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Unbeaten rookie Allonzo Trier made his career debut and after missing his first six shots, he raised the Knicks in the fourth quarter Monday night against the Bulls. He set himself up to become a last-second hero – twice.
Trier did not achieve either goal – in the closing seconds of the regulation or in overtime, while the Knicks found another way to lose late in a ridiculously wild 116-115 garden thriller in double overtime.
In the end, Trier lost in shootout against Zach LaVine, of the Bulls, who jumped to the free throw line with 0.2 seconds remaining in the second round, finishing with 41 points.
"I would have liked it to happen," Trier said of his missed regulation opportunity. "I thought I had a very good look. I got up and I had a shot that I usually do. He did not go down.
The Knicks rallied late in the second overtime. Damyean Dotson got a rebound in the final seconds and confided to Emmanuel Muddiay (16 points), who ran on the track for a double that equaled the match at 2.7 seconds from the end.
Then Mudiay returned the game to the Bulls. LaVine would not let them lose. He tore up the basket and went up for a layup with Mudiay making contact with 0.2 seconds to go. The referees whistled the whistle and the whistle stopped after a video review. LaVine made the first free throw and intentionally missed the next to end the madness.
Kevin Knox, the Knicks' popular jackpot pick, was back after missing seven games due to a sprained ankle, but Tim Hardaway Jr. was not, leaving Trier to start shooting.
The rookie finished with 21 points, 5 out of 15 in the pack. In the second overtime, Trier shot the first blood with a 3-pointer and scored on a layup to reach 113-112 with 1:45 left. But then, against double teams, he deferred and Enes Kanter (23 points, 24 rebounds, seven assists) ended his monster night with a missed jumper at the last minute.
"It's hard to take on the chin," Trier said. "Hard to finish the match. These are the ones we want to win when we are right there. "
Frank Ntilikina and Trier formed the backyard. Ntilikina went aimless and was benched. Trier was high as a giant in the fourth quarter. But the Arizona product could not seal the deal.
Kanter, who was coming back from the bench, tried with all his might to carry the Knicks. Along the way, he became the first Knick to score a 20-20 match since the start of these records in 1971.
Incredibly, Kanter also had a chance to win in the last second of the first match, making a long pass deep, turning and shooting a distance of 40 feet that bounced long on the rim.
Rookie Mitchell Robinson was not taken into account in 11 minutes. Knox played five minutes in the first half, scoring a fast dunk in the air.
"Enes has played very well," said coach David Fizdale. "Mitchell did not get it tonight."
Trier had difficulties, 0-0 against 5 with five points after three quarters. He scored 11 points for the fourth quarter – his 3-pointer with 48 seconds tied tied the score at 102.
Then the Knicks recovered it with 25 seconds remaining in regulation. Trier timed the clock, seeking to win it by a win. He fired an 18-foot shot that bounced the back edge. Mario Hezonja's putback missed the ring. Hezonja continued his inconsistency by shooting 6 of the 18 missing holes and throwing an overhead aerial balloon.
In the first extra hour, he was 108-108 with 19.2 seconds to go. Trier had another chance. He whistled the clock and ex-Knick Robin Lopez rushed to a huge block. The ball went off the field with the Knicks keeping the possession of the ball with 4.4 seconds left.
Kanter entered but his pass for Kanter was intercepted by ex-Knick Justin Holiday when the Bulls called timeout with 2.8 seconds left. LaVine went out of bounds when he launched a wave of desperation and the second hour was on.
Hardaway dressed despite the pains in the back but would be used only in case of emergency. He was sitting on the bench with a specialized heater attached to his back.
Trier made his career debut at Hardaway. This places the Knicks at an average age of 21.8 years, with Dotson, the eldest of the two years, at age 24. The unit did not score a placement for the first five minutes of the game.
Knox had a big ovation when he arrived with 9:48 left. Almost immediately, it had an impact. Kanter threw a ball in the air and Knox volleyed it to Antonio Blakeney and spun for a quick dunk with 8:50 to go.
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