By Dan Savage
July 5, 2016
ORLANDO – It’s not about how you start; it’s about how you finish.
For New York that old saying rang true on Tuesday as Ron Baker and the Knicks rallied back from a nine-point fourth-quarter Southwest Airlines Orlando Pro Summer League deficit to force overtime and eventually earn a 92-84 triumph over the Clippers.
Baker overcame a rough shooting start (1-for-7) by going a perfect 2-for-2 from the field and 4-for-4 from the charity stripe over the final 3:40 of the contest to help the Knicks pull out the win.
He also produced a series of hustle plays, including three crucial steals over the same stretch that proved to be instrumental in the victory.
“I think it’s important that you come into summer league be yourself, be a good teammate, show hard work and good effort and mainly play the game the right way,” Baker said this week. “I think if you can do those things and control the things you can control you’ll have a good summer league.”
Chasson Randle put together and impressive outing, posting game-highs in points (24) and steals (six).
The former Stanford University standout drilled six of his nine 3-point attempts and finished with a contest-best +24 plus-minus rating.
DaJuan Summers and J.P. Tokoto each added 13 points.
Although the Clippers are still winless in summer league action, if this game was any indication they franchise may have found a few future gems in the 2016 NBA Draft.
Brice Johnson, Diamond Stone and David Michineau – all acquired by Los Angeles on draft night – combined for 59 points for the Clippers.
Johnson notched his second straight quality outing, going 10-for-16 from the floor on his way to 23 points. He also collected seven rebounds, but was hampered by eight turnovers and eight personal fouls.
“We did pretty well for the most part, but can’t commit 28 turnovers – I had eight myself, so I can’t do that as a big guy,” Johnson explained. “We just have to keep getting better, at this point we’re right there.”
Stone was also efficient from the floor (10-for-15), posting 20 points and seven boards, while Michineau added 16 points and seven assists.
“They’re playing really well,” Johnson said. “It’s a learning process for all of us and we’re learning.”
New York will look to notch back-to-back victories when it takes on Orlando White at 1 p.m. ET on Wednesday, while Los Angeles has the day off before also facing Orlando White on Thursday at 3 p.m.