SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Knicks were a second away from their biggest known comeback in franchise history last night, having rallied from 27 points down to take a four-point lead with 41 seconds left.
But in a wild game and wilder ending, the depleted Knicks were on the heartbreaking end of a buzzer-beater this time.
Kings reserve James Johnson, off a mad scramble, got the ball at the perimeter and sank a 3-pointer at the final horn to give Sacramento a stunning 106-105 victory. It was Johnson’s first 3-point make of the season after missing his first 11th. It was that kind of night.
Smith hit a buzzer beater on Wednesday to lift the Knicks to a win in Phoenix, his second of December.
“Karma,’’ said Smith, who finished with 28 points. “Things come back around fast in this league.’’
The game was surreal as the Knicks were dead in the water in the first half, came all the way back and looked like they had it won. But trusty Jason Kidd — in a rare moment of sloppiness — committed a key turnover with 18 seconds left and the Knicks up two. Kidd’s attempted pass to Tyson Chandler was broken up by DeMarcus Cousins.
Sacramento came down and Isaiah Thomas missed a driving shot, but the Knicks couldn’t collect the rebound.
“I had guys open, Tyson was open and I didn’t give it to him,’’ Kidd said. “It was a bad pass.’’
The Knicks had rallied from a 26-point deficit in 1994 against Milwaukee. That was their biggest comeback documented and still is. The statistic has only been kept since 1991. The Knicks fell to 21-9 after going 1-2 on the Western swing.
“We buried ourselves in the first two quarters, then we decided to defend,’’ said coach Mike Woodson, whose club allowed 71 first-half points. “But they made a great shot.’’
With the Knicks still without Carmelo Anthony and Raymond Felton gone for at least a month, the Knicks fought back with their cast of second-liners. Smith led the crazed surge. Kidd was huge in the comeback with 16 points and seven assists but the final turnover was his fifth.
Tyson Chandler scored 21 points and 18 rebounds but also missed six free throws and sprained his right ankle, limping noticeably in the locker room after getting treatment. Steve Novak lit up California’s capital in the second half for 11 points. But all for naught.
“I’d rather lose by 40 than to lose on a game-winner,’’ Novak said. “This one will stay a while.’’
In the third game in four nights during Christmas week, the Knicks weren’t just a step slow, they were a step dead in the first half.
“It’s very disappointing,’’ Chandler said. “We fought back and put ourselves in a position to win.’’
Said Marcus Camby, who had four blocks: “We know how the Suns felt the other night.’’
Chris Copeland started the second half for Ronnie Brewer and had 17 points after three quarters. Camby had an impact defensively protecting the paint and becoming a block machine, rejecting two shots on one possession.
The Knicks were embarrassed by the Kings in the first two quarters, falling behind, 71-50. Jimmer Fredette, the Glens Falls product, hit for all of his 15 points in 12 minutes in the half. He made his first five shots and was 6 of 7 at the half — 3 of 4 from the 3-point line. He went coast to coast on a layup as the Knicks watched like statues. Sacramento shot 59.5 percent in the half.
“I told them we can get back into the game if we defended,’’ Woodson said.
The Knicks trailed 32-23 after one quarter. The lazy Knicks defense allowed 26 points in the first eight minutes. Isaiah Thomas banged in two straight open 3-pointers to open a 26-14 bulge after eight minutes.
The Knicks were sloppy. Kidd threw a pass over Ronnie Brewer’s head. Pablo Prigioni came in and committed two straight turnovers, including an awful bounce pass that skidded past Copeland.
Copeland was party to the most embarrassing moment on a night full of them. Copeland charged in alone for a fastbreak layup but slowed up enough at the end to allow 5-foot-10 Aaron Brooks to leap and block the shot in the second quarter. The fans exploded in glee. Copeland failed to get back on defense and Fredette drilled a 3-pointer.