Davis and Roach fight to majority draw, Tank keeps title as potential missed knockdown looms large

NEW YORK (AP) — Gervonta Davis held onto his lightweight title when he and Lamont Roach fought to a majority draw on Saturday night, with a potential missed knockdown keeping Davis from what would have been the first loss of his career.

One judge gave the fight to Davis 115-113, while the other two scored it 114-114.

Davis (30-0-1) willingly went to a knee near his corner in the ninth round, then leaned over the ropes so they could towel off the area around his eye. Referee Steve Willis did not count it as a knockdown, as it should be when a knee hits the canvas. Had it been, Davis would have automatically lost a point from his score.

The soldout crowd at Barclays Center booed after when Davis explained that it was grease from his hair that got in his eye that caused him to stop for assistance.

Roach (25-1-2) fell just short in his attempt to add a belt in a second weight class after the 130-pound champion moved up to the 135-pound limit.

But he made it far closer than expected after Davis came in as a -1600 favorite on BetMGM, meaning a $1,600 wager would win just $100.

AP boxing: https://apnews.com/boxing

Gervonta Davis, left, punches Lamont Roachduring the first round of a WBA lightweight championship boxing bout Saturday, March 1, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Gervonta Davis, left, punches Lamont Roach during the third round of a WBA lightweight championship boxing bout Saturday, March 1, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Gervonta Davis talks to the referee during the fourth round of a WBA lightweight championship boxing bout against Lamont Roach Sunday, March 2, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Lamont Roach, left, punches Gervonta Davis during the third round of a WBA lightweight championship boxing bout Saturday, March 1, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Gervonta Davis, right, punches Lamont Roach during the eighth round of a WBA lightweight championship boxing bout Sunday, March 2, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Gervonta Davis, left, punches Lamont Roach during the ninth round of a WBA lightweight championship boxing bout Sunday, March 2, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Gervonta Davis, left, punches Lamont Roach during the ninth round of a WBA lightweight championship boxing bout Sunday, March 2, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Lamont Roach, left, punches Gervonta Davis during the second round of a WBA lightweight championship boxing bout Saturday, March 1, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Gervonta Davis, left, punches Lamont Roach during the sixth round of a WBA lightweight championship boxing bout Sunday, March 2, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Johnson had 18 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in his seventh triple-double of the season, leading the Atlanta Hawks to a 111-99 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday night.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 23 points and Onyeka Okongwu had 22 for the Hawks, while both Zaccharie Risacher and Luke Kennard scored 12.

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 24 points. OG Anunoby had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Mikal Bridges added 18 points.

Ariel Hukporti, who replaced Karl-Anthony Towns (illness) in the starting lineup, grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds for New York.

The Knicks got off to a quick start, taking an 11-2 lead. Trailing 30-29, the Hawks scored the final four points of the first quarter and never trailed again.

Atlanta extended its lead to 60-45 on Okongwu’s short jumper with 1:16 remaining in the second quarter before Brunson’s runner cut the Knicks’ deficit to 60-47 at halftime.

Alexander-Walker’s driving layup with 1:14 left in the third quarter gave the Hawks their biggest lead of the game at 94-68 and they were ahead 94-70 at the end of the quarter.

The Knicks scored the first 11 points of the fourth quarter and pulled within 94-81 before Kennard connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to end the streak.

New York mounted a final rally following consecutive 3-pointers by Bridges to edge within 108-99, but never got any closer.

The Hawks, who have won two in a row following a season-high, seven-game losing streak, became the first team to hold the Knicks to fewer than 100 points this season.

Atlanta's Trae Young (bruised right quadriceps) and Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (left ankle injury management) each missed their third straight games.

Hawks: Visit Toronto on Saturday.

Knicks: Host Philadelphia on Saturday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu reacts after scoring a 3-point basket during first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) passes the ball around New York Knicks center Ariel Hukporti (55) during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, bottom, and Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) battle for the ball during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson, right, is defended by New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)