The New York Knicks stormed back from a late deficit to the New Orlean Pelicans, winning in overtime 122 to 112.
New York went from up double-digits in the third to fighting back from down 7 with just a few minutes left on the clock. The Knicks shot better, but New Orleans did its own damage in second-chance points and trips to the free-throw line. It was a game of runs – the Knicks outscored the Pelicans by 17 points in the second quarter, only to lose the third quarter by 13. It was a battle of punches and counterpunches until the Knicks took over in the final minutes of regulation and carried that momentum to overtime.
Julius Randle found himself in a duel with Zion Williamson that went neck and neck, but supporting casts made the difference. Derrick Rose jumped in a time machine late, Reggie Bullock had his most clutch play of the season, and young players made spot contributions for rotation players that had foul trouble. This hard-fought victory gives New York 6 wins in a row. Let’s take a ride through the events of the game…
Knicks starters fight through injury, shooting, and foul woes
Elfrid Payton: Elfrid Payton had a tough game, with an especially rough second half. The starting point guard only made a pair of shots and struggled to finish inside throughout the game. It’s never a good sign when Payton hits as many three-pointers as field goals in the paint. He did have the benefit of teammates picking him up. While Elf struggled to score, the rest of the starters hit double-digits to pick him up. But Payton found himself on the bench for most of New York’s best moments, spacing proving crucial for most of the action.
Payton played for 20 minutes and scored 5 points, 3 assists, 1 rebound, 2 steals, and a turnover. He shot 2/8 from the field and 1/2 from the three-point line. It was nice to see Payton take the threes when he was left wide open. He cashed in his long-range jumper off a feed from RJ Barrett, any chemistry between the two is a welcome sight. Pay attention to three-point attempts down the line, which will help explain Elf’s struggles. The Pelicans collapsed often, and it caused inside scoring to be a challenge but allowed for a lot of good looks from range. That’s ideal for New York’s bench guards but not for Payton.
Payton had a bad night but didn’t make it worse than it had to be. He wasn’t forcing the action and trusted his teammates to handle the offense. It’s the same humble approach that I’ve credited RJ for during recent tough games. It’s probably easy to magnify his bad game because of how well Derrick Rose played. But the reality is, Payton had a bad game that could have been a lot worse if he’d forced his offense or refused to take the shots that he was left open for. Elfrid gets a 1.5 out of 5 for the rough night.
Reggie Bullock: I’ve hit Reggie Bullock for poor execution at the end of games repeatedly. Bullock redeemed himself in a big way by knocking down the game-tying three-pointer with less than 10 seconds on the clock. That clutch shot was a continuation of Bully’s success as a shooter throughout the game. He hit threes when open and converted multiple midrange jumpers off give and go’s with his big men. Bully had it going and didn’t lose his composure when the lights shone brightest.
Bully dropped 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist before fouling out in 37 minutes. He went 6/8 from the field and 3/5 from three. When Bullock shot, the ball went in. Bullock usually finds some success playing a two-man give-and-go game with Julius Randle. He found similar success with the same action through Taj Gibson. His offense came on all jumpers, mostly with off-ball motion. This wasn’t a unique approach; the difference was that he couldn’t miss.
Reggie hit two of the biggest shots of the game. He tied the game in the fourth, then stretched the Knicks lead with another three in overtime. He fouled out after that, but his work had already provided enough cushion for the defense to close. His defense was as advertised too, he held Ingram to 6/18 on the night, and foul woes were the only blemish on his otherwise great game. Reggie gets a 3.5 out of 5 for great shooting throughout, especially in the clutch.
RJ Barrett: It was a weird game for RJ Barrett. His scoring was great, as he finished tough shots in the lane and pull-ups from midrange. Barrett kept his defenders off-balance with his mix of euro-steps and power moves. But the young wing also turned the ball over a lot, sometimes for no reason other than inaccurate passing. He also got into foul trouble that caused his minutes to fluctuate in the second half. While Julius Randle went scoreless in the first, RJ carried the offense, but his big game fell short after that.
