What a week—and it’s only Wednesday.
After a double-overtime loss in Charlotte on Monday, the Utah Jazz forced overtime again tonight against the Knicks—and again came up short, falling 118-111 at Madison Square Garden.
The Jazz grabbed the lead early and held it for most of the game, until a furious fourth-quarter rally by the Knicks led to a thrilling but disappointing finish.
Utah (18-24) still has two more games—at Brooklyn on Friday and at Washington on Saturday—before they return home.
Rodney Hood scored 29 points to lead the Jazz, while Gordon Hayward added 27 points, five assists and two steals. Trey Lyles (13 points), Trey Burke (12 points) and Rudy Gobert (11 points) also scored in double figures for the Jazz.
New York’s Carmelo Anthony filled up the box score with 30 points, seven rebounds and nine assists, and Robin Lopez had his best game of the season, finishing with 22 points (on 11-for-14 shooting), 12 rebounds and three blocks.
Rookie Kristaps Porzingis finished with 16 points and three blocks for the Knicks (22-22) in the win.
Wednesday’s Best
Hood was on fire throughout the game, making his first four shots (including two 3-pointers) and finishing with 29 points on 11-for-21 shooting. He added six rebounds and five assists without turning the ball over, and went 5-for-10 from 3-point range.
Key Stretch
The Jazz made a handful of clutch plays in the final four minutes of the fourth quarter. Lyles buried a corner three. Gobert went 2-for-2 from the line. Burke sank a 3-pointer. Hood followed up two misses with a floater in the lane and then a huge 3-pointer with 10 seconds left to cut New York’s lead to one. Hayward drew a foul with 2.4 seconds left and proceeded to make all three free throws (the last two hit nothing but net) to tie the game and force overtime.
It was before that, though, that the Jazz lost control of what could have been a much-needed win.
With Utah leading by 10, New York went on a 14-3 run to take a one-point lead with 5:11 left in the game. The Jazz went 1-for-10 from the field and committed three turnovers during that stretch. After that, the game was up for grabs—and New York made a few more plays in overtime to get the win.
Significant Stat
Utah shot 7-for-22 (31.8 percent) from the field in the fourth quarter after going 25-for-55 (45.5 percent) up to that point.
Coach’s Quote of the Night
“We played a great first half, and we talked about what the game would become in the second half—that they were going to raise their physicality. And they did. The game got very, very physical. That game is better for them. ... We didn’t respond well. We have to be tougher.”
—Jazz head coach Quin Snyder
Notable
Tonight was the fifth overtime game of the season for the Jazz. They’re 2-3 in those games. ... Derrick Favors (back) missed his 15th straight game. ... The Jazz went 12-for-27 from 3-point range.
Up Next
The Jazz will continue their road trip when they take on the Brooklyn Nets on Friday. Tipoff is set for 5;30 p.m. MT.