The New York Knicks fought their way to an eight-game winning streak, overcoming the Atlanta Hawks 137 to 127.
The Knicks took the fourth seed from the Hawks in the OT victory. Julius Randle dropped 40 and Derrick Rose was in vintage form.
New York had no answers for Trae Young or Clint Capela and lost Taj Gibson early. They kept the score close behind a huge performance from Julius Randle and another big night from Rose. The Hawks got off to a double-digit lead in the third quarter before Young went down with an ankle injury and the second unit showed up with a big boost. The Knicks found themselves in overtime, where their best players made the plays that Atlanta couldn’t.
Randle was unstoppable, with big help from Rose and Immanuel Quickley. Role players stepped up with some unexpected contributions. The Knicks played great team basketball, with 29 assists and 19/35 from three. This game was a physical battle between two quality squads, but the Knicks outlasted yet another opponent. Let’s look at how New York took sole possession of the fourth seed in the standings…
Knicks stars shine for the starting lineup
Elfrid Payton: Elfrid Payton showed some offensive promise in the first half while struggling to guard Trae Young. He made a couple of timely second-half buckets and nailed some kick-out assists to shooters. But the third quarter saw Payton’s offense fall off a cliff while his defense never picked up. He failed to convert on back-to-back possessions before being benched for the rest of the night. It’s the second straight game where Elf gets an early hook in the third and never sees the floor again.
Payton played 18 minutes, putting up 6 points, 3 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 turnovers. He shot 3/9 from the field, 0/1 from three, and 0/1 from the free-throw line. It’s tough to cover for 6 points on 9 attempts when you have as many turnovers as assists. He did seem more mindful of three-point shooters when he slashed in the early going. We’ve seen the Knicks become a more perimeter-oriented team out of necessity. Defenses employ zones and close the paint off in nearly every game. Payton hasn’t been able to adjust accordingly.
The struggles continue. I got the sense that Elf was onto something early. All it took was mixing a couple of assists into his first few drives. But that didn’t last. By the third quarter, I was throwing up my hands and watching the scorer’s table for Derrick Rose. Payton’s got to find ways to help the team when he can get inside for bunnies. I leave Payton with an impact score of 1.5 out of 5.
Reggie Bullock: Reggie Bullock’s shooting proved integral to this victory. He gave us a scare early, picking up two quick fouls before he hit a single shot. But Bully played through the foul trouble and, more importantly, never stopped missing. Reggie also provided some playmaking, including a really nice dime to a cutter. He’s turning the extra attention his shooting has drawn into opportunities for teammates. This began with his two-man game with Randle but has expanded to include anyone that sets a screen and cuts to open space.
Bullock put up 18 points, 4 assists, 3 boards, 1 steal, and 1 turnover in 40 minutes of action. He shot 6/11 from the field; every shot was a three-point attempt. I typically want to see a diversity of attacks, but you don’t fix what isn’t broken. Bully got space and made them count. He started the game hot and was still hitting important jumpers late. My only complaint would be that foul trouble probably limited the amount of time he guarded Trae Young.
Bully’s post-ASB run continues. I’ve spoken to the improvements he has made for a while now. His impact seems to be expanding. We’re seeing that give-and-go work more frequently and through a larger variety of teammates. Reggie hasn’t just found his groove, and he’s continually improved. Bullock takes a 3 out of 5 for impact.
RJ Barrett: RJ Barrett banked his first three-pointer of the game and then had another tough first half. It looked similar to the Charlotte game, 1 field goal in, and then a slew of frustrations. Barrett bounced back in the second half again as well. He got going with an emphatic dunk before running off a series of buckets that concluded with one last slam. RJ’s third quarters have been huge as the Knicks’ offense can stagnate in these stanzas.
Barrett finished up 41 minutes with 16 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 turnovers. He shot 6/18, 2/8 from three, and 2/2 from the free-throw line. He sat for most of the fourth quarter and never fully reclaimed his third-quarter rhythm. But RJ did make meaningful contributions in overtime, and he was visible covering the weak side for kick-outs. The dimes are nice to see from a player that struggled with his shot.
I wouldn’t give this performance high marks overall, but RJ’s second-half success is undeniable. He’s adjusting to what defenses throw at him and taking a page from Randle’s book by seeking assists through his own gravity. You’ll still catch Barrett telegraphing some passes or making things tough for his receiver, but his awareness is improving. Barrett turned a tough game into a decent one through intelligent, hard work. He nets an impact grade of 2.5 out of 5.
Julius Randle: Julius Randle would not be denied. The big man was NBA Jam hot from three. The Hawks didn’t have anyone with the combination of strength and agility to guard New York’s star. So Randle took turns bodying players like Huerter and Collins in the paint, then pulling bigs like Capela out to three. He converted big shots at the close of regulation and again in overtime. Randle was every bit the force for New York that Trae Young proved to be for Atlanta. He’s matching stars, shot for shot, at this point.