Barrett rocked for 36 minutes and dropped 18 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 6 turnovers. He shot 7/15 from the field, 2/4 from three, and 2/2 from the free-throw line. RJ might have been better off going to his pull-up more often. His jumper was falling while the traffic inside meant turnovers and tough finishes. Barrett showed a deft touch when he got his shots off in the lane but mixed in far too many turnovers. It kept him from having as big a performance as he might have otherwise had.
Foul trouble proved the undoing for RJ. He spent a chunk of the third with 4 fouls and then couldn’t stay on the floor in the fourth because he fouled out. That took away his chance to put a stamp on the closing minutes. He had a huge first quarter though, giving New York momentum before Julius Randle snapped into gear. That fact, along with his shooting, helps to even out the damage from frequent turnovers. RJ comes away with a 2.5 out of 5, and I suspect he’d have done even better without the foul trouble.
Julius Randle: The run of thirties continues for Julius Randle. That’s especially impressive, considering that Randle didn’t score in the first quarter. He had an explosion for 14 in the second quarter, hitting Zion with everything but the kitchen sink. That second quarter would prove to be his best. Randle’s jumper was sporadic for most of the game. He passed up a couple of late shots that I’d normally expect him to take. That said, Randle, on a bad shooting night, still managed 30 points through sheer force. He worked in transition, finished inside, got to the line, and made the shots when they mattered most.
Randle played for 47 minutes, putting up 33 points, 10 assists, 5 rebounds, 5 steals, and 4 turnovers. He shot 11/28 from the field, 2/8 from three, and 9/10 from the free-throw line. He found himself locked into a back and forth battle with Zion. Williamson overpowered him for second chance buckets at times and made every post-up a chore. But Randle won a war of attrition by virtue of playmaking. When the Knicks’ star ran into trouble, he made smart passes to punish the defense. His trust in his teammates was rewarded as they made clutch plays to seal the win.
The road to 30 was difficult in this one, but Randle was better than the field goal percentage implies. He hit some shots that had a ridiculous level of difficulty. The other Knicks players rode Randle’s gravity to a ton of open looks at range. It was also Randle that fought with Zion inside defensively. The big man battled with a young beast and played nearly 50 minutes to lead New York to a win. This is yet another impressive performance on an outstanding season. Julius Randle nabs a 4 out of 5 for his night.
Nerlens Noel: Nerlens Noel had a strong first half cut short after he fell and hurt his hand badly. It looked like Noel might have broken something based on his reaction. But then the shot blocker returned, and while he struggled a bit in the third, Noel got his mojo back just in the time. The big man had another of his patented highlight-reel blocks, late in the close game with a hand that was obviously damaged. He still rose and denied a dunk attempt, a moment that might have been more impressive than his better-than-normal scoring.
The shot blocker managed 12 points, 8 boards, and 2 blocks in 28 minutes. He shot 5/6 from the field. That included a baby jumper on the baseline and one of those hook shots he’s been working on. Noel gave the team a scoring boost with half his boards on the offensive glass. I do have to call out that Steven Adams bodied him inside. Nerlens was trying to get the box out on a couple of instances but couldn’t move Adams far enough out of the play. I cheered when Noel dug in for a strong box out early in overtime.
It’s time to start talking about how much it would cost to bring Nerlens Noel back. The big man is a defensive specialist that has been so good at his job; he’s proven a valid starter. This Pelicans match-up really displayed that. He faced a much bigger, stronger center and outworked that man until a hand injury. Then Noel played through pain, and while his efficacy slipped a pinch, he held down his role and got the Knicks to a dub. Noel gets a 3 out of 5 for a hard-fought performance.
