The New York Knicks win their back-to-back matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers and Washington Wizards to earn a four game win streak!
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The New York Knicks swept back-to-back games on the road against the Philadelphia 76ers and the Washington Wizards, winning the two games by 52 points combined.
First, the Knicks went into Philadelphia and ran over the 76ers 128 to 92. Believe it or not, the 36-point drubbing started with New York trailing by 10 points. But their slow start turned around as soon as the bench checked in. New York turned a 10-point deficit into a 4-point lead by the end of the first quarter and beat up the Sixers for most of the following three quarters.
New York continued where they left off in Washington, rushing out to a 15-point lead after a quarter and a 20-point lead by halftime. The Wizards made a few runs to make things interesting, but the Knicks seemed unfazed and always had an answer.
The Knicks didn’t just win these two games; they dominated most of the action with a rotation that only came together four games ago. Let’s look at New York’s most impressive victories yet through the performances that secured them.
New York’s starters have reached another level
Jalen Brunson:
Game One: 29 PTS (11/20 FG, 4/9 3PT, 4/4 FT), 2 AST, 3 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK in 32 mins
Game Two: 33 PTS (10/18 FG, 4/8 3PT, 9/9 FT) 8 AST, 3 REB, 2 TO in 35 mins
Jalen Brunson’s scoring looked unstoppable in both games. Philadelphia tried to attack Brunson with lengthy defenders, but he beat them with pull-up jumpers that opened up his array of hesitation moves and speed changes toward the basket. Brunson picked on defenders in isolation and capitalized on spot-up shooting opportunities.
The Washington game was even more efficient, as Brunson scored more with fewer attempts while adding dimes to the equation. The same jump shot threat helped Brunson sell pump fakes and then fire the ball past defenders to scorers in the paint.
Jalen Brunson’s dominance went hand in hand with the team’s dominance over its opponents. Neither team could contain Brunson’s scoring, which mean he could shut down any attempts at a run. New York’s 1A star gets a 5 out of 5 for showing 21/38 from the field, 8/17 from three, and 13/13 on free throws across two nights.
Donte DiVincenzo:
Game One: 14 PTS (4/6 FG, 4/6 3PT, 2/2 FT), 3 AST, 2 REB, 1 STL, 2 TO in 17 mins
Game Two: 10 PTS (4/10 FG, 2/7 3PT), 3 AST, 5 REB, 1 STL, 1 TO in 26 mins
Donte DiVincenzo continued his role as a multi-tool compliment to the rest of the starters. His three-point shooting felt automatic against Philadelphia, as he knocked down jumpers regardless of distance from defenders. The Big Ragu has a knack for starting games hot, which helps jump-start the offense.
DiVo couldn’t quite match his Philadelphia performance in Washington, but that didn’t stop him from contributing. He missed a few more threes but grabbed extra rebounds and added 3 dimes for a second consecutive game. DiVincenzo is averaging 3.3 APG since OG Anunoby’s arrival, well above the 2 APG he’s averaged on the season.
DiVincenzo strikes the perfect balance of aggression and unselfishness. He takes what the defense gives him while rarely overdoing it. His defensive effort fits as a chaotic presence between OG and I-Hart’s disciplined pressure. DiVo gets a 3 out of 5 for his steady presence.
OG Anunoby:
Game One: 11 PTS (3/11 FG, 1/3 3PT, 4/4 FT), 2 REB, 1 STL in 37 mins
Game Two: 9 PTS (4/7 FG, 1/3 3PT), 2 AST, 5 REB, 1 STL, 1 TO in 31 mins
If you haven’t realized that OG Anunoby is unselfish to a fault, Clyde will undoubtedly remind you. Anunoby averaged just 9 attempts and 10 points per game over the back-to-back. None of his counting stats look particularly impressive, but he still boasts a ridiculous +31 over the action.
That’s because his unselfishness isn’t the same as passiveness. He makes hard cuts, chases loose balls, and defends at an elite level nightly. Anunoby frequently turned baseline cuts into quick bounce passes to Isaiah Hartenstein. He sometimes passed up decent looks, often leading to even better looks.
Anunoby’s overpassing could be overcompensation in a new environment. He’s already proven to be a capable shooter and scorer inside. But with other starters red hot, it hasn’t hurt the team that OG makes extra passes more often than not. It may be unlocking the rest of the unit. Anunoby gets a 3.5 out of 5 for doing the dirty work for the starters.
