The New York Knicks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 129-119. The Knicks get their revenge against the Thunder on their turf.
Make sure to catch the whole Knicks Fan TV Postgame show on all major podcast platforms below:
• Spotify
• Apple Podcasts
• Google Podcasts
• Stitcher
The New York Knicks avenged an embarrassing loss when they defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 129 to 119. The Knicks played physical basketball that sent OKC to the line often but gave their scorers issues with efficiency and protecting the ball. New York’s offense danced to the beat of a dominant performance from Jalen Brunson while players like RJ Barrett and Julius Randle snapped out of cold shooting streaks. Everything aligned for New York to take a steady lead and build on it throughout the night.
The Knicks completed their road trip 3-2, reclaiming a .500 record against a daunting mix of opponents and traveling without much rest. However, they got Quentin Grimes back, and their other sophomores also played meaningful minutes. So let’s look back and gather some optimism from the road trip’s finale.
The Knicks starters thrive by following Jalen Brunson’s lead
Jalen Brunson: 34 PTS (14/20 FG, 1/6 3PT, 5/6 FT), 9 AST, 1 STL, 2 TO in 34 mins
Jalen Brunson was the clear leader for New York. He dominated the game with footwork, scoring, and clever passing. Whenever Oklahoma made consecutive baskets, it felt like Brunson came up with an answer. Sometimes that was a lob or a drive and kick, but often it was a trip into the teeth of the defense for some points of his own.
The most impressive part about Jalen Brunson is how often he makes something from nothing. Whether he catches defenders sleeping or breaks them down with head fakes and pivots, Brunson creates space where there is none. I’d love to see him take RJ under his wing for a clinic on footwork.
It wasn’t a perfect night, as Brunson got caught ball-watching a few times on defense. That led to some threes when he was late to close out. But I’m nitpicking to reel myself back from demanding an all-star appearance after this fantastic game. Brunson gets a 4.5 out of 5, and if his three-ball starts to fall consistently, it’ll be time to hand out a five.
Quentin Grimes: 8 PTS (4/10 FG, 0/4 3PT), 1 AST, 5 REB, 2 STL, 1 TO in 33 mins
The most exciting part of Quentin Grimes’ promising start is that he is still productive while he has shot the ball terribly. Of course, nobody worries about that jumper coming around, but it’s telling that Grimes stands out even without it. That’s because he has a more explosive first step than scouts gave him credit for, and his quick moves combine with high IQ decision-making for positive outcomes from most of his touches.
I think a big part of Grimes’ success comes down to processing speed. He doesn’t just play fast but makes meaningful choices on the fly. The sophomore will cut when no one’s looking or just as a defender means to pass by him, and that movement sparks openings for himself or others to cut.
As I gush about Grimes’ impact, it’s not to downplay his defense. As usual, he was a menace, though he picked up a few bad fouls in this one. Nevertheless, Grimes has the upside to being a total package player, and he already seems well ahead of the 3&D moniker he was given out of college. This kid really may be a steal. Despite poor scoring efficiency, he gets a 3 out of 5 because he did everything else well.
RJ Barrett: 25 PTS (10/16 FG, 3/4 3PT, 2/2 FT), 2 AST, 8 REB, 1 STL, 6 TO
RJ Barrett was determined to get out of his funk, evidenced by his forceful drives early in the game. The attacking nature led to efficient scoring early but also cost him four turnovers before the end of the first quarter. But his scoring was a welcome sight, even if it required breaking more than a few eggs to snap out of the cold streak.
Barrett also gave New York a boost with his tertiary production. He grabbed many defensive boards and threw some crisp passes, punctuated by a great setup and lob to Jericho Sims. This was as locked in as we’ve seen the kid since he got out West.
