The New York Knicks demolish the Sacramento Kings, 112-99. New York’s defense stepped up after Randle got ejected.
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The New York Knicks rolled to an easy victory over the Sacramento Kings, 112 to 99. The teams exchanged leads in the first handful of possessions of the game, but once New York got momentum, they never lost ground. The team put together another defensive gem, and while everyone was healthy, the offense gelled just as well.
But the Knicks faced some second-half challenges. Julius Randle earned an ejection in the third quarter, and Jalen Brunson left with an ankle injury. That left New York relying almost exclusively on young, former draft picks to close out. As a result, their offense lost its edge, but the team defended too well to be denied.
This was a fun test for the Knicks’ supporting cast around RJ Barrett. They’ll need to step up when Brunson and Randle struggle, which is bound to happen. Let’s look at how everyone handled the hot start and adversity.
Randle starts hot, but Barrett has to close for the Knicks’ starters
Jalen Brunson: 18 PTS (7/14 FG, 0/2 3PT, 4/4 FT), 3 AST, 3 REB, 2 STL, 5 TO in 27 mins
I’ll start on the injuries, plural. Jalen Brunson took a hard fall while driving in the first half, landing on his hip and prompting Tom Thibodeau to pick up a technical foul. Brunson took a breather, then limped back onto the floor. But New York’s starting point guard left the game after a second mishap, as Davion Mitchell fell with all of his weight onto Brunson’s foot to cause an ankle sprain.
Brunson has been playing through aches and pains for a couple of weeks. Unfortunately, these last two hits seem likely to necessitate some time off for Brunson. That’s scary because, despite his 5 turnovers, Brunson steered the Knicks’ offense better than anyone proved capable of after his exit.
Brunson’s offense was fun while he was on the floor. He made timely baskets with tricky footwork and clever plays throughout the action. Julius Randle and RJ Barrett handled most of the scoring load, but Brunson seemed to keep everyone composed and in rhythm. Brunson gets a 3.5 out of 5 for the clear impact of his presence before and after his injury.
Quentin Grimes: 7 PTS (2/8 FG, 1/4 3PT, 2/2 FT), 3 AST, 6 REB, 1 STL in 41 mins
Quentin Grimes didn’t shoot well, which may have caused him to hesitate on some looks. Grimes passed up opportunities to score to the extent that even Clyde and Breen commented on it. I still wouldn’t categorize his offense as bad, though. He knocked down a critical three, created extra opportunities by fighting for rebounds, and still threw some nice dimes along the way.
The defensive stopper earned every minute he got through his calling card. He shutdown Kevin Huerter for most of the night, limiting the shooting guard to field goals through transition and second chances. Grimes paired with McBride late to provide some of the best perimeter defense we’ve seen all season. While New York’s offense reeled, they protected their lead by holding a league-leading offense to just 19 fourth-quarter points. Grimes was a crucial component of that success.
Grimes is still looking for his consistent jumper. But his work everywhere else continues to maintain his value, but he could do with more aggression. That will be especially true if Jalen Brunson misses time. Grimes gets a 2.5 out of 5 for inefficiency from the field but effective play otherwise.
RJ Barrett: 27 PTS (9/21 FG, 2/6 3PT, 7/9 FT), 6 AST, 9 REB, 3 STL, 1 BLK, 3 TO in 43 min
RJ Barrett let the offense come to him for most of the first three quarters. He attacked one-on-one coverage but also made some impressive reads whenever the defense collapsed on him. Barrett threw his usual lobs to rolling centers but also spotted his kick-outs in this game. That extra read can truly open things up for both the player and the teammates around him.
After Julius Randle was ejected and Jalen Brunson left due to injury, the team relied heavily on Barrett to take them home. Unfortunately, he slipped from an efficiency standpoint, missing some bunnies and making a few mistakes. But Barrett also drew fouls and managed enough scoring to maintain a healthy lead.