Julius Randle:
Game One: 8 PTS (1/11 FG, 0/3 3PT, 6/6 FT), 5 AST, 7 REB, 1 STL, 1BLK, 4 TO in 30 mins
Game Two: 39 PTS (13/23 FG, 3/8 3PT, 10/13 FT), 5 AST, 7 REB, 1 STL, 2 TO in 38 mins
Julius Randle played his worst basketball since the season’s first six games in Philadelphia. His jumper wouldn’t fall, and he had a rare off night inside where even the bunnies wouldn’t go down. But Randle’s gravity constantly attracted Philadelphia’s defense, which I suspect played a role in the many open looks other Knicks received.
The big man got right back to All-NBA level performance in Washington, earning 39 points on 56 percent shooting from the field. It was clear Randle was feeling it by the way he let three-pointers rip. He’s reduced attempts from three this season, but he knocked down 3/8 in this one.
Randle’s rebounding has been down since OG arrived, but the team hasn’t shown ill effects. Randle’s improved defensive efforts have had a much more visible impact since OG arrived. New York’s big star is playing passing lanes and challenging shots better than ever, with palpable results. He gets a 3 out of 5 for the two games combined, though his Washington performance could be a 5.5 out of 5.
Isaiah Hartenstein:
Game One: 17 PTS (8/9 FG, 1/2 FT), 5 AST, 6 REB, 2 STL, 2 BLK in 35 mins
Game Two: 8 PTS (4/8 FG), 2 AST, 19 REB, 4 STL, 2 BLK, 5 TO in 39 mins
Isaiah Hartenstein poured in the points in Philadelphia and stacked rebounds in Washington. Against Philly, his finishing inside combined with some nice floaters for a 17-point outburst. He locked horns with Joel Embiid and held his own, adding 5 assists off quick action just outside the paint.
Hartenstein’s floater rimmed out against Washington, but he made up for a few extra misses by coming shy of 20 rebounds. I-Hart dominated the glass, particularly on the defensive end. But his passing got overzealous, with him throwing a few would-be dimes away.
Big Hart’s defense was a constant in both games. He tallied 10 Stocks across the two games by blocking players at the rim and breaking up alley-oop passes. His presence in the middle has been undeniably massive, though I’m concerned about the minutes load he’s had to carry. I-Hart gets a 4.5 out of 5 for 25 points and 25 boards in two games.
The Knicks’ second unit heats up
Deuce McBride:
Game One: 15 PTS (4/8 FG, 4/6 3PT, 3/3 FT), 4 AST, 1 REB in 14 mins
Game Two: 5 PTS (2/6 FG, 1/2 3PT), 5 AST, 1 REB, 1 STL in 13 mins
Miles McBride knocked down 4 consecutive threes in the first quarter against Philadelphia, which sparked a comeback when New York was down by 10. He sparked the Knicks again in the second half, checking in with a quick assist to Hartenstein and drawing a foul on a three-point attempt.
Deuce hit another three against Washington and added an impressive putback dunk. But more important than his scoring, McBride provided 5 assists against Washington after adding 4 against Philly. He showed limited playmaking in half-court sets, but that’s not shocking considering his few opportunities to run plays.
McBride didn’t run the offense, but he showed an ability to hit open looks and make smart passes. His defense felt like a bonus under the circumstances. He flashed potential throughout the two games, but his impact wasn’t consistent in both halves. Hopefully, this is the start of a leap for McBride. He gets a 2 out of 5 for impressive work in a limited time.
Quentin Grimes:
Game One: 19 PTS (6/13 FG, 4/6 3PT, 3/3 FT), 2 AST, 8 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 23 mins
Game Two: 6 PTS (2/5 FG, 2/4 3PT), 1 AST, 1 REB, 1 STL, 1 TO in 15 mins
Quentin Grimes tied his season-high for scoring while grabbing a season-high 8 rebounds against Philadelphia. He came off the bench with knockdown shooting, lockdown defense, and 5 more rebounds than he’s caught in any game this season. Grimes capitalized on the pace of the second unit, which was built off stops and counterattacks.