RJ needed this kind of performance. His legs were firmly back, and his mentality got back on track. I saw plenty of patient reads from the paint that suggests he’ll get the turnovers under control. Or he’ll at least bring them down a touch if he takes the easy kickout options instead of fishing for free throws. Barrett gains a 3 out of 5, capped by his giveaways but still impressive.
Julius Randle: 25 PTS (9/16 FG, 2/6 3PT, 5/6 FT), 1 AST, 11 REB, 2 TO in 33 mins
Julius Randle bounced back from his tough night in the previous game. Randle hit timely jumpers and attacked the paint comfortably thanks to OKC’s lack of rim protection. We even got some sightings of Randle posting up. He was a beast that ate in the gaps whenever the Thunder spread itself thin to focus on Brunson or Barrett.
Randle’s effort was at a higher level in this one. His rebounding numbers evidence that, but it also appeared in his defensive play. The big man wasn’t always perfect, picking up bad fouls and having a few miscommunications. But he was working on far more possessions than he took off, and that makes a difference.
Randle made the team-meeting call, and we see signs that he truly wants to step up. He can still fall into old habits, but his efforts in Denver and Oklahoma were the best we’ve seen all season. I give the big man a ton of credit for handling his struggles better this season, and that has led to quick turnarounds when things go off the rails. Nevertheless, Randle gets a 4 out of 5 for his performance.
Mitchell Robinson: 3 PTS (1/1 FG, 1/2 FT), 2 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL in 13 mins
Mitchell Robinson’s return to the starting line-up ended early after his knee became sore. He showed signs of life but still looked slower than usual, getting out to shooters and moving laterally. A few extra days of rest should do him well. This performance scores an incomplete.
New York’s second unit gets it done with defense
Miles McBride: 3 PTS (1/6 FG, 0/3 EPT, 1/2 FT), 2 AST, 1 REB, 2 STL, 1 TO in 15 mins
Miles McBride showed how you could have a good game while shooting poorly. He did that with aggressive defense, smooth ball movement, and hard work. McBride’s defense stole the show, of course. He harassed ball handlers and wreaked havoc in the passing lanes. The defender’s point-of-attack defense is a weapon I’d like to see deployed situationally for the rest of the season.
McBride also served to take the ball out of Immanuel Quickley’s hands. That allowed Quickley to cut to his favorite spots for attacking and receive the ball in a triple-threat position. It’s a benefit that Deuce can’t offer alone, but it shows why simple changes can have significant impacts. If you rewatch this game, note Deuce was coming back to get the ball and start possessions.
McBride picks up a 2.5 out of 5, but he’ll need to establish himself as a threat to hit shots to sustain his impact.
Immanuel Quickley: 18 PTS (6/8 FG, 4/5 3PT, 2/2 FT), 4 AST, 3 REB, 1 STL in 25 mins
Immanuel Quickley enjoyed multiple catch-and-shoot opportunities. He knocked those down and then went to work inside the lanes. Once IQ started breaking down the defense, his playmaking options expanded. Quickley was lobbing to bigs and kicking the ball out for some fun possessions.
The scoring was a welcome sight, significantly because IQ’s defense and rebounding slipped slightly. He didn’t grab his usual defensive boards and even gave up some backdoor cuts. That’s uncharacteristic, but he made up for one dreadful defensive moment with a three at the opposite end.
Quickley was locked in offensively, and now he only has to put everything together. If his rebounding and defense return to season norms and his offense stays at this level, then Quickley will become a leader for the bench. They’ll need that if Rose continues to rest injuries. IQ gets a 3 out of 5 for his high efficiency.
Obi Toppin: 5 PTS (2/11 FG, 1/5 3PT), 1 AST, 3 REB, 1 STL in 18 mins
I guessed that Obi Toppin was one of the sick players as soon as Darius Bazley rejected him at the rim. I felt sure when Bazley blocked the high flier a second time. Toppin tried to be aggressive but to no avail. He sought his shot from the perimeter to the paint, but nothing fell.