Randle spent 41 minutes building a stat line of 40 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, and 4 turnovers. He shot 11/21 from the field, 6 for 8 from three, and 12/13 from the line. As wild as the free throw tally looks, he might have deserved even more calls. The Hawks tried to match New York’s physicality, which meant Randle dealing with reaches, bumps, and outright hacks all night. It was nice to see that Randle wore his defenders out without ever letting up, but he did a lot of jawing at the refs. There were a few transitions for Atlanta where the ball was in the hoop before Randle was back to help.
If the Knicks were a top-three team, I wouldn’t be surprised at MVP whispers for Randle. We credit Tom Thibodeau for causing this ragtag crew to overachieve, but the importance of Julius Randle deserves just as much hype. This was one of the most important games for the Knicks in a decade, and he dropped 40 points on 21 attempts while still leading the team in assists. We’re hearing stories about the big man’s leadership too now, from halftime talks with RJ to taking the youngsters to local gyms for workouts. He’s playing bonafide star basketball and saved his best for when the lights were brightest. Randle snags that coveted 5 out of 5 for impact.
Nerlens Noel: I began this game frustrated a bit with Nerlens Noel. The Knicks had no answers for the Trae Young, and Clint Capela pick and roll attack. Noel also struggled to keep the league’s best offensive rebounder off the glass. But true to form, Noel started picking up his slack and matching Clint’s physicality right up until he took an elbow to the head. Then I was singing “don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone” by Janet Jackson. Noel would return and close the game, but that close encounter helped me get back to appreciating the big man for his work ethic and grit.
The shot blocker managed 9 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks in 35 minutes and on 4/5 from the field. He hit a pair of baby jumpers to get going early, and I like that he’s added some threats that can take him a few feet out. He got extra minutes because of an eye injury for Taj Gibson and continued his improved play on the boards. Nobody keeps Capela off the glass, so Noel managing 12 boards in that tough match-up is impressive.
Despite the impressive numbers and the gritty performance, I wouldn’t rate this one of Noel’s better games. Clint Capela absolutely went off, and Noel never found a solution for Trae Young’s forays inside. But the beauty of this one is that our big man stayed effective against everybody else and didn’t fade to obscurity. His production scaled up with his minutes, and he gave the Knicks a much-needed big man. Noel gets a 2 out of 5 on the night.
Rose and IQ become a dynamic duo for the bench
Derrick Rose: Derrick Rose couldn’t miss when he got in the game. Trae Young had a spectacular first quarter, then Rose came in and matched Young’s three’s with a series of drives and floaters. Julius Randle needed the help as RJ Barrett was struggling early. While Rose didn’t tally a ton of assists, his feel for the game was on display a few times. He turned a defensive board into a quick transition to Obi Toppin, one of the few times our rookie’s leak outs has been rewarded all season. Rose also had the wherewithal to give some charge to IQ, who had a quality game both scoring and playmaking.
The former MVP was in his bag, shooting 8/12 from the field, 1/1 from three, and 3/4 from the line. He tallied 20 points, 3 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, and 2 turnovers in 30 minutes. Other players showed up, but Rose felt like the Robin to Randle’s Batman in this match-up. I said it before, but I let out a sigh of relief when Rose came on in the third quarter. That’s not so much an insult to Payton as it is a measure of how big Rose came up for us.
It’s worth noting that Rose probably would have played more minutes if not for fouling out. He left everything out there and got the Knicks into a position to take this game home. I still get nervous about wearing the vet out, but he’s back to pre-COVID form right now. The former MVP is elusive and efficient, commands respect for his jumper, and shares the ball well. He has been a revelation since arriving from Detroit with obvious playoff intentions. I’m excited to see what he’ll look like in a 7-game series; he seems hungry. Rose grabs a 4 out of 5 for this one.
Immanuel Quickley: I had to think long and hard about which highlight to include of Immanuel Quickley. He had a beautiful floater to break a tie game late. He hit three-pointers in motion, off the dribble, and from different area codes too. IQ was ready to show out for his favorite player Lou Williams. That scoring isn’t new, though. It’s the bits of playmaking and leadership that I’m seeing in recent performances that have me most excited.
The rookie played for 30 minutes, tallying 20 points, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 1 turnover. He shot 7/11 from the field, 4/6 from three, and 2/3 from the free-throw line. I bag on +/- sometimes, but IQ’s was a ridiculous +29 in this game. When Derrick Rose fouled out, Tom Thibodeau trusted Quickley to bring it home at point guard. The rookie responded, playing through Randle early but managing possessions by getting the rock to RJ Barrett and finding takes for himself as well. My favorite play in OT came as IQ waved off Randle, fed RJ Barrett, and came out on the receiving end of a pass by converting a three-point shoot…he skipped up the court, giddy at the fact that he’d just hit a nail in the coffin.
I realize that 4 assists don’t look like much, but it’s the way a player comes by his statistics that matters. IQ has played off-ball for most of the second half. It’s justified with Derrick Rose off the bench. But when Quickley gets more possessions on-ball, we start to catch glimpses of playmaking potential that would help be more than a Lou Williams scorer. There’s nothing wrong with landing a Lou Dub but add some playmaking, and he becomes a starting guard in this league. IQ picks up a 4 out of 5 for the fantastic game.
Taj Gibson: Taj Gibson was on his way to another quality performance before being hit in the eye and leaving the game. Gibson played only 9 minutes but had already picked up 4 points and 3 boards on 2/2 from the field. He seemed ready for the physical battle, but the unfortunate injury cost him a chance to have more impact. Get well soon, Taj!
Obi Toppin: Obi Toppin earned himself a few extra minutes with one of his better games in recent history. Toppin still didn’t break my fifteen-minute requirement for an impact score, but he did play for 12 solid minutes. The rookie stood out for a few especially nice plays in the fourth quarter. He grabbed tough rebounds, challenged a fast break lay-up, and beat everyone down the floor for a transition dunk. He played a solid game, finishing with 2 points, 6 rebounds, and an assist. More importantly, he gave Randle a few extra minutes of rest in the fourth quarter.
Norvel Pelle: Norvel Pelle came into the game after both Noel and Gibson went down with injuries. Obviously, he doesn’t have the same chemistry with players as his more experienced teammates. That said, Pelle did turn in a good effort for the 9 minutes that he was needed. He put up 2 points and 1 board. He was put in a tough situation and got the Knicks through the spell where Noel was in the locker.
Knox and Ntilikina: Ntilikina got a defensive possession at the buzzer, and Knox came in for the final shot of regulation. Neither actually did anything, but they did get out there for situation substitutions again.
Time for a reality check…the Knicks are probably better than credited
Tom Thibodeau: I want to nitpick Tom Thibodeau for the sake of not sounding too effusive. This season has gone so well, with so much credit belonging to our incredible coaching staff, that I feel like I’m overdoing the compliments. But Thibs brought his players into the second night of a back-to-back and coached them to a win in overtime. He did that while playing a 10-day-contract center for significant minutes due to injuries to his bigs. He helps his teams find ways to win no matter who plays or doesn’t.
Thibs did so with a rotation of 6 players on big minutes and a pretty random mix of role players beyond that. He managed to get Randle some extra rest and snuck some “key moment” experience in there for Knox and Frank. He got just enough from Norvel Pelle to buy Noel some recovery time…also to buy Pelle a multi-year contract. The key players stay the same, but Thibodeau finds contributions all over his 15-man roster. Everyone is ready for when their number is called.
There’s something poetic about the player Thibodeau turned into MVP, helping lead a new generation of Thibs inspired youth. Julius Randle’s breakout season is a testament to hard work AND great coaching. Don’t look now, but Obi Toppin’s struggles are starting to turn into moments where he steps up. IQ and RJ have both shown in-season development and growth. This team has built a legitimate culture inside of one year, and it did so with many of the same starters from last season’s dreadful outcome. Thibodeau gets a 4.5 out of 5 for making it 8 in a row.
Closing Thoughts
Do you feel the enthusiasm yet? We’re still hearing plenty of hate and underestimating. But the Knicks keep proving people wrong. Shaq says the Knicks aren’t back until they get home-court advantage…soon enough big fella. Chris Broussard is making jokes about Zion, but we’re not worried about a free agent 3 years from now when our team is fighting for the playoffs. RJ Barrett got kept from any all-rookie team and then wasn’t listed in the top 25 under 25…and he’s making all those people look like fools. The Knicks are legitimate; that’s all there is to it, and people who hang on to the hate sound worse as New York keeps winning.
This run is crucial for more than just sticking it to the haters. New York closes the season with a West Coast trip from hell. We’ve had many a nightmare in Pacific Standard Time. Building a bit of cushion before that journey begins is important. But at the same time, I’m also relishing that opportunity. It will be another chance to prove that the Knicks are talented enough to challenge anybody. The last time they played top-tier opponents, we witnessed a losing streak, but the season’s best run followed. New York will learn, develop, and grow through that fire…it’ll make them playoff ready.
The Raptors are next, and they’re rolling right now. They’ve won 4 in a row, with the last win coming over Brooklyn’s tough side. They’ll want revenge for the last one where New York won in the final minute of action. This has “trap game” written all over it as the Raptors are chasing a play-in slot and desperate for every win. What gives me confidence is that this Knicks team doesn’t back down. I expect them to show up with and fight every inch of the way. Let’s see if the Knicks can make it 9 straight and meet back here to discuss Knicks fam!
Stay tuned to knicksfantv.com for the latest Knicks news, recaps and rumors throughout the season and as the playoffs approach.
