Knicks Takeaways from Saturday's 90-87 loss to the Sixers, including a last-gasp effort coming up short

Knicks briefly held the lead in the final minute

1/19/2020, 3:00 AM
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The Knicks and Sixers went back and forth in the game's final minute, but the Sixers held on for a 90-87 win. >> Box Score

Five things to know from Saturday's game

1) The Sixers led by just three points after the first quarter, but the Knicks came out freezing cold in the second, shooting 1-of-11 from the floor to start the quarter. The Knicks fought back, though, tying the game 45-45 with two and a half minutes left in the first half. The Sixers finished the first half strong, winding up with a 52-46 lead at the break. The Knicks shot just 40.5 percent as a team and turned the ball over 10 times in the half.

Both teams came out sloppy in the second half, but the Knicks outscored the Sixers 23-18 in the frame, and trailed by just one point entering the fourth quarter. With four minutes to go in the game, the Sixers maintained an 84-81 lead. With just under two minutes to go, a Mitchell Robinson dunk cut the Sixers' lead to just one point.

In the final minute. Marcus Morris knocked down a mid-range jumper to put the Knicks' ahead 87-86 with 30.9 seconds left. Immediately, Tobias Harris knocked down a three to put the Sixers back in the lead 89-87. The Knicks then turned the ball over, allowing the Sixers to hit a free throw and go up three. With 2.7 seconds left, Morris' shot was off the mark, and the Sixers held on. 

 

2) Reggie Bullock started for the Knicks in place of the injured RJ Barrett, marking the first time this season the team started five free agent signings from this past summer (Elfrid Payton, Bullock, Marcus Morris, Julius Randle, and Taj Gibson). Bullock finished the game with 14 points, including one made three-pointer.

3) Julius Randle finished with a double-double, scoring 14 points to go along with 12 rebounds.

4) Elfrid Payton had a strong game leading the offense, finishing with 10 points, 8 assists, and seven rebounds.

5) Playing without Joel Embiid, the Sixers were led by Ben Simmons, who attacked the rim all night long. Simmons finished with 21 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds.

Highlights

What's next

The Knicks will be back in action on Monday, as they head to Cleveland for a matchup with the Cavaliers, with tip-off on Martin Luther King Day set for 5:00 PM.

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