The New York Knicks defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 112-108. The Knicks got huge performances from Julius Randle and RJ Barrett.
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The New York Knicks returned to the win column after beating the Los Angeles Lakers 112 to 108. The Knicks started slow, looking shell-shocked after their tough loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. They gave up offensive rebounds and second-chance buckets early to the Lakers. Nevertheless, New York held a slim lead thanks to Julius Randle’s big first half and an excellent second quarter from Immanuel Quickley.
By the second half, the Lakers’ defense was unbalanced to slow Randle, and the floor opened up for everyone else. In the fourth quarter specifically, RJ Barrett attacked the space while Deuce McBride knocked down some threes. The Knicks still struggled down the stretch, nearly blowing another lead. But they got just enough stops to hang on, including some clutch free-throw shooting.
Some issues plaguing New York’s losing streak carried over into this game. But they showed the poise that has carried them through this season. Let’s see how they bounced back for the win.
Randle and Barrett step up for New York’s starting lineup
Immanuel Quickley: 15 PTS (6/12 FG, 1/3 3PT, 2/2 FT), 3 AST, 2 REB, 1 STL in 31 mins
Immanuel Quickley ended a scoring slump against the Clippers and added efficiency with the Lakers. IQ was methodical by attacking inside with running jumpers and floaters for most of his offense. And to make his presence felt, he utilized his artful ball handling, footwork, and patience that he’s built across this season (quite reminiscent of Jalen Brunson).
However, IQ’s playmaking and rebounding slipped compared to his recent performances. But I’ll pin his reduced facilitating on Julius Randle and RJ Barrett taking over with dominant isolation scoring, leaving fewer opportunities for Quickley and others to create from drives and kicks.
Quick played well, but not great. We see his legs slowly returning from that grueling Boston performance. Quickley has been a suitable replacement for Jalen Brunson, and that should buy the lead point guard time to rest his injured foot. IQ gets a 3 out of 5 for his efficient night.
Quentin Grimes: 5 PTS (2/4 FG, 1/3 3PT), 1 AST, 4 REB, 1 BLK, 3 TO in 25 mins
Quentin Grimes had a rough game. He picked up more turnovers than field goals as the Lakers chased him off the three-point line and protected the baseline. His one successful drive along the baseline came against contact at the rim and a hard fall for his trouble.
But the most shocking takeaway from Grimes’ performance was that his defense was a big disappointment. D’Angelo Russell shot lights out, even over decent contests from defenders. That meant anyone covering Russell would have to crowd him and risk a few fouls to limit DLo’s jumper. Unfortunately, we didn’t see that pressure from Grimes, who routinely got caught on screens and reached Russell a step late.
None of this is to say that Grimes was terrible. But we know how much better he can play. I’m tempted to use the fatigue excuse, but everyone else is coming out of their doldrums. I’ll keep an eye on him because I’m suspicious that a long season might be catching up with him. Grimes earns a 1 out of 5 for his tough night.
RJ Barrett: 30 PTS (12/27 FG, 1/8 3PT, 5/6 FT), 2 AST, 6 REB, 1 TO in 39 mins
The Knicks needed a closer, and their youngest starter stepped up. RJ Barrett came through in the final quarter with 8 points leading the second unit while Julius Randle and Immanuel Quickley rested. He would finish the fourth with 13 points, including his only three-pointer of the night after eight tries.
Barrett’s downhill attack succeeded more and more as the game wore on. He tanked his efficiency by missing numerous open looks from three, but efficiency from long-range is all that’s missing from his recent scoring. Barrett’s averaging 24 points per game on 43 percent from the field in the past five games, but he’s shooting 20 percent from three on 7 attempts per game in that span.
I’ll sum up Barrett’s defense with this, Austin Reave blew by him multiple times. That can’t happen. RJ’s tunnel vision also popped up, so he missed a few kick-out opportunities or made the pass too late to be effective. Despite that, his scoring proved crucial to this victory and bumped him to a 3.5 out of 5.
Julius Randle: 33 PTS (11/24 FG, 3/12 3PT, 8/11 FT), 5 AST, 8 REB, 1 STL, 3 TO in 36 mins
Julius Randle’s meltdown against the Clippers left many fellow Knicks fans (and myself) on edge. It felt like Jalen Brunson’s absence was starting to take a toll. But Randle responded with a massive first half that picked the Knicks up early. The big man forced his way into the paint for transition dunks, offensive rebounds and putbacks, and post-up fadeaway jumpers.
The beauty of this performance was that Julius didn’t just score. When the Lakers cheated in his direction, Randle made quick, decisive passes that led to scoring. On top of that, he showed intensity on defense that helped lead to stops, and that one steal he notched.
This is what leadership looks like. Randle lost his calm the previous game but turned it around the next night, giving the team confidence. He provided an all-around impact that set the table for everyone else to step up as the game progressed. Randle gets a 4 out of 5 for stepping up.
Mitchell Robinson: 4 PTS (2/4 FG), 5 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 24 mins
Mitchell Robinson struggled against Anthony Davis. He started the game defending initial actions well, but Davis pulled him away from defensive rebounds. As a matter of fact, Robinson only tracked down one defensive board throughout the night.
