NBA

Knicks nip Jazz as Tim Hardaway dominates in return as a starter

SALT LAKE CITY — Tim Hardaway Jr. returned to the starting lineup and returned to being a difference-maker.

After three games of coming off the bench to preserve his minutes, all resulting in losses, Hardaway started and erupted. He finished with 31 points in 27 minutes as the Knicks knocked out the Jazz 117-115 at Vivint Smarthome Arena on Friday.

The Knicks nearly choked on their 10-point lead with 2:13 left as Hardaway missed two free throws with 32.5 seconds left, keeping the Knicks’ lead at 3.

But the Jazz failed on three opportunities on one possession — the last a 3-point miss by Joe Ingles. Hardaway then made two free throws to seal it with 9.3 seconds left.

“It was very important — it was a must-win,’’ Hardaway said. “Thank God we got the win. They had two, three wide-open looks they could’ve made.’’

Still being kept on a minutes restriction, Hardaway made 11-of-17 shots and was a sensational 6-of-7 from the 3-point stripe. He had five rebounds and three assists.

“I’m getting my rhythm back, but it’s just one game,” Hardaway said.

After missing out on being named an All-Star starter, Kristaps Porzingis looked determined and posted 18 points with three blocks.

There also were triumphant returns for Jeff Hornacek, who still is treated like a god here and has his jersey retired, Enes Kanter, who is treated like a villain for requesting a trade, and Trey Burke, the former Jazz lottery pick.

Tim Hardaway Jr. drives on Ricky Rubio during the Knicks’ 117-115 win Friday night.AP

Burke ran the show in the final nine minutes, playing over Jarrett Jack and rookie Frank Ntilikina, who logged just five scoreless minutes. Burke finished with seven points, making 3-of-4 shots and collected the key rebound on Ingles’ late miss.

“Coach called on me and trusted me,’’ Burke said. “I think I did a great job of getting the team in sets, running the show toward the end. It was a big win for us.”

After bouncing back from the Memphis horror show, the Knicks moved to 1-1 on their six-game Western Conference trip and to 6-16 on the road.

Jazz rookie sensation Donovan Mitchell, whom the Knicks bypassed at No. 8 for the Frenchman, also had a quiet night, scoring 12 points but shooting just 6-of-20.

Courtney Lee (18 points) got hot early in the third with 11 points in the first five minutes. Then Hardaway, back from his stress reaction, scored the Knicks’ last eight points of the third — hitting on a drive and connecting on two straight 3-pointers to give the Knicks an 85-78 lead after three.

Hardaway is on a minutes restriction in the 25-minute range and Hornacek had to yank him one minute into the fourth quarter.

“It killed me,’’ Hornacek said.

He returned with 4:25 remaining and led them to victory. With 3:45 left, Hardaway sank a straightaway 3 and got fouled. He completed the four-point play to give the Knicks a 107-100 lead. On the next possession, Hardaway drove in for a dunk and a nine-point lead.

But his two missed free throws could have been costly had Ingles made that 3-pointer. Burke got the board and fed to his former Michigan teammate.

“Coach called on me and trusted me,” Burke said. “I think I did a great job of getting the team in sets, running the show toward the end. It was big win for us.”

Interestingly, the newcomer Burke came in with 9:59 left over the struggling Ntilikina. He instantly made a good defensive play, knocking the ball out of bounds off Ricky Rubio. Then Burke sank a 3-pointer to boost the Knicks’ lead to 98-93 with 6:16 left. Hornacek rolled with him.

“When my number was called, everyone was looking around,’’ Burke said. “We all were kind of shocked. It was spur of the moment.’’

Porzingis said the Knicks needed to come out “angry and hungry,” and they took an early seven-point lead. Porzingis scored on the first possession on a top-of-the-key jumper, blocked Jazz center Rudy Gobert inside then hit another mid-range jumper.

“We came out much better, started the first quarter better, and the third quarter was huge for us,’’ said Porzingis, who was out a long stretch before returning with 4:12 remaining.

In his return from a 15-game absence, Utah’s Gobert scored 23 points with 14 rebounds and carried the Jazz to a 55-49 lead at intermission.
Kanter was booed mightily during pregame introductions, and every time he touched the ball for demanding a trade when he was with the Jazz. Kanter finished with 12 points and nine rebounds.

“It’s a good experience every time I come here — it’s a lot of emotion,” Kanter said. “I wasn’t expecting a jersey retirement anyway.”


Lee extended his franchise record free-throw streak to 51, going 4-of-4. In Memphis, he set the record, topping the 44 made by Chris Duhon. Lee leads the NBA in free-throw percentage at 96.5 percent, but Porzingis shot a technical instead of Lee.

Lee said before the game his goal is focused solely on the playoffs and that he won’t appreciate the streak until after the season.