The New York Knicks might not reach the fourth seed — the Hawks and Heat still have the upper hand if they both win out — but it won’t be for lack of trying. The Knicks trailed the San Antonio Spurs by 17 points in the third quarter following yet another Elfrid Payton crap-a-thon, but these Knicks don’t quit. Tom Thibodeau certainly won’t let them.
Thibs finally inserted Alec Burks — returning from a knee contusion — for the always-ineffective Payton, and the Knicks immediately stormed back. RJ Barrett went bonkers, hitting six shots in a row at one point.