Toppin’s board work was also disappointing. He played in a quality defensive unit with Grimes, Quickley, McBride, and Sims, but that group had trouble closing out possessions. Sims was out of position from chasing shooters, so the onus was on Obi to get those boards. Instead, he finished with just three.
We need more from Toppin. But I feel this had to do with either illness or general fatigue. We know Obi is better than that performanceSo heHe gets a 1 out of 5 for the night.
Jericho Sims: 6 PTS (3/5 FG), 7 REB, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 15 mins
Jericho Sims didn’t play big minutes, but he made a big impression again. He flew around the interior to force mistakes out of the defense. Sims looked especially effective with Grimes and McBride harassing ball handlers ahead of him. Plus, of course, the big man had some robust finishes.
Sims was a massive presence throughout the road trip. He’s played himself into NEEDING to get minutes in the rotation. The sophomore’s motor and mobility combine for instant production. He gets a 3 out of 5 in a limited time.
Isaiah Hartenstein: 2 PTS (1/4 FG, 0/1 3PT), 8 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK in 16 mins
Poor shooting numbers be damned; this was more like the Hartenstein I want to see. He was a menace on the glass, grabbing five offensive rebounds and scoring a putback on one. In addition, his defensive play was a step above recent performances. Just watch his anticipate SGA’s drive and get over for the block below:
He didn’t seem capable of making that play a couple of games ago, which makes me wonder if he was one of the sick players. But either way, this was an excellent performance for the big man who hadn’t been himself lately. He played short time, but that makes his 2 out of 5 for impact more impressive than it might seem.
Tom Thibodeau played all the kids at once
Knicks fans have practically turned “play the kids” into a slogan. Injuries and circumstances allowed Tom Thibodeau to play all New York’s youth at once. He threw out a unit consisting of Deuce McBride, Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes, Obi Toppin, and Jericho Sims. That’s two years’ worth of draft picks showing off how good the scouts have been.
Those young players rewarded Thibodeau with a fun defensive performance. The team gave up a lot of points, but that was a product of pace and fouls. The Knicks’ defense challenged more shots and brought more physicality than we’ve seen in weeks. It also looked like a bigger group, but I’m sure that’s because OKC lacked any true big men.
Thibodeau’s hand may have been forced due to injuries. But that doesn’t change the fact that we got a rotation we’ve been looking for. The team trotted out young players almost exclusively, and the reward was a fun victory to watch. Thibs receives a 3.5 out of 5 for his coaching impact.
Closing Thoughts
I’ve been rooting for New York’s youth to force their coach and front office’s hands since the youth was completely different with Kristaps Porzingis leading the way. Finally, we might be on the cusp of it happening this time. There aren’t enough vets left to stave off a youth movement, and the team looks better when the young guys run wild. It helps that OKC offered very little defensive resistance, of course.
The challenge with youth is that consistency comes with experience. New York is perpetually trying to win for James Dolan, meaning consistency gains outsized importance over potential. But this roster is running out of excuses to ignore the writing on the wall. Players like Miles McBride and Jericho Sims provide energy that nobody else can. The Knicks can stay in the thick of things while giving young players the roles we’ve always wanted to see.
This win also puts the positive side of a .500 squad into view. As much as our blue and orange crew always feels like they’re teetering on the edge of collapse, they’re also one leap away from reaching another level. Maybe Grimes, Cam, or any other young players fighting to carve out a niche take that next step forward. That would be a welcome change to the all-too-familiar scenarios we’ve seen.
The Knicks return home to face challenging squads that are missing key players. The Portland Trail Blazers are next without Damien Lillard, which marks a great opportunity to enter “winning-record” territory. The scares of Golden State and Phoenix could be wiped away with a winning streak, and the opportunity starts on Friday.
I’ll see you with another breakdown and recap after that one, 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 the Knicks vs. Phoenix Suns Post-Game Analysis, where Alex & Chris LeBron give their takes!
