Aaaaaaaannnd we’re going back to Brooklyn.
A wild back-and-forth contest ends in confusion, as the Brooklyn Nets do not foul despite being down just two points with four seconds left and coach Kharpertian screaming at them to foul, and the New York Knicks escape home court and Game 5 with a 115-113 victory. The loss keeps the Knicks alive in the Cross Bridge Battle, down 3 games to 2.
The Knicks shot 51% as a team (57% from deep). They were led by Iman Shumpert and Carmelo Anthony (23 points each), but it was Raymond Felton who stole the show, finishing with 14 points, 14 assists, seven rebounds, and the Player of the Game Award despite missing two key free throws late that could have put the game away for good. J.R. Smith added 22 points for the Knicks.
Felton also drained a half-court shot as the first quarter buzzer sounded, in an elimination game the Knicks won by two. (Check the video if you don’t believe me.) So there’s that.
The Nets were led by another stellar performance from Deron Williams, who finished with 29 points, six assists, five rebounds, and two blocks, but got an invisible game from All-Star Center Brook Lopez. Lopez finished with just four points and four rebounds in 30 minutes. Gerald Wallace finished with 20 points on 9-17 shooting, and Joe Johnson dropped 17 points, adding six boards, seven assists, and three blocked shots.
The Nets entered the third quarter with a 57-49 lead, limiting the Knicks to just 40% shooting in the first half, but lost the penultimate frame 34-22 before a back-and-forth fourth quarter.
Coach Dubin immediately screamed “VICTORY” at coach Kharpertian after the game, though he also lamented his inability to get a decisive win. Coach Kharpertian was unavailable for any comment beyond the depressed mutterings of a broken man.
The series swings back to Brooklyn for Game 6, and will go back to MSG if necessary for Game 7.
Box score and other relevant information below.
