The New York Knicks defeated the Brooklyn Nets 124-106. Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart go nuclear en route to victory.
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The New York Knicks cruised to victory over the Brooklyn Nets, 124 to 106. The Knicks were sluggish early, but their second unit energized the team. Brooklyn kept things close thanks to hot shooting from a familiar foe, Spencer Dinwiddie. They even took the lead before halftime.
But the Knicks took over in the third. They built momentum as soon as Immanuel Quickley and Josh Hart touched the court and never let up. The second unit’s success, combined with a monster night from Jalen Brunson, helped seal the victory with garbage time to spare.
The Knicks are on a two-game winning streak, and the addition of Josh Hart looks promising. But let’s look review this win, one player at a time.
Another spectacular night from Jalen Brunson with the Knicks’ starters
Jalen Brunson: 40 PTS (15/21 FG, 6/9 3PT, 4/8 FT), 5 AST, 2 REB, 1 BLK in 36 mins
Jalen Brunson continues to make the all-star selection look like a farce. Brooklyn may have downgraded at the trade deadline, but they brought in a collective of hard-nosed defenders. Every one of those players tried to slow down Brunson, and he still made 40 points look easy. Brunson knocked down his typical array of floaters, midrange pull-ups, and layups, but he added scorching hot shooting from three-point land. The long-range success made up for a poor night at the free-throw line.
Brunson’s defensive contributions rarely show up on the score sheet. He’s a front-runner to lead the league in total charges drawn and drew one more in the fourth quarter. Brunson baits big men into moving screen violations on a nightly basis. His block looked more like a strip steal to me and led to a quick transition the opposite way.
None of that is to paint Brunson as an elite defensive player, but he’s much better than his reputation suggested in the offseason. That’s no surprise, considering his offense has also been better than advertised. He’s easily the best free agent acquisition of the offseason and should be an All-Star. Nevertheless, New York’s leader gets a perfect 5 out of 5 for his ridiculously efficient 40-point night.
Quentin Grimes: 8 PTS (2/5 FG, 2/4 3PT, 2/2 FT), 3 REB, 1 STL in 22 mins
New York’s starting wings are both slumping. RJ Barrett will receive most of the attention, but Quentin Grimes hasn’t broken double-digit scoring in four games. He hesitated on his first open look from three, which Breen and Clyde noted on the broadcast. Yet Grimes knocked down his next shot, and hopefully, his pair of three-pointers is a sign that he’s getting back on track.
Grimes often locked horns with Spencer Dinwiddie defensively. Dinwiddie made some tough shots and earned a small fortune in free throws, but he also shot 38 percent from the field on the night. Grimes’ other frequent match-up, Mikal Bridges, shot 2 of 8. So, Grimes continues to make up for any mistakes by playing excellent defense.
It might become easy to overlook Grimes’ contributions on defense soon. IQ and Josh Hart are great defenders in their own rights. But Grimes’ floor spacing sets him apart from the pack, and his jumper showed signs of life against Brooklyn. The sophomore picks up a 2 out of 5 for adding backup production in backup minutes, but he’ll be closing games again if his shooting gets on track.
RJ Barrett: 4 PTS (2/8 FG, 0/3 3PT), 1 REB, 3 TO in 24 mins
If Grimes is slumping, RJ Barrett has taken a plunge. He’s averaging 14.5 ppg on 36.4 percent from the field in four games since returning from an illness. His woes feel like déjà vu after he got sick in November and spent two weeks working back into shape. To his credit, Barrett didn’t force as much in this game. But he didn’t make a field goal until the third quarter, and his confidence looked shaky.
Barrett’s biggest issue isn’t scoring, but he isn’t doing anything else well enough to cover for it. He doesn’t provide Grimes’ defense, IQ’s playmaking, or Hart’s rebounding. So when RJ has missed his shots, he hasn’t found a way to help the team. And to make things spicier, three talented wings are ready to take minutes from him, depending on what the team needs most on any given night.
