The Knicks improved to 2-8 on the road by taking down the Brooklyn Nets, extending their lead in the season series to 2-0.
- New York Knicks 111 (15-13)
- Brooklyn Nets 104 (11-16)
- NBA, Final, Box Score
- Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
Courtney Lee’s 27 points powered the Knicks to victory over the Nets on Thursday night, but the big story coming out of this game is the status of Kristaps Porzingis, who exited the game early with a knee injury.
The Knicks started out hot with both Porzingis and Lee scoring efficiently from the perimeter. Lee led all scorers with 27 points on 9-of-17 shooting. The Knicks ended the first half with a lineup featuring Frank Ntilikina, Ron Baker, Doug McDermott, Michael Beasley, and Kyle O’Quinn. This fab five brought an energy and toughness leading the Knicks to a 63-50 lead at the end of the first half.
? sighting in BK. pic.twitter.com/JX7jdPeBrk
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 15, 2017
The unicorn finished with 13 points, five rebounds, and four assists before leaving the game in the beginning of the second half. In what looked like a non-contact injury, Porzingis signaled to the bench, and that was the end of his night. Early reports are that Porzingis has a sore knee.
Kristaps Porzingis (sore left knee) will not return.
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 15, 2017
After Porzingis’s exit, the Nets went on a barrage from three-point land, erasing a 15-point deficit and taking the lead. Although the Nets shot 28 percent from behind the arc, DeMarre Carrol and Spencer Dinwiddie had the green light to shoot and made the Knicks pay. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had an impressive 25 points and seven rebounds to lead the Nets in a losing effort.
Down the stretch, the Knicks got great bench play from both Beasley and O’Quinn. Beasley poured in 15 points and O’Quinn added six key offensive rebounds to help the Knicks seal their 15th win of the season.
Defense ➡️ Offense pic.twitter.com/MLDUIA8nEo
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 15, 2017
The Knicks will get ready for a Saturday night thriller as Carmelo Anthony returns to Madison Square Garden for the first time since being traded to Oklahoma City over the summer. But Porzingis’ status for the game is uncertain, as ESPN’s Ian Begley tweeted after the game.
Kristaps Porzingis says that he isn’t in significant pain at the moment and it’s a good sign that he’s standing on his own. He’s uncertain about playing Saturday but he says he’ll know more after being examined tomorrow.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) December 15, 2017
