CHARLOTTE, NC (Sporting Alert) —— Julius Randle scored 33 points and RJ Barrett finished with 26 and the New York Knicks defeat the Charlotte Hornets 121-101 in an NBA score tonight at the Spectrum Center. Watch the best moments from the contest as New York wins three straight games to improve to .500 this season.
Randle, Barrett shine as Knicks dominate Hornets
Barrett, who shot 9 of 18 from the field, also grabbed seven rebounds and four assists, while Randle also collected seven rebounds on the night. Randle was coming off an impressive 34-point and 17-rebound performance in New York’s 113-89 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night.
“I’m just being aggressive and taking what the defense is giving me,” said Randle, who has already totalled five 30-point games this season. “And, I’m playing with confidence.”
He added: “It’s a lot of fun and everybody is in a rhythm. The energy is contagious.”
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Four players, Quentin Grimes, Jalen Brunson, Immanuel Quickley and Isaiah Hartenstein all scored 11 points for the Knicks (13-13) who won three in a row for the second time this season.
Terry Rozier scored 24 points with six rebounds and four assists for the Hornets. Kelly Oubre Jr. added 22 points. Mason Plumlee tallied 13 points and nine rebounds and P.J. Washington and Bryce McGowens each scored 10 points for Charlotte (7-19) which suffered a fourth successive defeat.
As a team, New York Knicks shot 44.1% from the field overall and 38.2% from 3-point range. The Hornets were 44% on shooting from the field.
The Knicks led 55-49 halftime and closed out the third quarter on a 18-5 run behind 10 points from Barrett to help build the solid lead entering the fourth quarter and extended their advantage to 26 early in the fourth quarter.
New York was without Derrick Rose and Cam Reddish who did not play for the third straight game due to a coach’s decision. The Knicks improved to 7-6 on the road.
Meanwhile, the Hornets played without LaMelo Ball (ankle), Gordon Hayward (shoulder), Cody Martin (knee), Dennis Smith Jr. (ankle) and Mark Williams (ankle) who continued to be out.
