Julius Randle scored another triple-double, but allowed a big 3 and lost a big 2.
On his first trip to the Barclays Center, since his teammates had to stop him from facing referee Scott Foster after a controversial final on March 15, Randle scored 19 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists. But just like the last time, the Knicks lost to the Nets insufficiently, despite their best player having the ball with a chance of a draw.
“I look great – something I practice every day,” said Randle after losing his final shot in the 114-112 loss. “I felt good getting out of my hands and I didn’t get in.”
Three weeks ago, the Nets lost 115-112, when Randle was called on a trip. Replays showed that Kyrie Irving slapped the ball when Randle raised to a 3. But Randle never lost possession of the ball and the referees considered it was a trip when he came back down with the ball. Two teammates prevented him from hunting Foster after the final bell, but not from turning a chair on the walk back to the locker room.
There was no whistle on Monday, and Randle said the sequence was not fresh in his mind. Just a horn that sounded when his 18-foot jump shot over Jeff Green resonated in the rear rim.
After a timeout, the Knicks pulled Randle pretending to be a screen and bowing out of the arch for Alec Burks’ inside pass.
“The last move has three different options and obviously it is the focal point,” said coach Tom Thibodeau. “He has two other readings that he can consult. I thought he took a good look at that. “
The Knicks wasted a 13-point lead in the third quarter with Irving scoring 40 to lead the recovery. One of Irving’s biggest baskets, opening a 100-94 lead, was a 3 step back from a back dribble that left Randle out of position in a defensive move.
Three minutes later, Randle and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarroot were called in for two technical fouls after receiving physical blows.
“I really don’t know what his problem was,” said Randle. “He’s not a guy on the court that worries me a lot when I’m playing. He tried to give me a small forearm or something, so I took his arm off me.
Four out of ten doubles triples in Randle’s career wear the Knicks uniform, including three in the last 12 games. Only five players – all guards – have more in the franchise’s history. That statistic and the close losses don’t matter much.
“It doesn’t do anything for me,” said Randle. “It is a victory or a defeat. There are really no moral victories. “
Randle, who is playing with a sore thigh, winced in the last two minutes. He was holding his right knee after grabbing a defensive rebound, but that didn’t stop him from dribbling through the legs alone and shooting mid-range in the next possessions. His two free throws reduced the Knicks’ deficit to 112-109.
“I’m fine,” said Randle. “Smoothly.”