The New York Knicks get back-to-back, wire-to-wire wins for the first time in 16 years against the Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards.
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The New York Knicks defeated the Washington Wizards 120 to 99 and the Charlotte Hornets 122-108 in back-to-back games. Not only did the Knicks win both games, but they never trailed. They took care of business, defeating two lesser opponents and making it look easy.
The Knicks are dealing with some injuries, but it didn’t matter as Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle led the way on offense. New York’s defense continued to impress by riding Mitchell Robinson’s dominance in the paint. Meanwhile, the rest of the roster contributed in meaningful ways. Let’s have a closer look at the individual performances.
New York’s starters control the action in both games
Jalen Brunson:
Vs. Washington – 32 PTS (10/23 FG, 6/10 3PT, 6/6 FT), 7 AST, 7 REB in 34 mins
Vs. Charlotte – 32 PTS (12/21 FG, 4/8 3PT, 4/4 FT), 7 AST, 3 REB, 2 TO in 39 mins
Jalen Brunson took over both games. He continued to shoot lights out from deep and finally found some consistency on shots inside the arc as well. Any time the Wizards or Hornets gained momentum, it only took Brunson returning to the floor for the Knicks to regain control.
But the story of Brunson’s season has been three-point shooting. He’s one of the best shooters in the league so far–he’s 48 percent from three on 6.8 attempts per game. His 10/18 shooting between the two games isn’t an aberration.
Brunson’s playmaking has also picked up in recent games, with 22 assists in the past three competitions. He’s picking on matchups regardless of the defenders and leading New York, just like last season. I can’t recall a better performance in back-to-backs since his arrival, so Brunson gets a 5 out of 5.
Donte DiVincenzo:
Vs. Washington – 14 PTS (5/9 FG, 4/8 3PT), 1 AST, 4 REB, 1 TO in 25 mins
Vs. Charlotte – 25 PTS (9/12 FG, 7/10 3PT), 3 AST, 3 REB, 3 STL, 1 BLK in 28 mins
Donte DiVincenzo entered the starting line-up in place of injured Quentin Grimes and quickly made an impression. DiVincenzo’s assertive shooting and meaningful off-ball movement added a new threat to the starters. His shooting hit a different level, while his intelligent approach kept the ball movement crisp without disrupting the starter’s chemistry.
DiVincenzo had been a feast-or-famine shooter for the start of this season. He shot 20 percent from three in the four games before this double-header. But Brunson and Randle’s gravity meant more opportunities and better looks, translating to 60 percent from three on his 18 attempts in the back-to-back. He shot without hesitation, and I hope Quentin Grimes takes note of the success that comes from decisive action.
The Knicks’ newcomer looked strong in Washington and dominant in Charlotte. He set a career-high for three-pointers in a single game while posting 4 Stocks (steals and blocks) and providing some playmaking. The Wizards and Hornets’ defenses can jump-start a player’s offense, but DiVincenzo still made an impressive case for more minutes with the starters. He gets a 4 out of 5 for the great weekend performances.
RJ Barrett:
Vs. Washington – DNP
Vs. Charlotte – 15 PTS (5/15 FG, 1/5 3PT, 4/5 FT), 3 AST, 3 REB, 1 STL, 1 TO in 26 mins
RJ Barrett returned from a three-game absence for the Charlotte matchup. He had missed time due to migraines, and the rust showed. This was only his second game of the season without making more than 1 three-pointer, and his finishing inside was as labored as his jumper.
Barrett looked a step slower than usual, which makes sense after nearly a week without action. So his feel for the game is bound to take a while to return. He still made some clever passes, drew fouls, and found ways to contribute despite poor shooting and a couple of blocked shots.
This was a good time for Barrett to shake off rust. He struggled, but not severely enough to hurt the team. Let’s hope he quickly gets back to pre-migraine form. RJ receives a 2 out of 5 for his first night back.