Grimes didn’t match that energy in Washington but remained an effective piece of the puzzle. He still hit a pair of threes and supplied impressive defense in a second unit that applies non-stop pressure to ball-handlers. The bench offense didn’t flow in the second half, which caused Grimes to take a quick seat.
We’re still just scratching the surface with Quentin Grimes’ performances. His impact in Philly showed how promising his future is. His confidence is building, though the second unit needs surer playmaking to unlock Grimes fully. The Knicks’ homegrown player gets a 2.5 out of 5 for a great game and one that was just alright.
Josh Hart:
Game One: 10 PTS (4/7 FG, 0/2 3PT, 2/2 FT), 6 AST, 15 REB, 1 BLK, 2 TO in 30 mins
Game Two: 9 PTS (3/8 FG, 1/4 3PT, 2/2 FT), 1 AST, 4 REB, 2 TO in 32 mins
As much as we avoid putting too much weight into +/-, it’s impossible to ignore Josh Hart’s +46 during his double-double performance against the Sixers. He entered full agent of chaos mode, crashing the boards and flying up the court for transition buckets and dimes all game. His fifteen rebounds were huge, especially on a night when Hartenstein had to focus on boxing out Embiid.
Hart didn’t match the rebounding but continued making impact plays in Washington. The rest of the bench sat as it struggled in the second half, but Hart combined with the starters to close out the game.
I had concerns about spacing when Hart and Anunoby combined, but that hasn’t been a problem. Josh has given the second unit a considerable boost, then stayed on the floor to bolster the starters at the end of games. His impact is finally living up to the lofty standards he set last season, even as he struggles from three. Hart gets a 3.5 out of 5 for being a great sixth man.
Precious Achiuwa:
Game One: 5 PTS (2/3 FG, 1/2 3PT), 3 REB, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 12 mins
Game Two: 2 PTS (1/1 FG) in 8 mins
Precious Achiuwa looked his best in Philadelphia, where he played tough defense and switched effectively. He knocked down an open three, which is as many as Robinson and Hartenstein have hit all season.
Achiuwa finished off a baseline cut against Washington but didn’t have any impact defensively or on the boards. That cost him his minutes in the second half and forced Randle and Hartenstein to play extra minutes.
Achiuwa needs to be more impactful, but he also needs more minutes to accomplish much of anything. He’ll need to earn Thibodeau’s trust before that happens.
Tom Thibodeau needs to trust his bench more
It’s tough to criticize Tom Thibodeau when New York just obliterated a pair of opponents in consecutive nights. But four starters played 67 minutes or more in the two games. That’s a lot to pin on the legs of a handful of players, especially when the bench showed flashes of quality play and impeccable defense.
The bench is missing a playmaker, which has forced Thibodeau to try each of Brunson, OG, and Randle with the second unit for extended minutes. But that leaves out the best match for the second unit’s needs. Donte DiVincenzo has played well enough to warrant more minutes and has enough handle and playmaking to thrive potentially.
Even if Thibodeau sticks with one of Brunson or Randle playing at all times, he can afford to give Deuce McBride and Precious Achiuwa a couple more minutes each half. That’s especially true in games where the Knicks hold double-digit leads.
Closing Thoughts
Before the season started, I told anyone who asked that 50 wins was the target for this season. That started to look precarious during the challenging first third of the season. But now the Knicks have pulled off a massive trade that improved their chemistry. They have one of the weaker strengths of schedule left in the league and more home games than anyone else.
New York needs to win 29 of their last 46 games to crack 50 for the first time since 2013. I think that’s an attainable goal, given the circumstances. The Knicks have spent every game since New Year’s sending a message to the league: No one in the East wants to see New York in the playoffs.
The Knicks face the bottom-five Portland Trail Blazers next, and they’ll be playing on an extra day’s rest. That’s an excellent chance to build momentum before a tough three-game stretch against Dallas, Memphis, and Orlando. Now is the time to make a push, so let’s meet up after the Blazers and discuss the action. See you next time, Knicks fam!
Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below! Stay tuned to KnicksFanTV.com for the latest Knicks news, rumors, and recaps throughout the NBA season. Subscribe to the newsletter for KFTV content and events, shop discounts, and more at bit.ly/kftvmail. And in case you missed it, check out CP The Fanchise on SNY with Dexter Henry and Jonathan Macri of Knicks Film School to discuss the OG Anunoby trade!