Another gem from D-Rose spells the second unit
Derrick Rose: With the Knicks down by 7 and less than 3 minutes on the clock, Derrick Rose pumped in 6 consecutive points through drives, a free throw, and a three-pointer. He did the work to pull New York within three and then made the crucial assist to Reggie Bullock for the overtime forcing three-pointer. When overtime started, Rose picked up a quick steal and was the first player to score. After fading late in games over the past few weeks, Rose played his closing minutes to perfection in this victory.
Rose spent 35 minutes on the floor, pumping in 23 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, and 2 turnovers. He blocked a baseline jumper in the corner as the buzzer sounded. He’s turning that close-out block into a frequent occurrence, but none have been more important than this. Rose shot 9/17 from the field, 2/4 from three, and 3/4 from the line. His only blemish late was a missed free throw which he more than made up for. The Knicks didn’t have Burks or Barrett to close, but in true next-man-up fashion, Derrick Rose picked up the slack.
Just look at those numbers. Derrick Rose was brilliant, and his performance improved as the game wore on. Rose saved his best for when the game was on the line and gave Julius Randle some much-needed support for a win. The big change is that Rose’s legs stayed strong for more than 30 minutes. We’ve seen hot starts and cold finishes in prior games, but this was the first time D-Rose improved late. Rose’s time machine moments are becoming more frequent, mini runs of the Chicago Bulls MVP doing everything but dunking like he used to. That Derrick Rose combined with the current Julius Randle makes for a scary tandem. Rose gets a 4 out of 5 for taking this one home.
Immanuel Quickley: Immanuel Quickley had a better game than his efficiency might suggest. The rookie shot poorly from the field, but his scoring was timely, and he made plays at important moments. IQ hit a fourth-quarter three, then turned a steal into an assist, and then made another nice defensive play by denying a fast-break bucket to Kira Lewis. That sequence of a handful of plays loomed larger than anything else he did, positive or negative.
In 22 minutes of action, IQ put up 8 points, 3 assists, and 4 boards. He shot 1/5 from the field, 1/3 from three, and 5/6 from the line. It’s a testament that he made just 20% of his field goals and still managed more points than FGA’s. But the small additions to the scoring stood out even more. Quickley grabbing loose balls and rebounds was helpful, and his fourth-quarter assist was a beautiful adjustment. I think I linger on the pass because he typically chases a foul call in those situations, but this time he kept an attacking mentality by finding the trailer.
The rookie’s numbers don’t leap off the stat sheet, especially if you’re checking for field goal percentages. But there’s a reason for his plus/minus being the second-highest on the team. Quickley didn’t make a ton of plays, but he made plays that mattered. Quickley’s presence meant more space for Randle and Rose to slash in the fourth quarter. It’s what kept IQ out there despite the poor shooting. The rookie has always been a gunner, but he’s starting to find other ways to make a positive impact. IQ gets a 2.5 out of 5 for his night.
Kevin Knox: Kevin Knox got some game time but not much. He played 6 minutes, likely to take advantage of New Orlean’s insistence on collapsing to the middle. Knox missed his 2 three-point attempts but did step into a midrange that landed. He finished 1/3 for 2 points and 3 rebounds, but the team played well while he was on the floor. The youngster isn’t getting many minutes, but he’s given the Knicks solid time while he plays.
Frank Ntilikina: Frank got similar treatment to Knox. He got on the floor in the third quarter, likely to add some defense. Then Frank closed the game in place of Reggie Bullock, who had fouled out. He tallied 4 minutes, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 1 block in those two brief appearances. Like Knox, Frank gave good minutes with what little time he had.
Taj Gibson: It feels like Taj Gibson has been a Knick for way longer than he actually has. The big man turned in another hero-level effort without batting an eye. When Noel went down, Taj showed up and fought on the boards. The big man stuffed the stat sheet and made a difference throughout his time playing despite a tough match-up. Derrick Rose found a time machine, but Taj has been an ageless wonder this whole time.