Julius Randle:
Vs. Washington – 22 PTS (9/18 FG, 1/5 3PT, 3/6 FT), 8 AST, 7 REB, 1 STL, 2 BLK, 6 TO in 35 mins
Vs. Charlotte – 21 PTS (8/17 FG, 2/5 3PT, 2/5 FT), 8 AST, 6 REB, 4 TO in 38 mins
During these two games, Julius Randle made a concerted effort to attack opponents from the inside out. That translated to more efficient shooting and Randle’s highest assist tallies since his second game of the season. His gravity out of the post was incredible, and he made the right kickouts to jump-start everyone else’s shooting.
Turnovers hurt Randle’s otherwise great performances. He got reckless with the ball in traffic, sometimes losing his dribble or waiting too long for the double to close in. I can accept some turnovers when the big man is trying to pull defenders out of position, but 10 TOs in 2 games is too many.
I’m also wary of Randle’s defense, which came and went in both performances. He can get away with taking his foot off the gas against opponents like this, but that habit won’t work when the competition improves. That said, Randle is quickly returning to his All-NBA form, and the good far outweighs the bad. Randle gets a 4 out of 5 for a great pair of games.
Mitchell Robinson:
Vs. Washington – 6 PTS (3/4 FG, 0/1 FT), 1 AST, 8 REB, 1 BLK in 27 mins
Vs. Charlotte – 4 PTS (2/5 FG), 1 AST, 14 REB, 3 BLK, 3 TO in 33 mins
There’s not much new to report about Mitchell Robinson. His continued dominance in the middle is a crucial factor in New York’s success on a nightly basis. But 11 offensive rebounds against Charlotte were impressive even for Mitch.
We even got to see more shot-blocking from the big man. Players aren’t challenging Robinson often, and he’s been as likely to poke the ball free before a shot can go up as he is to swat it at the rim. But the Hornets and Washington tested the Blockness Monster in the paint, and he finished with 4 blocks in two games.
Without anything new to add, I’ll repeat my call for Mitchell Robinson to make an All-Defensive team and receive DPoY votes. Mitch gets a 4 out of 5 for anchoring this team’s dominant defense.
New York’s ever-changing second stays strong
Miles McBride:
Vs. Washington – 5 PTS (2/3 FG, 1/2 3PT), 1 AST,1 STL in 14 mins
Vs. Charlotte – 5 PTS (2/3 FG, 1/2 3PT) in 9 mins
Miles McBride didn’t get a whole lot of minutes, but he stood out when he played. Within minutes of entering the game against Washington, Deuce had put together a pair of excellent defensive sequences on Jordan Poole. He applied pressure again in Charlotte, though 2 fouls in less than 10 minutes is too much.
The big note for McBride is that he knocked down his jumpers. He hit a three in each game and wound up going 4/6 in the two games and providing 10 points in 23 minutes combined. It’s enough to earn a 2 out of 5 for creating an impact with limited time to do so.
Immanuel Quickley:
Vs. Washington – 27 PTS (10/18 FG, 3/7 3PT, 4/5 FT), 4 AST, 6 REB, 1 STL, 1 TO in 33 mins
Vs. Charlotte – 9 PTS (4/11 FG, 0/5 3PT, 1/1 FT), 1 AST, 5 REB, 1 TO in 23 mins
Immanuel Quickley returned home to Washington with his best game of the season. He dropped a season-high scoring with 27 points on 56 percent shooting from the field. IQ gave off the same sense of control over the game that Jalen Brunson provided. If the Wizards made a push, Quickley was likely to respond and shut them down.
Quick’s the one player to look markedly different in the second game. His jumper was off, and he didn’t create much for others. I wouldn’t say he was terrible, but he was quieter than in his better performances. I’ll blame the poor shooting from deep on tired legs after putting in so much work against Washington.
