | | Julius Randle misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 5:49 | | LaMelo Ball defensive rebound | ||
| 5:26 | | Theo Maledon misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 5:23 | | Theo Maledon offensive rebound | ||
| 5:13 | | +2 | Brandon Miller makes two point pullup jump shot | 15-15 |
| 4:53 | | Julius Randle turnover (bad pass) (Mark Williams steals) | ||
| 4:48 | | JT Thor turnover (lost ball) (RJ Barrett steals) | ||
| 4:43 | | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point driving floating jump shot | 15-17 |
| 4:43 | | Theo Maledon shooting foul (Jalen Brunson draws the foul) | ||
| 4:43 | | +1 | Jalen Brunson makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 15-18 |
| 4:25 | | +3 | Brandon Miller makes three point jump shot (Theo Maledon assists) | 18-18 |
| 4:09 | | +3 | Jalen Brunson makes three point pullup jump shot | 18-21 |
| 3:52 | | Theo Maledon misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:49 | | Immanuel Quickley defensive rebound | ||
| 3:37 | | Julius Randle misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 3:35 | | Brandon Miller defensive rebound | ||
| 3:32 | | +2 | Brandon Miller makes two point running layup | 20-21 |
| 3:14 | | Jalen Brunson misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:12 | | Gordon Hayward defensive rebound | ||
| 3:02 | | +2 | Brandon Miller makes two point cutting layup (Gordon Hayward assists) | 22-21 |
| 2:55 | | Theo Maledon personal foul (Take) (Immanuel Quickley draws the foul) | ||
| 2:55 | | Hornets 60 second timeout | ||
| 2:50 | | +3 | Jalen Brunson makes three point pullup jump shot (Josh Hart assists) | 22-24 |
| 2:34 | | LaMelo Ball misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 2:32 | | Josh Hart defensive rebound | ||
| 2:25 | | Immanuel Quickley misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 2:22 | | Hornets defensive rebound | ||
| 2:02 | | LaMelo Ball misses two point driving layup | ||
| 2:01 | | Knicks defensive rebound | ||
| 1:52 | | Jalen Brunson misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 1:49 | | Isaiah Hartenstein offensive rebound | ||
| 1:49 | | Nick Richards shooting foul (Isaiah Hartenstein draws the foul) | ||
| 1:49 | | Isaiah Hartenstein misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 1:49 | | Knicks offensive rebound | ||
| 1:49 | | +1 | Isaiah Hartenstein makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-25 |
| 1:31 | | LaMelo Ball misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:30 | | Hornets offensive rebound | ||
| 1:30 | | Isaiah Hartenstein personal foul (Loose ball) (Nick Richards draws the foul) | ||
| 1:22 | | +3 | P.J. Washington makes three point jump shot (Theo Maledon assists) | 25-25 |
| 1:04 | | +2 | Immanuel Quickley makes two point driving floating jump shot | 25-27 |
| 0:54 | | Bryce McGowens misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:51 | | LaMelo Ball offensive rebound | ||
| 0:40 | | Isaiah Hartenstein blocks Theo Maledon's two point driving layup | ||
| 0:37 | | P.J. Washington offensive rebound | ||
| 0:36 | | P.J. Washington misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 0:33 | | RJ Barrett defensive rebound | ||
| 0:32 | | +2 | RJ Barrett makes two point running layup | 25-29 |
| 0:32 | | P.J. Washington shooting foul (RJ Barrett draws the foul) | ||
| 0:32 | | RJ Barrett misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | ||
| 0:30 | | P.J. Washington defensive rebound | ||
| 0:09 | | Theo Maledon misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 0:05 | | RJ Barrett defensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | +3 | Immanuel Quickley makes three point stepback jump shot (RJ Barrett assists) | 25-32 |
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:46 | | +2 | Nick Richards makes two point layup (P.J. Washington assists) | 27-32 |
| 11:24 | | RJ Barrett misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 11:22 | | Nick Richards defensive rebound | ||
| 11:09 | | +2 | Nick Richards makes two point layup (LaMelo Ball assists) | 29-32 |
| 11:09 | | Nick Richards technical foul | ||
| 11:09 | | +1 | Immanuel Quickley makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 29-33 |
| 10:58 | | +2 | RJ Barrett makes two point driving layup | 29-35 |
