The New York Knicks trailed by as many as 17 before staging a fourth-quarter comeback over the Washington Wizards to win 106 to 102.
They trailed by as many as 17 points in the third quarter but fought back. Washington came out with energy, seeking revenge for a blowout loss in their prior meeting. The Wizards brought physicality to every facet of the game. For three quarters, the team looked shell-shocked. They missed open shots, made poor decisions in traffic, and never got so much as a run going. The team’s stars were limited, Randle was hurt, and Barrett was stifled. But role players stepped up at opportune moments to keep the game within reach, setting the stage for an incredible fourth-quarter run.
There were brief heroics and contributions from several players. Whether Immanuel Quickley hit timely threes or Kevin Knox was hitting the deck, when the game was on the verge of getting away, someone would fight back. Alec Burks and Taj Gibson played crucial roles throughout the night. When the fourth quarter came, the team’s leaders found themselves. Their determination helped the team bounce back and turn an 11-point deficit into a 4-point victory in the length of a quarter. There’s a lot to look back on. Let’s check it out.
Spacing breaks for the Knicks’ starters
Elfrid Payton: With the Wizards swarming everyone inside, Elfrid Payton faced an uphill battle from the opening tip. He had a brief series of drives that worked, but Payton was relegated to missed jump shots and turnovers for the rest of the night. He struggled to find attacking space which meant few points and no playmaking. It was a rough one. The Knicks were undeniably better when Elfrid sat. He didn’t see the floor for the entirety of the fourth-quarter comeback.
In his 21-minute stint, Payton managed 8 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, and 4 turnovers without a single assist. He shot 3/8 from the field, 0/2 from three, and 2/4 from the free-throw line. The point guard can usually be counted on to apply constant pressure on the interior defense. He got that going early, but the Wizards closed the middle for most of the night. It’s worth noting that Elfrid did find a few kick-outs, but the Knicks were terrible from three for most of the night.
I think it’s worth highlighting that Payton swung some nice passes to the perimeter. He generally zeroes in on the paint, and I’ve complained that he doesn’t look for baseline cutters enough. He definitely found RJ along the baseline a couple of times in this game. But other than that, there’s not much positive to report. Elfrid had a bad game. I’m giving him a 1.5 out of 5, with a bit of credit for expanding his vision when the middle was crowded.
Frank Ntilikina: Frank Ntilikina wasn’t aggressive enough to justify his starting spot and didn’t get starter’s minutes because of it. He was filling in for the red hot Reggie Bullock but didn’t even attempt to provide the shooting. Ntilikina was more on-looker on offense than anything. Defensively, he set a nice tone with his defense on Bradley Beal but picked up a few soft foul calls along the way. His defense wasn’t enough to make up for the lack of offense.
Frank got 15 minutes and went 0/2 from the field, 0/1 from three. He grabbed 4 rebounds and turned the ball over once. That’s the extent of his production. The longest-tenured Knick never got an attack going and missed the couple of shots he took. That made life easier for the Wizards, who didn’t have to worry about a shooting threat from the starting backcourt.
The short minutes and lack of action combine to keep this section brief. Frank had a bad game. His defense was fun to watch, but the offense needed help that he couldn’t provide. Ntilikina has to find ways to contribute and make his presence felt offensively. I do have a positive trend to highlight. He has been getting after the rebound more often. That’s a small silver-lining to add to his already quality defense. But he needs to be better overall. Frank gets a 1.5 out of 5.
RJ Barrett: RJ Barrett had a nightmare game through three quarters. He got open looks from three but bricked them, was blocked as much as he finished in the paint, and kept getting his pocket picked. Trailing defenders kept him off-balance, and physicality up front kept him uncomfortable. For a moment, we saw RJ Barrett’s shoulders slump, and the 20-year-old actually looked his age. But Taj Gibson made a play, then hugged Barrett and reassured him. That bit of belief seemed to ignite the kid. He closed the third quarter with a put-back and hype himself up before playing the entire fourth quarter as the catalyst for the Knicks big run.
Barrett logged 42 minutes and put up 24 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 3 turnovers. He shot 7/22 from the field, 2/6 from three, and 8/11 from the line. The efficiency isn’t pretty, but his production came in crucial moments. RJ started the fourth quarter by feeding others. He drew Washington’s swarming defense and then fed Taj Gibson or swung passes to Alec Burks. Barrett then scored on drives and putbacks, even finding his three-ball. With less than 5 minutes on the clock, RJ scored 6 straight to tie the game. It was the culmination of his own bounce back and a microcosm of the entire team’s recovery.
The word of the day is “resilience.” Barrett had Westbrook chasing him down while big men beat him up. The kid struggled everywhere but in transition. It took a bit of support from a grizzled vet and a buzzer-beating second-chance bucket to snap him into gear. Then we got to see leadership as the rest of the team rallied around RJ’s energy. His numbers aren’t the prettiest, but he absolutely keyed the run that won this game. RJ is growing before our eyes. It’s fun to witness. He gets a 3.5 out of 5.
