Kevin Durant is injured. Kyrie Irving can’t play in New York, even a Knicks home game. James Harden plays for the 76ers. Ben Simmons is still working his way back.
But the Nets had Cam Thomas.
Thomas – whom Durant reportedly urged Brooklyn to draft No. 27 last year and keep through the trade deadline – led the Nets on a 28-point comeback that culminated in a 111-106 victory Wednesday. New York still led by 18 in the fourth quarter, when Thomas took over.
Final 11 minutes:
- Cam Thomas: 16
- New York Knicks: 15
Thomas is Durant’s type of player: A bucket getter who looks amazing when he gets hot. And someone who torments the Knicks.
New York has lost 13 of 16 and blown 20-point leads in three of its last seven games (at Lakers and Trail Blazers). The 28-point blown lead to a cross-town rival was particularly devastating:
The last time, before tonight, that the Knicks held a 28-point lead and lost:
Nov. 18, 1987, in Boston Garden, against Danny Ainge and the Celtics (who didn't even have Larry Bird or Kevin McHale that night because of injuries).
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) February 17, 2022