| 10:47 | | Nick Richards offensive foul (Donte DiVincenzo draws the foul) | ||
| 10:47 | | Nick Richards turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 10:37 | | +3 | RJ Barrett makes three point pullup jump shot (Immanuel Quickley assists) | 29-38 |
| 10:23 | | +3 | LaMelo Ball makes three point jump shot (P.J. Washington assists) | 32-38 |
| 10:08 | | Donte DiVincenzo misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:05 | | Donte DiVincenzo offensive rebound | ||
| 10:04 | | Immanuel Quickley misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:02 | | Hornets defensive rebound | ||
| 10:02 | | Donte DiVincenzo personal foul (Loose ball) (LaMelo Ball draws the foul) | ||
| 9:46 | | Theo Maledon misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:44 | | Knicks defensive rebound | ||
| 9:34 | | LaMelo Ball blocks RJ Barrett's two point cutting layup | ||
| 9:32 | | Knicks offensive rebound | ||
| 9:30 | | Isaiah Hartenstein offensive foul (Theo Maledon draws the foul) | ||
| 9:30 | | Isaiah Hartenstein turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 9:21 | | +2 | LaMelo Ball makes two point driving reverse layup | 34-38 |
| 9:07 | | +3 | Donte DiVincenzo makes three point jump shot (Immanuel Quickley assists) | 34-41 |
| 8:57 | | +3 | LaMelo Ball makes three point stepback jump shot | 37-41 |
| 8:43 | | +2 | Isaiah Hartenstein makes two point cutting dunk (Donte DiVincenzo assists) | 37-43 |
| 8:21 | | +2 | LaMelo Ball makes two point driving floating jump shot | 39-43 |
| 7:58 | | +2 | RJ Barrett makes two point driving floating jump shot | 39-45 |
| 7:36 | | Nick Richards offensive foul (RJ Barrett draws the foul) | ||
| 7:36 | | Nick Richards turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 7:24 | | +3 | Immanuel Quickley makes three point pullup jump shot | 39-48 |
| 7:24 | | Hornets 60 second timeout | ||
| 7:00 | | Theo Maledon misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:57 | | JT Thor offensive rebound | ||
| 6:52 | | JT Thor misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:50 | | Immanuel Quickley defensive rebound | ||
| 6:41 | | Mark Williams shooting foul (Julius Randle draws the foul) | ||
| 6:41 | | Julius Randle misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 6:41 | | Knicks offensive rebound | ||
| 6:41 | | +1 | Julius Randle makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 39-49 |
| 6:23 | | +2 | Ish Smith makes two point stepback jump shot (Theo Maledon assists) | 41-49 |
| 5:59 | | Julius Randle misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:57 | | Ish Smith defensive rebound | ||
| 5:48 | | Theo Maledon turnover (bad pass) (Julius Randle steals) | ||
| 5:43 | | +3 | Immanuel Quickley makes three point running jump shot (Julius Randle assists) | 41-52 |
| 5:23 | | +2 | Gordon Hayward makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 43-52 |
| 4:59 | | +2 | Julius Randle makes two point driving layup | 43-54 |
| 4:45 | | JT Thor misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 4:40 | | Mitchell Robinson defensive rebound | ||
| 4:26 | | +2 | Mitchell Robinson makes two point layup (Julius Randle assists) | 43-56 |
| 4:26 | | Hornets 60 second timeout | ||
| 4:13 | | Julius Randle shooting foul (Mark Williams draws the foul) | ||
| 4:13 | | +1 | Mark Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 44-56 |
| 4:13 | | +1 | Mark Williams makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 45-56 |
| 3:55 | | RJ Barrett misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 3:51 | | Mitchell Robinson offensive rebound | ||
| 3:51 | | +2 | Mitchell Robinson makes two point tip dunk | 45-58 |
| 3:45 | | P.J. Washington misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:42 | | RJ Barrett defensive rebound | ||
| 3:30 | | +2 | RJ Barrett makes two point cutting dunk (Quentin Grimes assists) | 45-60 |
| 3:17 | | Mitchell Robinson shooting foul (P.J. Washington draws the foul) | ||
| 3:17 | | +1 | P.J. Washington makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 46-60 |
| 3:17 | | P.J. Washington misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 3:16 | | Mitchell Robinson defensive rebound | ||
| 3:03 | | Julius Randle misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:03 | | Knicks offensive rebound | ||
| 3:03 |