AUSTIN Rivers hit a 3-pointer that gave the New York Knicks the lead for good late in the fourth quarter Saturday night and added the clinching layup with 35.3 seconds remaining as the Knicks surprised the host Indiana Pacers, 106-102.
Rivers, who played his second game for the Knicks after missing the first four games due to a groin injury, scored 15 points off the bench for New York, which has won three of four.
RJ Barrett scored a team-high 25 points and was four of five on 3-point attempts. The Knicks hit 44.4% (12 of 27) of their 3-pointers Saturday, two nights after shooting a franchise record-low of 8.3% (three of 36) from the 3-point line. Julius Randle finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds, Elfrid Payton had 19 points and eight rebounds, and Mitchell Robinson went of 8 of 10 shooting and netted 16 points.
Malcolm Brogdon scored 33 points for the Pacers, who have lost two of three. Domantas Sabonis (13 points, 13 rebounds) had his sixth double-double in as many games to start the season, while Myles Turner scored 17 points. Victor Oladipo finished with 16 points, and Justin Holiday added 12 points off the bench.
ROCKETS 102 – KINGS 94
John Wall had game highs of 28 points, six assists and three steals as host Houston capped a back-to-back sweep of Sacramento.
Rockets guard James Harden, who poured in 33 points with eight assists in a 122-119 victory over the Kings on New Year’s Eve, was a late scratch with a right ankle sprain. Houston found sufficient scoring elsewhere, with Eric Gordon replacing Harden and recording 21 points. Christian Wood notched his third double-double for the Rockets with 20 points and 15 rebounds. — Reuters