Barrett also spent extra time playing power-forward minutes in this action. He held his own defensively but forgot to box out a few times. But his defense from both wing positions and at power forward was solid most of the night. His four stocks came from follow-up efforts, even when players got past him. Barrett picks up a 4 out of 5 for helping New York hang on.
Julius Randle: 27 PTS (9/20, 3/11 3PT, 6/6 FT), 3 AST, 8 REB, 2 TO in 27 mins
Julius Randle continued his streak of blitzing teams out the gate with 17 points and 4 rebounds in the first quarter. He did so impressively while his jump shot refused to fall early. But Randle used blow-by drives and paint pressence to find a rhythm. He finished the half with 27 points and 6 rebounds, a career-high for his first-half scoring.
Randle seemed poised for another magnificent half with quick and clever passing out of double-teams in the third quarter. But he took a shove in the back on a rebound that went without a whistle. Then, the dominant big man raged at the refs and picked up a pair of technical fouls in short order. That cut his otherwise spectacular night short.
How much should I dock Julius Randle for losing composure and jeopardizing an otherwise certain victory? He was on the path to my first 5 out of 5 score of the season, but his performance was incomplete. The big man has taken steps in both mindset and on-court performance, but this was a reminder about the double-edged sword he can sometimes be. Randle gets a 3.5 out of 5 because this could have cost the team against a better or healthier opponent.
Mitchell Robinson: 12 PTS (5/5 FG, 2/2 FT), 9 REB, 3 BLK, 2 TO in 19 mins
While Mitchell Robinson played, he was dominant. He came one rebound shy of a double-double in just 19 minutes while denying scorers in the paint constantly. But he struggled to avoid foul trouble against the pump fakes and footwork of Domantas Sabonis. The fouls were the only obstacle between the shot-blocker and a huge night.
Robinson played a huge role in New York’s second-half success, and that came about after he appeared to tweak his ankle early in the third. The team took a timeout that bought Mitch a moment to regain his stability, and he proceeded to dunk the ball three times within a few minutes. Then the big man grabbed several offensive rebounds while the Knicks’ offense fought to keep their lead without Brunson or Randle in the fourth.
Mitch looked impressive while he played. But I’m slightly frustrated that foul trouble kept him doing even more damage. The defense had never looked better than when Grimes and McBride worked the perimeter with Robinson patrolling the paint. There’s potential for a top-five defense if that trio plays enough minutes. Mitch picks up a 3.5 out of 5 that ought to be even higher if he’d stayed on the floor longer.
The Knicks’ second unit starts to gel
Deuce McBride: 5 PTS (2/6 FG, 1/5 3PT), 2 AST, 3 REB, 1 TO in 20 mins
I’m becoming a broken record because Deuce McBride’s performances have been consistent for both good and bad reasons. His defense is stellar every time he touches the floor. But his offense remains tentative, which means he’s only shooting occasionally and doesn’t always appear to be in rhythm.
That’s too bad because McBride’s jumper looks strong when he doesn’t hesitate. He also drove past a bigger defender for a finish inside in the fourth quarter. He can do more for the offense but continues to be cautious.
Deuce has a positive impact, thanks to his defense. He’s a good passer for the offense but is less playmaker and more connector. I’m rooting for the guard to become more aggressive with his offense. McBride picks up a 3 out of 5 while we wait for him to be more assertive to boost his performance scores past 2.5s and 3s.
Immanuel Quickley: 12 PTS (4/11 FG, 1/5 3PT, 3/4 FT), 2 AST, 4 REB, 1 STL in 25 mins
Immanuel Quickley’s elusive ball handling returned to the forefront of this performance. He spent possessions with the ball on a string, seeming to toy with defenders before dancing into the paint for finishes. However, his shooting and playmaking were both letdowns. He had open looks on the perimeter that refused to fall throughout the game.