Julius Randle: “Something’s not right.” The collective Knicks consciousness watched Julius Randle struggle all night and quickly honed in on him massaging what appeared to be a Charlie horse. Randle shot poorly, didn’t get inside often, and drifted into forced shots. The Knicks’ star was clearly off his game. But in the fourth quarter, when the Knicks gave him a lead to protect, there was Randle hitting midrange fades from the baseline. The star had a tough night, but his teammates picked him up. He repaid that kindness in the clutch.
After 37 minutes of run, Randle earned 13 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 1 turnover. He shot 5/16 from the field, 1/5 from three, and 2/2 from the line. He made a pair of those field goals in the clutch. It’s always surprising when Randle fails to rack up free throw attempts. This time around, it’s explained by him settling for jumpers. The leg injury likely played a role in the shot selection, and a lack of shooting help also made Randle easier to contain.
Randle almost had a double-double with 4 assists to 1 turnover, and that’s his bad game. This was about as bad as we’ve seen the guy all season. He still managed boards, playmaking, and clutch buckets. The Knicks’ star stepped up when his team gave him a chance. It was by no means pretty, but Randle got the job done. I’m giving him a 2.5 out of 5.
Mitchell Robinson: Mitchell Robinson started the game and may have been a bit too excited about it. The big man was all over the place, but not in a good way. There were times where Mitch was caught out of position chasing plays. His energy still led to bright spots, offensive boards, or an emphatic dunk fed from RJ. But he also had struggles and wasn’t the dominant defensive presence that we’ve come to expect. That meant the more calming presence of Taj Gibson took over and kept the Center role for the Knicks’ fourth-quarter heroics.
Mitch played 21 minutes, scoring 6 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block, and 1 turnover. He shot 2/5 from the field and 2/3 from the free-throw line. He wasn’t terrible, but this was a weak performance by his own standards. The big man was present and productive but slipped up at times. He’s only been back for a few games. I think that played a role in the performance, as did the Wizards interior play.
I’m not worried about Robinson. I think a lot was at play to make this an uphill battle. We saw how dominant he could be last game out. This time reminded us that he’s still chasing consistency. The big man’s energy is his biggest asset, but it can lead to mistakes without focus. His feel for things will grow as he settles back into his playing time. Mitch gets a 2 out of 5 for the performance.
Contributions from the Knicks’ bench help spark the comeback
Immanuel Quickley: While RJ Barrett and Julius Randle struggled until the fourth quarter, Immanuel Quickley provided a bit of scoring throughout the game. He knocked down three’s in each half that both stood out. The first used footwork beautifully. The second earned the Knicks their first lead of the game. He also sprinkled in a healthy dose of floaters and free throws. IQ kept the defense under constant pressure.
The rookie played 26 minutes and managed 16 points, 3 assists, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 turnover. He shot 5/13 from the field, 2/5 from three, and 4/5 from the line. Quickley missed a few decent looks and got caught trying to draw fouls a couple of times but still managed to score consistently. He enjoys that match-up with Raul Neto.
Even though IQ didn’t hit his peaks, he was the floor spacer that starters sorely needed. Quickley played the entire fourth quarter and was valuable both on and off the ball. When he wasn’t handling the rock, Quickley’s shooting threat had a gravity that allowed RJ and Burks to slash. If the defense paid too much attention to other scorers, IQ reminded them that he’s a gunner at heart. I prefer the rookie as a tertiary playmaker right now, but with Randle and RJ both stepping up as playmakers, that role could work in the starting unit. Quickley gets a 2.5 out of 5.
Alec Burks: Alec Burks was the Knicks’ most consistent scoring presence throughout the night. While other contributions came in spots, Burks was in constant attack mode from start to finish. He dragged the offense into just enough scoring for the game to remain in reach. Then when the fourth quarter came, the Knicks’ sixth man went into overdrive. While RJ was the energetic catalyst, Burks provided a big chunk of the early scoring. He hit three-pointers and then knocked down midrange shots as well. Burks drew fouls on jump shots and drives alike. He was a force.
The shooting vet played 34 minutes and put up 27 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 turnover. He didn’t have any assists, but that’s an afterthought because New York needed him to be a gunner. Burks shot 8/18 from the field, 2/7 from three, and notched 9 of 11 free throws. The man found ways to score when nobody could get points up reliably. He made his pair of three-pointers in quick succession right as the team took the momentum into the win. Yes, there were some forces and mistakes along the way. But all of that is easy to forgive when the team was desperate for offense. He provided it.
