Requiring two overtimes to get to Boston two nights early left the New York Knicks out of fuel when they returned home.
The Charlotte Hornets were happy to take advantage.
Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 27 points, Terry Rozier added 25 and the Hornets snapped the Knicks’ nine-game winning streak with a 112-105 victory Tuesday night.
The Knicks had 39 points and shot below 30% in the second half, being outscored by 23.
“I just ran out of gas,” All-Star Julius Randle said.
Charlotte Hornets Terry Rozier (3) shoots against New York Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein
Charlotte Hornets guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (12) drives around New York Knicks guard RJ Barrett
Gordon Hayward had 23 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, and made the tiebreaker basket with 1:50 remaining as the Hornets won for the first time in four games since point guard LaMelo Ball’s broken ankle that required surgery.
They trailed by 16 at halftime and were still down nine midway through the fourth quarter before overcoming a Knicks team that seemed to lack energy.
“I think at this point in the season everyone is tired,” Hayward said. ‘You’re going through it and the games are every other night and obviously they had some emotional wins as well. That is another part of the fatigue, not only the physical but the mental and emotional. So for us to win tonight was important for our team.’
RJ Barrett scored 27 points for the Knicks, who were seeking their first 10-game winning streak since winning 13 straight late in the 2012-13 season. Randle scored 16 points but shot just 5-of-17 from the field.
The Knicks, playing without starting point guard Jalen Brunson for the second straight game because of sore left foot, scored 45 points in the second quarter but managed just 60 in the other three.
“We weren’t very good in defensive transition and we didn’t fly like we normally do,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said.
The Knicks shot 16 of 20 – 10 of 11 from the arc – in the second, opening up a 66-50 lead on a Quentin Grimes layup with 0.4 seconds left.
But Charlotte came back with 37 points in the third and a better effort than the Knicks, outrebounding them 16-3. Rozier scored 13 points and the Hornets rallied for the lead before Obi Toppin’s 3-pointer made it 89-87 heading into the fourth.
“We had been getting a lot better offensively in that stretch and then LaMelo got hurt and we’ve struggled in games without him,” Hornets coach Steve Clifford said, “and tonight I felt like we were a lot better.” Our ball movement was better, we had a more balanced offense.”
With Rozier resting to start the quarter, the Hornets managed just one basket from Hayward in the first half of the period and fell behind 98-89. But then they held the Knicks to just one basket during a gradual 14-2 surge that gave them a 103-100 lead on Hayward’s three-point play with 2:59 remaining.
New York tied it at 103 before Hayward scored, followed by Oubre’s 3-pointer that made it 108-103 with 58 seconds left.
Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier (3) beats New York Knicks guard Quentin Grimes (6).
DOLLARS 134, MAGIC 123
Brook Lopez scored 26 points, Khris Middleton and Jevon Carter each added 24 points and Milwaukee beat Orlando for its 18th win in 19 games.
Bobby Portis Jr. had 16 points and 11 rebounds and Jae Crowder added 15 points for the Bucks, who made 59% of their shots and extended their winning streak against the Magic to 14 games.
The Bucks played without All-Stars Giannis Antetokounmpo (non-COVID-19-related illness) and Jrue Holiday (neck pain).
Cole Anthony led the Magic with 23 points. Franz Wagner added 21 points and Paolo Banchero had 20 points and five rebounds.
Brook Lopez of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks the ball during the game against the Magic
LAKERS 112, GRIZZLIES 103
Anthony Davis had 30 points and 22 rebounds, Dennis Schröder added 17 points and nine assists and the Los Angeles Lakers advanced to ninth place in the Western Conference with a 112-103 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night.
Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves each scored 17 points in the sixth win in eight games for the Lakers, who are growing since the trade deadline despite being without LeBron James and D’Angelo Russell through injury.
Davis turned in a superstar performance against the Grizzlies, making 11-of-17 shots and repeatedly making big plays down the stretch while wearing a bandage on his nose from a cut in the first half.
Jaren Jackson scored 26 points and Tyus Jones had 16 for the Grizzlies, who fell to 0-2 without Ja Morant with their third straight loss overall.
At halftime, the Lakers honored former player Pau Gasol by retiring his number 16 jersey.
Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against the Memphis Grizzlies
MAVERICKS 120, JAZZ 116
Kyrie Irving hit a 3-pointer and scored 17 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter, and Luka Doncic added 29 points as Dallas beat Utah.
Utah trailed 118-115 with 3.7 seconds left when Talen Horton-Tucker was fouled and sent to the line for two shots. After sinking the first, his intentional miss slammed straight into the backboard and missed the rim, giving Dallas possession.
Tim Hardaway Jr. added 24 points off the bench, including 7-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc as Dallas finished a season-high six-game homestand 3-3.
Lauri Markkanen returned to the lineup after missing a game with a lower back strain and scored 33 points to lead the Jazz. Horton-Tucker added 21 points.
Mavs Kyrie Irving drives to the basket past Utah’s Lauri Markkanen and Talen Horton-Tucker
76ERS 117, TIMBER WOLVES 94
Joel Embiid scored 39 points, Tyrese Maxey added 27 and Philadelphia beat Minnesota despite playing without star James Harden.
Harden, the team’s second-leading scorer and NBA assists leader, sat out with soreness in his left foot.
De’Anthony Melton scored 11 for the 76ers, who finished a five-game road trip with a 4-1 record.
Anthony Edwards scored 32 points for Minnesota. The Timberwolves shot a season-low 39.5 percent from the field and were 11-of-36 from 3-point range.
Philadelphia 76ers Joel Embiid (21) goes up to shoot past Minnesota Timberwolves Naz Reid
NETS 118, ROCKETS 96
Mikal Bridges scored 30 points, Spencer Dinwiddie added 23 and Brooklyn had a great third quarter to beat Houston for its third straight victory.
Bridges has scored 30 or more points in three straight games and five times overall since arriving from Phoenix on Feb. 9 in the deal that sent Kevin Durant to the Suns. Bridges also had five assists, two blocks and one steal.
Brooklyn has its longest winning streak since a season-high 12-game streak from Dec. 7 to Jan. 1. 8. The Nets also earned their third straight double-digit victory.
Jalen Green had 25 points for the Western Conference-worst Rockets, who were coming off back-to-back wins over San Antonio.
Nets Mikal Bridges (1) reacts after converting a 3-point basket against the Houston Rockets
THUNDER 137, WARRIORS 128
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 points, Josh Giddey had his seventh career triple-double and third of the season, and Oklahoma City beat Golden State.
Giddey finished with 17 points, 17 assists and a career-high 11 rebounds as the Thunder earned their third straight win.
Stephen Curry scored 40 points and made a season-high 10 3-pointers, Klay Thompson scored 23 points and Jonathan Kuminga added 21 for the Warriors.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots as Golden State Warriors
MAGOS 119, PISTONS 117
Daniel Gafford converted a Bradley Beal airball kickback at the buzzer, and Washington handed Detroit its ninth straight loss.
With the score tied, Beal drove to the baseline and fired a float shot that was too strong and missed the whole thing. Gafford grabbed the weakside rebound and hit the game-winner.
Beal finished with 32 points and Kristaps Porzingis scored 24 before fouling out in the final minute. Washington (32-34) ended a two-game skid and is 10th in the Eastern Conference, in position for the final seed in the tournament.
Jaden Ivey had 26 points and 12 assists for the worst Pistons in the NBA. James Wiseman added 21 points.
Wizards center Daniel Gafford reacts after his game-winning basket against the Detroit Pistons.