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The New York Knicks, having made 2017 the year of re-establishing homecourt dominance, evinced some rare road competence with a 105-103 come-from-behind-after-falling-from-ahead win in New Orleans. This was the kind of game where your team is up big but you’re never comfortable, then as they fall apart you shake your head at your own prescience, only then they come back late to win and you’re sooo so happy, briefly reminded of the joy of watching a story unfold versus pontificating on a likely outcome.
Early on, Kristaps Porzingis was on.
cleans it up. pic.twitter.com/zDFsYdKTK5
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 31, 2017
So was Anthony Davis.
We tried to warn ya...#DoItBig #NBAVote @AntDavis23 pic.twitter.com/XSWTcY1upk
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 31, 2017
There was actually quite a bit of AD tonight. 31 points worth, to be exact.
Gotta be careful when @AntDavis23's under the basket #DoItBig #NBAVote pic.twitter.com/uSoMLqX4E6
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 31, 2017
Luckily, the Knicks had a 30-point unicorn of their own to cancel Davis out.
Got ‘em with the pump fake. pic.twitter.com/jp8Tza7kk1
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 31, 2017
The Knicks were up double-digits most of the first half; they held the high-scoring Pelicans to 45 points. That made it easier to smile at sequences like this one from Davis and Rajon Rondo, which you have to admit if it hadn’t come against your team is pretty sweet.
The block. The save. The bucket. @AntDavis23 | @RajonRondo #DoItBig #NBAVote pic.twitter.com/kAb4SD7dI0
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 31, 2017
You know what else is sweet? Frank Ntilikina.
Frankie: rebound, left-to-right crossover, jumper, bucket pic.twitter.com/B0JOxmTi0C
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) December 31, 2017
FRANK. NTI. LI. KI. NA.
Frankie scoop: pic.twitter.com/cLKoLegtKB
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) December 31, 2017
Unfortunately for the Knicks, Davis decided enough was enough and went about single-handedly decimating the Knicks’ 16-point lead. After decimating Ron Baker’s face.
Baker gets dunked on and elbowed by Anthony Davis pic.twitter.com/TYj9QQk3yF
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) December 31, 2017
Wanna freeze frame of that?
It's actually pretty amazing that Ron Baker was able to get up after taking this Anthony Davis forearm to the head. My goodness.... pic.twitter.com/cd4KUmJSrL
— Positive Residual (@presidual) December 31, 2017
14 points in the third from AD cut the Knick lead from 16 to 1.
Closing in.#DoItBig pic.twitter.com/x5EHL7XTc8
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 31, 2017
It started feeling like the kind of game a team that can’t win on the road and whose season is ready to deteriorate loses.
Keep it rollin'.#DoItBig pic.twitter.com/5kFZrrOcj6
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 31, 2017
Notwithstanding the rarely witnessed Courtney Lee end-to-end sequence.
C. Lee 3&D pic.twitter.com/VfVG1VrtNh
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 31, 2017
A 13-0 put the Pelicans up 7. It helps when the refs don’t call travels.
.@boogiecousins at work in the final frame.#DoItBig #NBAVote pic.twitter.com/jXXLoyztyt
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 31, 2017
It helped even more than Knicks couldn’t shoot in the 4th. The Pelicans could.
SEND IT! #DoItBig #NBAVote @RajonRondo @AntDavis23 pic.twitter.com/4rLnUEGWRY
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 31, 2017
A late DeMarcus Cousins three-pointer/driving lay-up two-piece appeared to KO our fair heroes. But Jarrett Jack hit a late three, which was like seeing James Naismith dunk. And Porzingis scored seven late points, including a Frank-approved throwdown to tie it up with a minute left.
AIR LATVIA CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF pic.twitter.com/X8uPyafvHT
— Kristaps Wobzingis (@World_Wide_Wob) December 31, 2017
Another KP jumper plus a couple Jack free throws (he was great in the 4th!) gave New York a two-point lead. Porzingis put on a show when it mattered most.
Porzingis outscored the Pelicans 7-2 over the final 2 minutes.
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) December 31, 2017
Knicks win 105-103 pic.twitter.com/ZxydcNuLty
The Knick D held on for the win. For New Orleans, it’s back to the drawing board.
I'd love to know what Rajon Rondo was showing Anthony Davis on the tablet as the latter arrived at the bench.... pic.twitter.com/5gwYCiyYlK
— Positive Residual (@presidual) December 31, 2017
For the Knicks?
That's the way you end 2017 with a road win pic.twitter.com/gSmV7vcrmZ
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 31, 2017
And the win was only the second biggest Knick news tonight.
NBA TEAMS THAT HAVE "THE BASEDGODS" BLESSING....
— Lil B THE BASEDGOD (@LILBTHEBASEDGOD) December 31, 2017
1.GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
2.PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERShttps://t.co/ml82xmADYL CELTICS
4.MIN TIMBERWOLVS
5.SACRAMENTO KINGS
6.PHILLYDELPHIA 76ers https://t.co/Ajy6lznVtB YORK KNICKS
THIS THE UPDATED SPORTS NBA BLESSINGS - Lil B
Recap to follow. Merry new year, y’all!