Chants of “defense!” It reverberated through Madison Square Garden on Monday as Chris Paul pulled out a crossover, spun, and then hurled an 18-foot fadeaway over Julius Randle that silenced the Garden and eventually started the New York Knicks winning streak in nine games .
The Phoenix Suns all-star point guard scored seven points 1:23 in the final to give the Knicks in the Garden a 118-110 defeat.
This was the Knicks’ first defeat since April 7th and came from Paul delivering three back-to-back daggers in the garden-silencing style seen in the past by superstar opponents like Reggie Miller and Michael Jordan.
“Circus shots sure,” said Knicks guard Derrick Rose.
The Knicks (34-28) led in the first half with up to 15 when they wanted to extend their longest winning streak since winning 13 times in a row in 2012-13. In a game that players on both teams said had playoff intensity, Phoenix (43-18) revealed why it has the second-best record in the NBA.
“We wanted this one, we wanted this bad one,” said Phoenix’s Devin Booker, who scored 33 points. “Obviously we knew about the show they were on and we knew this was going to be an aerial fight.”
Mikal Bridges scored 16 of his 21 points in the second half to obliterate the Knicks lead. Paul then sealed the game with his clutch performance. The point guard nailed a 20-foot step-back jumper 1:23 to the left to give Phoenix a six-point lead.
Randle (18 points) buried a corner 3 to reduce Phoenix’s lead to 113-110. Paul then did everything possible to shake Randle and knock down the fadeaway on the buzzer of the shot clock to calm the crowd. Even though the garden can only hold a limited number of fans, Paul still felt the sap that comes with playing in the garden.
“There’s no better place to play than here,” said Paul, who had 20 points and six assists. “The energy here in the garden … everyone met the young people before the game, so it’s not just a normal game.”
Paul made sure the Knicks didn’t make a final comeback and buried a contested 3-point shot 14.5 seconds ahead.
“I mean, it’s insurance,” Booker said of Paul’s ability to get three shots in a row against the Knicks defense. “He’s been well guarded in most of these properties and it’s just one of those things, there is nothing you can do about it. This is Chris Paul and he does these games and you just have to bow your head.”
The Knicks were already looking forward to the defeat and did not remember their longest winning streak in years. They next play at home against Chicago before embarking on a difficult six-game road sweep that ends with games in Denver, Phoenix, the Clippers and Lakers.
“It’s over,” said Randle of the winning streak. “Win the next one.”
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