NBA: RJ Barrett, Knicks cool off Hornets
RJ Barrett #9 of the New York Knicks looks on during the first half against the Utah Jazz at Madison Square Garden on March 20, 2022 in New York City. Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFP
RJ Barrett scored 30 points and the New York Knicks used hot shooting to set the tone en route to a 121-106 victory over the host Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night.
Obi Toppin added 18 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, Alec Burks had 17 points and Evan Fournier and Taj Gibson both had 12 points as the Knicks stayed in playoff contention despite playing without standout Julius Randle, who’s nursing a quadriceps injury.
Jericho Sims and Immanuel Quickley both had 10 points for the Knicks (31-42), who were 20-for-45 on 3-point attempts with eight players hitting at least one.
Highlights from the W in Charlotte.
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Barrett scored 30 points for the second game in a row, this time shooting 10-for-19 from the field.
LaMelo Ball’s 32 points paced the Hornets (37-36), who had a five-game winning streak snapped. Terry Rozier chipped in with 18 points, Miles Bridges had 15 points and nine assists, and P.J. Washington scored 10 points.
The Hornets fell to 3-1 on their five-game homestand, having previously defeated playoff-contending Atlanta, Dallas and New Orleans. The Knicks finished 15-for-17 on free throws while the Hornets were 9-for-17.
Ball hit a 3-pointer to close the gap to 92-86 late in the third quarter. But the Knicks gained control again before the end of the quarter.
The Knicks led 69-56 at halftime, boosted by Barrett’s 15 points. Ball’s 19 points by the break were key for the Hornets, who were 5-for-21 on 3s by that juncture. New York shot 14-for-26 on first-half 3-point attempts. Six Knicks had multiple 3-point baskets in the half.
The Knicks posted a 40-24 lead after the first quarter. Charlotte later cut into a 20-point hole with a 12-5 stretch in the last 2 1/2 minutes of the half.
Charlotte won the first two meetings with the Knicks this season.