IQ’s playmaking disappointed me, especially after Jalen Brunson left the game. Quickley was well-positioned to take the reins at the point and guide the Knicks’ offense to a smooth landing. But he deferred heavily to RJ Barrett instead. As a result, the offense was stagnant for most possessions, with a few flashes of the ball movement I’d hoped to see.
Quickley’s defense and rebounding continued their consistency. He’s good on both counts and looks even more effective, while Grimes and McBride complement his effort. But it’s up to IQ to keep the team composed and the ball being shared if Jalen Brunson takes time off. Quickley gets a 2.5 out of 5 for his impressive handle and solid all-around play.
Jericho Sims: 0 PTS (0/0 FG), 4 REB in 8 mins
Jericho Sims saw minutes at power forward again and even a few at center due to foul trouble in the first half. But he didn’t get many touches on offense. Instead, Sims predominantly set some screens and provided rebounding. With just 8 minutes of action, I can’t blame him for an incomplete impact.
Isaiah Hartenstein: 4 PTS (2/4 FG, 0/2 3PT), 9 REB, 1 STL, 1 TO in 24 mins
Isaiah Hartenstein provided solid cover for Mitchell Robinson’s foul trouble. Hart went through a few spells where Domantas Sabonis powered through him for buckets. But the big man spent more time denying players inside and hustling on the boards than giving up lay-ups.
Hart got to operate on the perimeter again, though he missed his three-point looks. But his ability to play outside and make passes has a clear impact. He opened up space for ball handlers to attack the paint, especially with no clear rim protectors for Sacramento. That’s probably why he led the team in plus/minus with a +18.
New York is finally unlocking some of Hart’s most attractive traits. His touches away from the basket leave massive lanes for the slasher-heavy roster. He’s also looking more comfortable in drop coverage, which may be thanks to better perimeter defenders or could just come down to developing more comfort. Nevertheless, Hart picks up a 3.5 out of 5 for playing extended quality minutes.
New challenges await Tom Thibodeau if Jalen Brunson can’t play
Tom Thibodeau seemed poised for another easy night with Julius Randle dominating and the Knicks leading. But Randle’s ejection and Jalen Brunson’s injury raised some issues. Thibodeau still refused to return Derrick Rose or Cam Reddish to the line-up. That left the Knicks with an extremely tight rotation of very young players to try and close the game.
The decision to stick with a short rotation worked, thanks to quality defense. But the blemishes on offense were noticeable. Barrett had to do too much heavy lifting, and players like Grimes and McBride went from smart passing to overdoing it. Immanuel Quickley didn’t take the lead like I, and I suspect Thibs, had hoped.
But those are challenges that Thibodeau has two days to figure out. He might make some scheme changes or work with players in a film session. I’m assuming he’ll add at least one player to the rotation, with Derrick Rose seeming most like. These questions will loom over the next few games, but Thibodeau gets a 3 out of 5 for the win in Sacramento.
Closing Thoughts
The Knicks are handling business right now. They ran into another opponent whose star player sat out, but they can only play who was in front of them. These are opportunities to gain ground in the standings and build momentum for more formidable opponents later. I’ve joked about the Knicks being cursed by Murphy’s law, but this season has been full of nice breaks.
That may be true of the timing of Brunson’s ankle injury. He’s a tough player that might be back sooner than we think. But he can probably afford to sit with a pair of games against the struggling Chicago next. That’s a nice break and a chance to see how the team will move forward without the stability that Brunson provides.
The interesting question lies with how Thibodeau will address the rotation. Derrick Rose makes the most sense as a veteran point guard that can provide some stability. But Cam Reddish and Evan Fournier also provide outside shooting, which in theory should earn them minutes. The team hasn’t shot well since Fournier left the rotation, and Cam fits the team’s new defensive identity best out of the three.
Or maybe Brunson will surprise us by playing through injury again. We’ll find out on Wednesday night how Thibodeau handles the changes. I’ll see you then, Knicks fam!
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