This feels like RJ Barrett bottoming out. It’s his lowest-scoring output in 39 games, not counting the game he left after one minute. But my biggest concern for Barrett has been his inability to contribute in other ways. He had 3 turnovers without an assist, only secured 1 rebound, and his defense was dreadful. As a result, Barrett gets a 0.5 out of 5 and needs to show better effort in areas that don’t involve shooting.
Julius Randle: 18 PTS (7/17 FG, 1/6 3PT, 3/3 FT), 4 AST, 10 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 32 mins
It’s nice that a pedestrian night for Julius Randle still ended with a double-double and 4 assists. The big man sparked the defense early by scoring 7 of the team’s first 9 points. He worked from the midrange, but that success never translated to the three-point line. Randle didn’t have to force much, with Jalen Brunson dominating anyway.
Randle made up for misses with everything else. His defense is flawed, but his effort led to a nice block and a steal. His work on the glass helped to quell the Nets’ effort, which started strong but waned. Randle drifted into a two-man focus with Brunson, but it’s hard to blame him for passing to a blistering hot hand.
My only additional note is to appreciate Randle’s shift in mindset. We’re well past the halfway point of the season, and Randle’s still keeping composure, trusting his teammates, and playing winning basketball. Randle gets a 2.5 out of 5 for the night, but his maturity has been refreshing this year.
Jericho Sims: 2 PTS (1/1 FG), 7 REB, 1 TO in 24 mins
Jericho Sims played his usual springy brand of basketball. He had some trouble with the Dinwiddie/Claxton pick and roll early in the action. But Sims seemed to settle into the game and figure out his spacing over time. By Sims’ second stint on the floor, he already appeared to move better and break up plays more frequently.
My only issue with Sims is that he’s underutilized. That’s nothing new for centers in this system. For Sims to score, he typically has to grab an offensive rebound for a putback. Part of that is Sims’ own gravity because defenders know about his lob threat. But the other issue is that Sims only becomes a target when he’s rim-running from the high pick and roll. I’d like to see him incorporated into the offense a bit more.
Sims gets a 2 out of 5 for a pleasant, but forgettable performance.
New York’s second unit sets the tone
Immanuel Quickley: 14 PTS (4/9 FG, 2/3 3PT, 4/5 FT), 5 AST, 5 REB in 28 mins
Immanuel Quickley saved his best for the fourth quarter. He scored 10 of his 14 points during in the closing minutes, with just one basket coming after benches began to clear. Quickley took on the role of creator in the first half, mainly because Josh Hart was on fire. After Hart settled down, IQ showed us his combination of floaters, drawn fouls, and timely shot-making.
Quickley’s playmaking included an alley-oop lob to Obi Toppin (the team hasn’t been connecting with Obi on cuts recently, so this was refreshing to see). It also felt like a play that energized the Knicks because it sparked a dominant fourth quarter for New York. Quickley’s ability to shift into playmaking mode has proven valuable in recent games because Jalen Brunson has to provide so much scoring.
IQ’s defense and rebounding lived up to their standards as well. He’s been great on both counts, and his defensive impact felt even greater with Josh Hart sharing the floor. The second unit is poised to be fun, and their backcourt defense is a major aspect of that.
Quickley gets a 3 out of 5 for another strong performance as the sixth man.
Josh Hart: 27 PTS (10/14 FG, 4/6 3PT, 3/4 FT), 2 AST, 5 REB, 1 STL in 28 mins
Josh Hart made a solid first impression against the Utah Jazz. But this matchup felt like Hart’s real introduction to Knicks fans. He benefited from having a hot hand from three, which opened up everything else. But the new acquisition’s stand-out moments came from turning defensive rebounds into full-court finishes. On occasion, Hart was a one-man fast break, and he got back on defense with just as much gusto.
Hart often made a basket, only to race down the floor and play critical roles in getting the next stop. His defensive play was fun to watch because the system gives him some freedom to anticipate passes. The former Villanova standout looked like a free safety picking off outlet passes and deflecting cross-court attempts. He also looked like a defensive back while jumping into crowds to chase loose balls for defensive rebounds.
