RJ BARRETT scored 18 of his 24 points as part of a huge third quarter for the New York Knicks as they topped the visiting Charlotte Hornets 109-97 on Tuesday night (Wednesday in Manila) for their seventh straight win.
The Knicks (32-27) shot 48.2 percent from the field, getting a boost from reserves Derrick Rose and Immanuel Quickley, who each racked up 17 points.
Julius Randle and Reggie Bullock chipped in with 16 points apiece. Randle also had 10 rebounds and seven assists, though his streak of games with 30 or more points ended at four.
Charlotte (28-29) was led by P.J. Washington, who came off the bench for 26. The Hornets have lost five of their last six games. They led 66-60 at halftime but were outscored 31-16 in the third quarter.
In other games, it was the Hawks 112, Magic 96; Nets 134, Pelicans 129; Clippers 113, Blazers 112; and Wolves 134, Kings 120.
Hawks 112, Magic 96
Trae Young, wearing goggles for the first time due to an injury, scored 25 points and Lou Williams came off the bench to score 22 as host Atlanta downed Orlando.
The Hawks (32-26) have won two straight and nine of their last 11 games. Atlanta improved to six games over .500 for the first time since March 11, 2017. Orlando (18-40) has lost three in a row and nine of its past 10.
Young was wearing the glasses to protect his right eyelid, which was scratched in a Sunday game against the Indiana Pacers. Young never seemed comfortable — and removed the goggles a couple of times during the game — but still shot 7-for-16 from the field while compiling seven assists, five rebounds and five turnovers.
Nets 134, Pelicans 129
Kyrie Irving scored 32 points and Joe Harris had 24 to lead seven Brooklyn players in double figures as the short-handed Nets held off host New Orleans.
Landry Shamet added 18, Blake Griffin scored 16, Jeff Green had 15, and Bruce Brown had 11 points and 11 rebounds. The Nets (39-19) played without James Harden, Kevin Durant, Nicolas Claxton and Reggie Perry.
Zion Williamson scored 33 points, Brandon Ingram had 27, Lonzo Ball and Naji Marshall added 15 each, and Kira Lewis Jr. had 11 to lead the Pelicans (25-33), who lost their fourth straight game. — Field Level Media
