New York Knicks: London calls early, but hangs up in heartbreaking fashion

The New York Knicks delivered from behind the arc, but fell in heartbreaking fashion to the Washington Wizards in the NBA London Game, 101-100.

The NBA’s annual trip to London, England, took the New York Knicks overseas for the first time in five years. Maybe a different time zone could correct their four-game losing streak and wins in just three matchups since Dec. 1.

It was all about the three-pointers early, which put the Knicks out and ahead. They had nine at one point in the first half, with Luke Kornet and Damyean Dotson contributing seven of them.

The lead ballooned to 19, and New York seemed in control against a team they rarely defeat. As seen throughout this season, though, leads have been difficult for this young team to keep, whether due to shooting woes for questionable defense.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Washington pushed it to a one-point game behind their own success from behind the arc. An Otto Porter Jr. jumper and continuous turnovers only furthered this, culminating in a disastrous second half.

Just two three-pointers in the second half torpedoed this offense into the ground. Dotson and Kornet’s respective shooting touches were nonexistent, while Tim Hardaway Jr. was invisible in his 24 minutes — his latest troublesome game of the past two months. Emmanuel Mudiay‘s 22 points were helpful, but he added five of the team’s 14 turnovers.

Young teams experience these growing pains, but games like this have come more often than not, thus why the Knicks own just 10 wins after three months.

With all that aside, let’s talk about that goaltending.

Down 100-99, the Wizards had four seconds to attempt a shot. Bradley Beal received the ball and passed it to Thomas Bryant, who threw up a close shot and had it swatted just a split-second too late by Allonzo Trier, awarding Washington a 101-100 lead and the game.

The most heart-breaking way for the Knicks to lose this season, by far, and they have blown leads in all shapes and sizes. However, for those following the 2019 NBA Draft, this matches New York with the Chicago Bulls, at 10-34, for the second-worst record.

• Kevin Knox‘s London arrival was met with just five points in 30 minutes, missing nine of 11 shots.
• Mario Hezonja‘s recent string of impactful performances came to a screeching half, with zero points in 19 minutes. Frank Ntilikina‘s three points off the bench was hardly better, on 1-for-7 shooting.
• Kornet’s first half picked up the Knicks, but he stood in the background for the remaining 24 minutes.
• It’s about staying positive, right? Noah Vonleh had 13 points and 10 rebounds, including the basket to put the Knicks ahead, 100-99.
• A productive return for Mitchell Robinson, who missed the previous month with ankle and groin injuries. He had four points, two rebounds and one block in nine minutes.

The New York Knicks, now at 10-34, have the weekend off before a Martin Luther King Jr. Day game on Monday, Jan. 21, at 12:30 p.m. ET. They will host the Oklahoma City Thunder.