Chasing Davis further from the rim meant that Robinson’s impacts were muted. He still managed a block and steal but couldn’t consistently help against players like Denis Schroder or Austin Reaves when they slashed. On the other hand, Davis defended Mitch well, taking away passing lanes to the dunker’s spot.
Mitch was forgettable for this performance. I’ll chalk it up to the tough matchup, although Hartenstein handled it better. Mitch gets a 2 out of 5 for his limited presence.
The Knicks’ second unit gives everyone a boost
Miles McBride: 8 PTS (3/5 FG, 2/4 3PT), 1 AST, 2 REB, 3 STL in 17 mins
Miles McBride made big plays when it mattered the most. In the fourth quarter, McBride forced a shot clock turnover, knocked down a go-ahead three, then drew an offensive foul in short succession. It was enough to earn a few extra minutes, which meant additional rest for IQ.
McBride was a menace all game long. He got steals while defending on-ball and jumping the passing lanes. If Deuce got the ball off a stop, he turned up the court and pushed in transition. That led to positive results, even though his half-court offense could use more aggression. McBride gains a 2.5 out of 5 for decent production in a limited time.
Josh Hart: 8 PTS (2/4 FG, 2/4 3PT, 2/4 FT), 4 AST, 8 REB, 3 TO in 32 mins
I’m already feeling repetitive in my recaps for Josh Hart. He makes winning plays without needing the ball. Hart’s entire scoring output came off 4 attempts, all from three. But his points are never the defining aspect of his game.
We know Hart for his physicality while chasing down rebounds. He turned up the floor for fast breaks but was happy to create for teammates as Los Angeles stopped him from getting into the paint. How a defense addresses the former Portland Trail Blazer doesn’t matter because he’ll find ways to impact the game.
Hart applies pressure on opponents. It’s that simple. He receives a 3 out of 5 for another strong performance.
Obi Toppin: 9 PTS (4/6 FG, 1/3 3PT), 1 REB in 12 mins
Obi Toppin showed up with an aggressive approach. He didn’t hesitate on jumpers with space and sprinted in transition. That effort helped Toppin find seams in the defense for some nice finishes.
Obi’s at his best when he plays fast. That’s abundantly clear watching him pour in 9 points in 12 minutes of action against the Lakers. But with Randle balling, Toppin didn’t do the other things that might have stolen a few extra minutes. So it’s a short night for Obi despite impressive scoring.
Isaiah Hartenstein: 0 PTS (0/2 FG), 2 AST, 10 REB, 2 STL, 1 BLK in 24 mins
Isaiah Hartenstein was the antithesis of Toppin in this game. He didn’t provide any scoring but did everything else well. Big Hart’s most impressive contribution was guarding Anthony Davis. Davis’ muted numbers on everything but rebounds are directly attributable to big Hart’s defense and physicality.
But there’s more to love about the performance. Hartenstein grabbed boards in traffic or boxed out for his teammates to get them. In addition, he clocked 2 assists and has demonstrated excellent chemistry on dribble-handoff plays with all of the critical ball handlers. Lastly, he picked off bad passes, including a fourth-quarter steal. As a result, Hart earns a 3 out of 5 without needing to score to provide impact.
I’m still nervous about Tom Thibodeau’s closing
A lot worked out for the Knicks to bounce back. They showed a maturity that reflects well on the coach. This team doesn’t get too down on itself or too high. But they also stink at closing games without Jalen Brunson as a security blanket.
The Knicks nearly blew another double-digit lead in the fourth quarter. Their offense turned sloppy in clock-kill, and they couldn’t slow down the Lakers, let alone stop them in transition. They’re making mistakes that won’t fly in the postseason. But my biggest frustration is that New York’s poise came back after a TV timeout, not a coaching decision but a mandatory break.
This still feels like nitpicking after the win. So I’ll give Thibodeau a 3 out of 5 because the broader story is that New York bounced back before a spiral could set it. But the cardiac Knicks earned that name for a reason, and I wish Thibodeau could figure out how to resolve that.
Closing Thoughts
The Lakers game is a friendly reminder of who these Knicks are. Many of us were tempted to point to the Clippers’ collapse as if it defined certain players. But that game was an outlier compared to everything we’ve seen this year.
Players are allowed off nights, especially when the schedule has been brutal and the refs are terrible. New York still has plenty to prove, particularly in the postseason. But they’ve earned a bit of faith from the fans. We don’t need to panic because they always seem to find a way.
When they started slow without Grimes, I was worried. When Mitch and RJ got hurt, I thought the “same ole Knicks” mantra was alive. Then Randle had a bad day with Brunson injured, and…what’s the negative version of jumping out the window? I climbed back in, I guess.
Regardless, this win was a good reminder to keep our cool. This team, including Randle, Barrett, and Tom Thibodeau, has done enough to earn our trust. Portland’s next, so let’s see if New York can escape the West with a .500 record before returning home. Let’s see how it goes, 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 Hall of Fame Broadcaster, Mike Breen!