Burks is on a 20-point streak. He’s had at least 20 points in each of the last four games, with 19 points in the game before that. I started the season expecting him to be a trade deadline addition. The type of player that gets some numbers and eventually gets lent to a playoff team…but the Knicks ARE the playoff team. He’s become a crucial third option, especially in Derrick Rose’s absence. I might add, I’m a little concerned about the chemistry when Rose returns because I recall Burks struggling with that pairing. But for now…Burks is on fire. He gets a 4 out of 5.
Taj Gibson: The unsung hero is an aging third-string big that came along for depth reasons. I already described Taj Gibson’s leadership in the RJ Barrett piece, so now let’s talk toughness. The Wizards were physical all night, swarming and attacking every Knick inside. But Gibson relished the opportunity to hit back. The game’s physical tone allowed Taj to maul dudes on offensive boards and screens. He showed the New York youth that it was time to hit back…and that’s when the fourth quarter happened.
Taj rocked for 27 minutes and managed 10 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 blocks, and 1 turnover. He shot 3/5 from the field and 4/6 from the line. Thankfully, there were no three-point attempts in this one. The big man operated inside and provided a necessary presence. It’s funny to think that he probably wouldn’t have played if Nerlens Noel was healthy because Taj arguably deserves the game ball. He was the toughness that New York was sorely lacking, the answer to Russell Westbrook’s intensity.
Taj was brilliant. He has been a crucial piece of depth for an injury-plagued team. The vet came in to provide some leadership and guidance; the Knicks got even more of that than they’ve bargained for. New York has needed some extra scoring recently. Taj has hit double-figures in two of the last three games. I valorize this one game from the 2013 veterans’ run to the playoffs, the one where Kurt Thomas put everything out there for a win. Taj is my defacto Kurt Thomas this season. He gets a 3.5 out of 5 for an impact that goes well beyond the scoresheet.
Obi Toppin: Obi Toppin still hasn’t broken his scoring drought, but he found ways to help out on defense. In 11 minutes, he never took a shot but added 1 assist, 1 rebound, 2 steals, and 1 block. He picked up a nice block in transition and had a steal that turned into points during the fourth-quarter comeback. The positive plays are a nice start for a rookie who has been struggling.
Kevin Knox: Kevin Knox only played for 6 minutes, but he showed some life. He missed a couple of shots but was aggressive. The forward brought energy to the floor, diving for a loose ball and finishing a nice lay-up in traffic. He didn’t have bad minutes.
One of the best-coached games of New York’s entire season
Tom Thibodeau: While the Knicks struggled through three quarters, the defense was the difference. Tom Thibodeau couldn’t plan for Randle’s sore leg or the shooters disappearing. But he did bring a tough defense that kept Westbrook and Beal in check for the second straight game. You can live with Rui Hachimura trying to save the day when Russ and Beal shoot so poorly. That’s a Thibodeau special right there.
Other great calls deserve highlighting. Kevin Knox got second-quarter minutes for a team that was dragging. He shot poorly but dove for a ball and drove for a lay-up. Thibs rode two young players throughout the entire fourth, Quickley and Barrett. That was uncharacteristic trust for youth at a time where I was stressed over Payton returning to the game with his struggles. The struggling vet that Thibodeau did go back two, Julius Randle, came up big. Tom Thibodeau pulled all of the right cards for a close victory.
Last game, I had to handicap Thibs’ score because the coaching part was simple. He had an end-to-end victory with very few decisions that actually made much difference. He faced the same opponent this time but had to coach a perfect game. One bad move could have been the difference between the game getting away from New York. Thibodeau didn’t make any mistakes though, he motivated his guys and got the important win. I’m giving Thibodeau a 5 out of 5.
Closing Thoughts
I love this team. I’m going to reminisce on this team with bright-eyed enthusiasm with the same passion that I deplore my memories of the bad old days when Lance Thomas and Lou Amundson played RJ Barrett Julius Randle’s roles. It goes beyond the talent on the roster. It’s the character of these guys. I mentioned that I trust this team to fight in my last closing thoughts. I had no idea that they would embody that concept with such an amazing fourth-quarter run.
The camaraderie of this team is infectious. They support and root for each other with such enthusiasm that it’s hard not to feel just as strongly. The trade deadline just passed, and Leon Rose stood pat. This roster is roughly the same as it was yesterday. I don’t mind that because I’ve seen how much these players rely on each other. You don’t get that chemistry in every locker room. Other teams made improvements, but the Knicks have something that you can’t capture with any trade. I hope that gets them past the finish line.
The schedule is scary for the next couple. The Knicks face a tough Bucks team that won by thirty points in their last meeting. Then New York’s got a potentially crucial game against the Heat, who just added a healthy dose of talent to an already solid side. I hope the emotional highs don’t lead to an extended hangover. I suspect that we’ll see a more motivated team than ever, rather than a team that feels comfortable with where they are. It’ll be that fight showing up again. Let’s enjoy that run together and match the positive energy that Theo Pinson is always putting into the universe.
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