The on/off splits for Hart have always suggested that he’s an impact player. But seeing is believing because his effort goes beyond words. At a point in the game, Hart knocked down a three and pounded his chest while talking to the fans in the Garden. It made me reminisce on players like Latrell Sprewell and John Starks, who didn’t have to be the best players on the floor to be the most important ones. They inject life into the team and fans through effort, grit, and impact.
Hart gets a 4.5 out of 5 for his 27 points on excellent efficiency and quality defense.
Obi Toppin: 2 PTS (1/4 FG, 0/2 3PT), 1 AST, 1 REB, 1 BLK in 16 mins
It’s getting tough to blame Obi Toppin’s struggles on returning from injury. He’s been back for 20 games and still hasn’t found his old chemistry with familiar teammates. On top of that, Toppin has been struggling with his jumper, which only makes matters worse.
To his credit, Obi did a lot of the little things. He blocked Claxton at a point where the Nets’ Center had his way in the paint. Obi turned down a couple of shots he could have justifiably forced up to pass the ball and keep teammates inovled. He also attacked off the dribble with a spin to a floater that almost dropped (I keep noting these one-off face-up plays because they could open Toppin’s game up).
But Obi’s efforts lacked productivity. So, his 16 minutes are justified, and his impact score is stuck at 1.5 out of 5. We’re seeing signs that he’s trying to break out of the slump, but that will be tough with limited time and touches.
Isaiah Hartenstein: 8 PTS (3/3 FG, 2/2 FT), 1 AST, 5 REB, 1 STL, 1 TO in 24 mins
Kudos to Isaiah Hartenstein for continuing to provide big help off the bench. I mentioned Claxton’s hot start, but that cooled off after Hart’s first entry into the game. In addition, the big man provided some scoring by feeding off the energy of the second unit’s backcourt. I-Hart kept the ball moving and had space to step into the lane with momentum, thanks to the speed of New York’s attack.
We know about Hart’s defense and many of the nuances regarding his game. But his lone assist in this game came from a post-up above the free throw line. He tried two bounce passes from a similar spot on the floor, with one becoming his assist and the other becoming a turnover. I love that action and the dynamic it adds to the offense. And with cutters like Hart and Toppin, I’d like more post work for Hartenstein to find them.
Hart gets a 2.5 out of 5 for another starter-quality performance from the bench.
Tom Thibodeau’s recipe is promising
My biggest takeaway for Tom Thibodeau is that he finally has enough pieces to work with. I don’t mean that as an insult to the players that couldn’t crack his rotation, but Thibs has to trust players to utilize them. Now that he has Josh Hart, Thibodeau can rest his starters and keep hot hands on the floor longer.
That’s translating to everyone playing fewer minutes. There has not been drastic cuts in playtime, but the key players are entering the fourth quarter later and with rested legs. That puts New York in a better position to close games they’d otherwise fade in. Thibodeau gets a 3.5 out of 5 for finally beating the Nets!
Closing Thoughts
We haven’t been able to ride into All-Star Breaks with triumphant strides very often. But the Knicks will reach the break with a winning record, and they’ll be firmly in the playoff race to boot. That makes this ASB a nice chance to celebrate early success.
Are the Knicks a contender? Not quite yet. But Julius Randle is an All-Star, Jalen Brunson should be one, Quentin Grimes is a Rising Star, and Jericho Sims is in the dunk contest. These guys deserve to be there. They’ve earned it, and we, as fans, should hype them up like the national media when someone says Tyrese Haliburton isn’t an All-Star.
The break will be one last chance to relax and have fun. Then, from there on out, every game will matter, and we’ll be focused on playoff seeding. So let’s enjoy what we’ve had so far because Knicks fans know better than anyone that success is fleeting.
The Hawks are the last opponent before we hit the break. They’re right behind the Knicks in the standings, so this is a chance to create more breathing room. We’ll see how they do and discuss the action in the next one. I’ll see you then, 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’s interview with The Legendary Chuck D to discuss Knicks and how hip-hop changed the world!