Gibson played 24 minutes, stacking 6 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks without a turnover. He shot 3/4 from the field. Gibson got his assists off handoffs and screens to Reggie Bullock. His real impact came in the middle with the boards, blocks, and buckets. We’ve gotten a bit spoiled with how common this is becoming, but Taj has far outperformed expectations all season long.
The big vet has a New York grit to everything he does. We see it whenever Gibson is fighting physical battles against bigger guys, bullying a smaller slasher, or offering guidance to younger teammates. Taj has a hometown game that fans can welcome. The Knicks have stayed alive without Mitchell Robinson; Nerlens Noel tends to get the credit for that. But it’s really the combination of bigs that have been so effective. One guy picks up where the other left, and there are plenty of nights when Taj outperforms his starting counterpart. Gibson gets a 2.5 out of 5.
Obi Toppin: With Julius Randle dropping 30 a night, Obi Toppin’s minutes have sunk. Toppin played just 6 minutes in this one and missed his only field goal attempt. He managed a couple of rebounds, and I’ll give him credit for starting to grab rebounds in traffic more often. But there’s not a lot to say with the limited minutes our rookie is getting.
Is it magic or is it Tom Thibodeau?
Tom Thibodeau: I’m not sure what sort of sorcery is going on during film sessions, but Tom Thibodeau is working magic. Beating the Pelicans took all the elements that Thibs has managed to squeeze out from this roster. Julius Randle was a star, and RJ Barrett played a perfect compliment until he fouled out. Nerlens Noel and Reggie Bullock continued to overachieve. Then Derrick Rose and Taj Gibson played like they were years younger. Tom Thibodeau has tapped into something this season, and it shows up and down the roster.
We’re seeing some nice wrinkles as Thibs makes up for injured and missing players. With Alec Burks out, Thibodeau used specialists to fill the void. When needed, he stretched the floor with Knox and then shifted to Frank for a defensive shift when New York needed stops. The fact that those young guys got out there and gave good minutes in limited time is a testament to preparation. Every player is ready when their number gets called.
A particularly decisive move was sticking to Rose and IQ at the end of regulation. Both Payton and Quickley had struggled through that point, but Quickley’s floor stretching helped the slashers. Trusting Rose’s legs beyond thirty minutes is an underrated move too. I can’t state enough about how Thibs is making decisions that work. These aren’t easy choices like they might seem in retrospect. Thibs gets a 4 out of 5 for this comeback.
Closing Thoughts
The Knicks continue to surprise us in the best way possible. This season has felt like growth in steps. Within a few weeks, we went from wondering if New York knows how to close to watching them storm back from late deficits against solid opposition. Players have gradually grown from good in their roles to great. Win streaks couldn’t get past 3, but now they’re riding a 6 game win streak into another winnable opportunity on Tuesday. This is what a well-coached team looks like and how a winning culture develops.
But I’ve hyped this win streak 5 times already. Let’s take a second to enjoy the enthusiasm of Zion Williamson for the Garden. I know this sort of thing elicits eye rolls because New York always gets dogged for stars turning down contracts to the Knicks. But like it or not, the haters will always have to endure the praise that Madison Square Garden and Knicks fans receive from players league-wide. Free agents want to win; that doesn’t mean they don’t relish their journeys to MSG, where the energy is undeniable. That makes things interesting if the Knicks can sustain their winning ways. What happens if the pitch isn’t to join a losing team in the Garden and try to turn it around, but to join a winning squad and turn it into a championship contender?
We can ponder these questions when the offseason comes or when some star becomes available. Right now, it’s just a fun detour while optimism is high. The Knicks need to focus on the present, a winning streak that could hit seven if they beat the 8th seed Charlotte Hornets. The Hornets lost 4 straight before taking down the Blazers, but they’ll be hungry to make up some ground on New York in the seeds. It might seem like the Knicks are due for a letdown, but they haven’t let up since the season tipped off. I’m looking forward to a chance to continue the run and work toward a higher seed. I’ll see you after the next one, Knicks fam!
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