NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Kristaps Porzingis scored seven of his 30 points in the last 90 seconds Saturday as the New York Knicks rallied for a 105-103 NBA victory over the Pelicans in New Orleans.
Jarrett Jack’s two free throws with 9.1 seconds remaining sealed the victory, just the Knicks’ third away triumph of the season.
After squandering a double-digit third-quarter lead, the Knicks had to erase an eight-point deficit in the final three minutes.
New Orleans were up 99-91 with 2:57 to play when the Knicks’ French veteran Joakim Noah drove for a basket and Jack came up with a steal and a three-pointer.
The Knicks were still down by five with 1:30 remaining, but Porzingis scored seven straight points to give New York a two-point lead.
DeMarcus Cousins then drew a foul on Porzingis and made both free throws for New Orleans to knot the score again.
But Jack was fouled by Jrue Holiday and made both free throws.
Anthony Davis, who led the Pelicans with 31 points, couldn’t get a three-pointer to drop at the buzzer.
Cousins added 29 points and 19 rebounds for the Pelicans, who trailed by as many as 16 early in the third quarter but were down by just one going into the fourth.
New Orleans reeled off the first eight points of the final frame as the Knicks missed their first seven shots.
Jack added 15 points for the Knicks and Michael Beasley scored 15 off the bench as the New York reserves out-scored the Pelicans bench 42-10.
© Agence France-Presse
