Nate Robinson led the way with 35 points as the Chicago Bulls used a balanced attack to beat the New York Knicks 118-111 in overtime on Thursday, snapping the Knicks’ 13-game winning streak.
Robinson also drained five three-pointers for the Bulls, who spoiled another superb scoring performance by Knicks star forward Carmelo Anthony.
A half dozen Bulls reached double figures, including Jimmy Butler and Carlos Boozer, who each recorded double-doubles with 22 points and 14 rebounds, and 13 points and 15 boards respectively.
Photo: Reuters
Luol Deng chipped in with 16 points for the Bulls, who became the second team in league history to halt two 13-plus winning streaks in the same season, joining the 1990-1991 Phoenix Suns. On March 27, Chicago snapped the Miami Heat’s dynamic 27-game winning streak.
Deng, who had missed the previous two games due to injury, also had eight rebounds, while Richard Hamilton and Kirk Hinrich had 14 and 11 points respectively.
Anthony scored 36 points and extends his 36-point plus scoring streak to six games. The last player to achieve that was future Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, who had nine straight games of 36-plus in 2003.
J.R. Smith finished with 28 points and 14 rebounds, while Anthony grabbed a season-high 19 rebounds for the Knicks, who defeated Washington on Tuesday to clinch the Atlantic Division title for the first time since 1994.
New York were hoping for their longest winning streak since a 15-game run from March 1 to April 2, 1994.
The Knicks quickly opened up a big lead on a 23-6 run, before the Bulls chipped their way back into the contest by closing the first quarter on a 17-7 run of their own to slash the deficit to 30-23.
The Knicks then led by five at halftime and got off to a strong start in the second half, extending their lead to 15 midway through the third quarter. Pablo Prigioni capped a 18-8 run with a driving layup to make it 77-62.
Anthony made a couple of clutch free throws in the last minute of the fourth quarter to level the score at 105-105. Deng’s potential game-winner then bounced off the rim.
Anthony got a clean look at the buzzer, but his shot hit the back of the rim to send the game into overtime.
The Bulls also completed a four-game sweep of the New York Knicks this season and have now won 12 of the past 16 contests between the clubs.
Chicago are 23-17 at home this season and began a three-game road trip yesterday against Toronto, Miami and Orlando.
The Knicks suffered their first loss since March 17 against the Los Angeles Clippers. They will also visit Cleveland on their brief road trip.
THUNDER 116, WARRIORS 97
In Oakland, California, Kevin Durant had 31 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists to help the Oklahoma City Thunder regain the Western Conference’s best record with a victory over the Golden State Warriors.
Kevin Martin scored 23 points off the bench, while Russell Westbrook added 18 points and nine assists for the Thunder, who moved a half-game ahead of idle San Antonio for the top seed.
The Spurs split the season series with Oklahoma City, but the Thunder (58-21) own the tiebreaker because of their better conference record.
Stephen Curry scored 22 points and reserve Jarrett Jack had 19 points on a night the playoff-bound Warriors lost center Andrew Bogut to another injury.
Center Bogut sprained his surgically repaired left ankle and Warriors coach Mark Jackson said Bogut was not expected to make the trip to Los Angeles yesterday for the game against the Lakers.
Bogut went to the locker room for observation and did not return to the bench.
He has missed 48 of 79 games this season, most due to the ankle he broke in January last year before joining the Warriors in a trade that sent Monta Ellis to Milwaukee. He had microfracture surgery on the ankle in April last year.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely