The New York Knicks defeated the Washington Wizards 118-109 and clinched a playoff spot with four Knicks scoring over 20 points!
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The New York Knicks clinched a playoff berth by defeating the Washington Wizards 118 to 109. New York was victorious without RJ Barrett or Julius Randle, but the Wizards were missing four starters of their own.
The depleted teams battled for most of the first half, with Corey Kispert’s scoring and Dani Avdija’s dribble penetration causing chaos for New York’s defense. But the Knicks found plenty of contributors to keep things close until their defense rose to the occasion in the second half. Quentin Grimes and Obi Toppin stepped up with more extensive opportunities, while Jalen Brunson and Immanuel Quickley continued their marvelous seasons. As a result, the Knicks ran away with the lead in the fourth quarter, overwhelming their undermanned opposition.
The Knicks earned a position in the playoffs and upped their winning streak to four. So let’s see how they put together a terrific team win, despite defensive lapses.
Four 20-point scorers propel New York’s starting unit
Jalen Brunson: 27 PTS (11/20 FG, 1/3 3PT, 4/5 FT), 8 AST, 3 REB, 3 STL, 5 TO in 39 mins
Jalen Brunson started the game sloppy as he dealt with Delon Wright’s length. The diminutive point guard picked up multiple turnovers in the first quarter, leading to fast-break scores. But Brunson’s poise and intelligence showed through adjustments, and he increasingly took control as the game wore on. He finished the action with 5 turnovers but offset those giveaways by compiling 27 points (on good efficiency) and 8 assists.
The Wizards targeted Brunson often, but he found ways to punish them. He poked the ball loose for 3 steals across the action but forced more turnovers than that. In addition, he drew two charges and a moving screen violation in the third quarter alone.
The most impressive aspect of this game is that Brunson seemed slightly off early. His floaters missed short, and his passes kept getting deflected. But the leader adjusted. It’s the mark of a star to show up on an off night and still look like the best player on the floor. Brunson gets a 4 out of 5 for his impact.
Immanuel Quickley: 22 PTS (8/18 FG, 3/6 3PT, 3/4 FT), 5 AST, 6 REB, 3 STL, 1 TO in 37 mins
Immanuel Quickley played well, though his performance had some issues. Quickley shot well from three and managed playmaking effectively. But for chunks of the first half, he pressed for his offense. IQ always takes a wild shot here and there, but he was pulling up from heat check distance for no reason. The shoddy shot selection contributed to his 8/18 night.
Thankfully, Quickley tamped down in the second half with a more focused approach. He gave up on forcing the issue and began to create. The best pass of the game was a dime that IQ whipped through the heart of the defense to Isaiah Hartenstein under the rim. Quickley’s defense and rebounding also helped make up for any misguided shot attempts he’d taken.
The most exciting aspect of Quick’s Sixth Man of the Year campaign is how much flexibility he’s shown. When Brunson missed time, Quickley entered and filled the role seamlessly. He paired with Brunson this time to cover for RJ Barrett and still fit seamlessly. Quickley picks up a 3.5 out of 5 for his hard work.
Quentin Grimes: 27 PTS (9/17 FG, 6/11 3PT, 3/4 FT), 5 AST, 2 REB in 41 mins
Quentin Grimes’ floor spacing has reached a new level in recent games. The Wizards did something similar to the Heat by doubling and trapping ball-handlers. As a result, Jalen Brunson and Immanuel Quickley had to move the ball fast. But that trapping scheme left Quentin Grimes open in space, and he punished Washington’s defense all game.
Grimes ran into some issues against Corey Kispert in the first half. The Knicks frequently accepted switches against screens that left Kispert isolated on Grimes. As a result, Kispert shot over the Knicks’ stopper for midrange pull-ups and catch-and-shoot opportunities behind the arc. Fortunately, Grimes adjusted in the second half with tighter defense and more ball denial.
Grimes sparked the offense with his work from range. But he also added a healthy dose of clever passing, and his defense picked up in the third and fourth quarters. But the big takeaway is that this marks his fourth 20-point game in the past six. Grimes is coming on strong to close the season, and for his highly efficient night, he gets a 4.5 out of 5.
Obi Toppin: 21 PTS (9/15 FG, 3/8 3PT), 4 AST, 1 REB, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 33 mins
Obi Toppin started the game with a pair of threes and only improved as his minutes accumulated. Toppin showed no hesitation on open looks behind the arc, though it took him a while to settle into a rhythm and attack off the dribble. As his comfort built, Toppin flashed clever passing and great chemistry with Quickley and Hartenstein.
Toppin sat for the entire second quarter, much to the chagrin of many a Knicks’ Twitter poster. But he hadn’t grabbed a rebound and looked shaky defensively. Then, in the third, he responded more aggressively, compiling steals and a highlight block that led to a transition bucket. Toppin did enough to play the entire second half, even without adding much on the glass.
Obi’s floor running and effort seem to wear opponents down. The longer he’s out there, the more openings he finds in the defense. More importantly, the Knicks always looked better with him playing because he dragged defenders low to address his lob threat. The prospect is a handful and continues to show promise when he gets extra time. Nevertheless, Toppin receives a 3.5 out of 5 for his big game.
Mitchell Robinson: 8 PTS (3/4 FG, 2/2 FT), 4 AST, 11 REB, 2 STL, 1 BLK in 26 mins
Mitchell Robinson dunked the ball with authority whenever teammates found him. But his offense expanded thanks to offensive rebounds and kick outs. The trapping scheme I referenced above made Mitch an easy outlet for ball handlers. Even if Brunson or IQ dribbled into trouble, they could lob a pass high for Mitch near the high post. And as a result, Robinson quickly caught, turned, and swung the ball to shooters, helping him pick up 4 assists.
It’s not a Mitchell Robinson performance if I’m not discussing rim protection. But this time, Mitch ran into issues keeping the Wizards from scoring inside. Much of his trouble came because point-of-attack defenders weren’t keeping close to their men. That meant players like Deni Avdija could hit the lane at full speed and beat Mitch with motion or passing.
Nonetheless, Robinson’s presence was immense, as he led all rebounders in the game. He was a field goal shy of a double-double and added assists for three-pointers to the mix. I also thought it was great that he’d celebrate the made shots before shooters released the ball on several occasions. Mitch gets a 3.5 out of 5 for his impact in the middle.
The Harts carry the Knicks’ second-unit again
Miles McBride: 2 PTS (1/4 FG, 0/2 3PT) in 9 mins
Miles McBride didn’t can his jumpers and failed to change the trajectory of the defense. His presence off the bench was as limited as his minutes. He didn’t get much time to create an impact, but we’ve seen him do more with less.
Evan Fournier: 0 PTS (0/1 FG, 0/1 3PT), 2 REB, 2 TO in 7 mins
Evan Fournier came on but looked out of rhythm. He didn’t gel with the second unit, turning the ball over twice without making a field goal or assist. His defense hurt the group, but I’ll chalk the tough night up to rust.
Josh Hart: 2 PTS (1/4 FG, 0/1 3PT), 3 AST, 6 REB, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 26 mins
Josh Hart managed some decent production and defense but had a rough night. He didn’t look as comfortable attacking space as Grimes or Obi and continually drove himself into tricky spots. That led to an unlikely 1/4 shooting night for the wing.
However, Hart contributed his typical tertiary work. He chased down boards and picked up a few assists along the way. His defense looked pesky, with the caveat that he occasionally gets hung up on screens. Although we’ve learned to expect these contributions, they always warrant a shout-out.
Hart’s night ended early after he landed on someone’s foot. He immediately walked to the locker room but returned with his ankle re-taped shortly after. It was a brief scare, even on an off night. Josh gets a 2 out of 5 for his work everywhere but scoring.
Isaiah Hartenstein: 9 PTS (4/5 FG, 1/3 FT), 2 AST, 8 REB, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 22 mins
Isaiah Hartenstein looked great again. His ball movement with the second unit continues to spark fun possessions. While 2 assists don’t seem like much, Big Hart was involved in numerous three and four-player actions where the ball flew around the court. The big man stayed on the receiving end of many final passes in those sequences, finishing with 9 points.
Hart’s defense has reached the point of keeping pace with Mitchell Robinson’s lofty standards. I-Hart does more damage in ball denial and steals, while Mitch blocks more shots at the rim. Yet Hartenstein still challenges plenty at the hoop, and Mitch pokes plenty of passes loose. The combo has locked down the paint recently.
Hartenstein took the lesser role of the center tandem this time. He may have picked up a double-double with a few extra minutes, although that’s not necessary for his impact to be felt. Everything considered, the big man played a productive role in a fun victory. Big Hart gets a 3 out of 5 for another strong game.
Thibodeau succeeds with limited options
Tom Thibodeau navigated this game without two of his highest-usage players. From the jump, the Wizards looked to take advantage of New York’s lack of ball handlers by trapping the few playmakers left. So there wasn’t much Thibodeau could do with his limited options beyond trusting the available guys.
In the end, the role players responded well. Quentin Grimes started the matchup on fire, Obi Toppin built momentum as the game went on, and the center tandem pumped in 17 points and 19 rebounds combined. Wins like this embody Thibodeau’s “next man up” mentality. Thibodeau gets a 3.5 out of 5, with a half-point docked for not using Obi in the second quarter.
Closing Thoughts
The first big step of the season has finally been completed. The Knicks are officially a playoff team. Their magic number to clinch the fifth seed is 1, and with a pair of matchups against the tanking Pacers, that feels like a foregone conclusion.
I went to the first playoff game at the Garden a couple of years ago. The energy in the arena was incredible. The Knicks had a bunch of first-timers in the postseason, and they looked nervous early. The Hawks stole that game, and New York never found its footing in the series.
I feel much more confident in this group. Brunson brings poise, Barrett and Randle have tasted postseason experience, and players like Grimes and Hart feel built for postseason intensity. Even without home court advantage, I’m excited about the first round.
The Indiana Pacers are next, and I’m looking forward to the matchup. The Knicks are playing a fast-paced, fun brand of basketball right now. I’m excited about the game and counting down to the playoffs. I’ll see you next time, Knicks fam!
Stay tuned to KnicksFanTV.com for the latest Knicks news, rumors, and recaps throughout the NBA season. And in case you missed it, check out CP on SNY, where he breaks down Jalen Brunson’s career night against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Isaiah Hartenstein’s turnaround, and how the team will manage without Julius Randle!