I was surprised that IQ didn’t get the start for Grimes. But considering his starts were held against him in 6MoY voting last season, and Donte DiVincenzo’s seamless fit with the starters, I’m not upset about it. Quickley has been brilliant thus far, and even a lesser game in Charlotte can’t hurt his outlook. Quick gets a 3.5 out of 5 for one great game and a solid one after.
Josh Hart:
Vs. Washington – 9 PTS (4/7 FG, 1/2 3PT), 2 AST, 5 REB, 2 BLK, 1 TO in 32 mins
Vs. Charlotte – 7 PTS (3/5 FG, 1/2 3PT), 4 AST, 6 REB, 3 STL in 29 mins
Josh Hart started in Washington and then came off the bench in Charlotte, but his performance was strong regardless of his role in the rotation. He’s brushed off a slow start to the season, and we’re seeing the Josh Hart that pushed New York to another level last season.
Hart played both games with a fantastic pace, mixing transition buckets with the odd three-pointer when left alone. He consistently made the correct passes and cuts to promote ball movement for everyone, and any boards up for grabs were liable to end up in his hands.
Despite coming off the bench in Charlotte, Hart played starter’s minutes. His all-around play makes him a fit with any rotation on the floor. Like Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle, Josh Hart has found his form from last season. Hart gets a 3 out of 5 for his all-around contributions.
Evan Fournier:
Vs. Washington – 2 PTS (1/6 FG, 0/4 3PT),1 AST, 1 REB, 1 STL in 16 mins
Vs. Charlotte – DNP
Evan Fournier saw his first minutes of the season, but he’ll have to play better to earn more opportunities. His performance was marred by poor shot selection, missed shots, and clear defensive miscues. He apparently sprained his ankle as well.
Isaiah Hartenstein:
Vs. Washington – 3 PTS (1/3 FG, 1/2 FT), 2 AST, 8 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 20 mins
Vs. Charlotte – 4 PTS (1/2 FG, 2/2 FT), 7 REB, 1 TO in 15 mins
Isaiah Hartenstein continues to provide energy and rebounding strong enough to match Mitchell Robinson’s intensity. He grabbed 15 rebounds over his 35 minutes of action in the back-to-back games. He adds a unique wrinkle to the offense, operating further from the basket and making off-ball cuts (even without setting screens first).
I-Hart saw fewer opportunities on offense than average. But that’s because the Knicks were red hot from deep. He remained a crucial presence in the middle, and a welcome safety valve for ball handlers stuck in traffic. His performance earns a 2.5 out of 5 and would most likely be higher with more minutes to work.
Tom Thibodeau may have found his perfect team
This roster is a match made in heaven for Tom Thibodeau and his system. He has enough ball-handlers and shooters to force defenders out of position continually. The defense has 48 minutes of quality center play, with ball hawks on the perimeter and help defenders for the passing lanes. Most importantly, everyone on the roster works hard!
The only move people might question was leaving IQ out of the starting line-up when injuries made space for a change. But I doubt anyone can argue with the results now that we’ve seen them. It was an excellent weekend for Tom Thibodeau and the Knicks.
Closing Thoughts
Making meaningful observations when the opposition is awful is tough, so I’ll keep it simple. The Knicks are good. They compete with the top teams and toy with the weak ones. New York has depth to overcome injuries, a pair of all-star caliber leaders, and another pair of young players that aren’t far from taking leaps into the all-star conversation.
Any negativity aimed at this team has to narrow its scope to grumblings about rotation tweaks or premature claims that a championship is entirely out of the question. That’s much better than the years our fanbase argued about whether to tank or chase a fleeting 8th seed. With the assets Leon Rose has, any surprise developments could lead to a move that catapults New York into the contenders’ discussion.
This team is as close to the upper echelons as we’ve seen in a decade. Let’s enjoy it while we’ve got it! They’ll face the top team in the West next, as the Knicks take on the Timberwolves. I’m excited to see how they rise to the challenge. I’ll see you after the game, Knicks fam!
Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below! Also, 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 talking about Julius Randle’s hot stretch!
