The New York Knicks defeat the Houston Rockets 137-115. Immanuel Quickley puts on a Masterclass performance to lift the Knicks.
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The New York Knicks handled business at Madison Square Garden, defeating the Houston Rockets 137 to 115. Even without Jalen Brunson, the Knicks’ offense rolled thanks to a monstrous performance from Immanuel Quickley. However, the Rockets kept things close as New York’s defense looked lax again. The Rockets carved up New York’s defense, driving into the paint for some highlight dunks and athletic finishes.
But the Knicks’ defense kicked into gear in the second half. Mitchell Robinson energized everyone with a third-quarter block party, and IQ never stopped scoring en route to a career-high 40 points. New York kicked its lead past 30, enabling Tom Thibodeau to rest the starters for a change.
The Knicks needed momentum to break out of their three-game slump before their last showdown with the Miami Heat. So let’s look at each player’s performance in the win.
A 40-point explosion from Immanuel Quickley leads New York’s starters
Immanuel Quickley: 40 PTS (14/17 FG, 5/7 3PT, 7/9 FT), 9 AST, 2 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 30 mins
I picture Jalen Brunson doing the Leo DiCaprio pointer meme as Immanuel Quickley danced into the paint and scored at will. Brunson’s fantastic play has spoiled Knicks fans, and Quickley provided a dominant performance to cover for his absence. IQ poured in 22 points in the first half, knocking down threes and running floaters through the lane. But he saved the fancy footwork and slippery pull-up jumpers for his 18 second-half points.
When the Rockets adjusted to Quickley’s scoring, they left everyone else open. IQ capitalized by swinging passes out to shooters like Grimes and slashers like RJ, with a lob to Mitchell Robinson along the way. I’ve probably spent hundreds of words on Quickley striking a balance between scoring and playmaking; this was perfection.
The Knicks shouldn’t lose to teams that don’t have rim protection. Quickley is one of many players to attack the lane repeatedly during this game. He mixed in sharpshooting and clever passing to turn this into a career night and one of the best games anyone on the team has played all season. IQ gets a 5 out of 5 for setting the tone and never letting up.
Quentin Grimes: 14 PTS (5/12 FG, 4/9 3PT), 6 AST, 9 REB, 2 STL, 1 TO in 38 mins
Quentin Grimes followed two scorching hot games with a slow start. He couldn’t buy a bucket early but worked on the little things. He chased down boards and made extra passes to contribute without utilizing his jumper. But that only lasted for two quarters before Grimes got going.
Once Grimes knocked down his first jumper, his scoring gene activated. Grimes floated around the perimeter and knocked down jumpers with confidence. He went from barely shooting the ball in the first half to firing away with impunity from the third quarter.
New York’s sharpshooter led the way for the clean-up crew late. That allowed him to reach into his bag for interesting attempts, like a late midrange pull-up. Sadly, those shots didn’t fall, but they displayed his potential to create buckets. Nevertheless, Grimes earned a 3.5 out of 5 for playing the all-around game until his scoring turned up.
RJ Barrett: 19 PTS (6/12 FG, 1/3 3PT, 6/9 FT), 5 AST, 3 REB, 1 STL, 3 TO in 29 mins
RJ Barrett turned in another night of efficient scoring. It’s a nice bounceback from his clunker last time out and a better example of his recent play. Barrett has shot 50 percent or better from the field in five of his previous six games. His adjustment to a slashing-heavy approach is well-documented by now, but the fact that he’s sustaining efficiency across many games is promising.
Even with 19 points on 12 attempts, RJ’s scoring overshadowed his passing. I’ve recently remarked about his expanding court vision, which continued through this performance. Barrett rarely settled for tough shots in traffic by scanning the perimeter when second defenders approached. In addition, his 5 assists are masking a couple of mistimed lobs that should have been easy assists.
RJ’s recent issues boil down to turnovers. His passing accuracy hasn’t caught up to the reads that he makes. Nevertheless, those missed opportunities represent another space for organic growth in his game. Barrett’s starting to realize the potential that made him a third pick overall, and that’s worth a 3 out of 5 for this strong performance in under 30 minutes.
Julius Randle: 26 PTS (10/19 FG, 3/8 3PT, 3/3 FT), 3 AST, 4 REB, 1 STL, 1 TO in 28 mins
Julius Randle made a statement with his early production. The team leader put any drama from the last game behind him by pairing with Immanuel Quickley to produce most of New York’s scoring in the first quarter. However, Randle’s scoring slowed when he deferred to the other hot hands around him. He drove for easy buckets, dominated in the post, and knocked down shots at range.
There is one complaint about Randle’s performance. The team played a step slow on defense to start the matchup, but everyone else stepped up after halftime. New York’s big scorer never got the memo and was beaten off the dribble repeatedly by Jabari Smith. Julius’ hedging and help defense also lacked the anticipation that some wings displayed. We know he can guard better than that.
Randle got some extra rest thanks to New York’s substantial fourth-quarter lead. That’s fantastic news for a player that never takes a day off. I don’t blame the big man’s defensive woes on lack of effort; I think he’s showing fatigue. But even playing tired for a short time, Randle pumped in enough production to warrant a 3 out of 5.
Mitchell Robinson: 3 PTS (1/1 FG, 1/2 FT), 6 REB, 3 BLK in 20 mins
Mitchell Robinson’s night started slow at both ends of the court. His teammates had too much room in the paint to pass, so Mitch became a decoy on offense. Meanwhile, his rim protection met the Houston Rockets’ super athletes. Those young Rockets flew into the lane and even dunked on Mitch at one point, a rare occurrence he responded to in the second half.
Jabari Smith took the baseline for a dunk early in the third quarter. It was the last time a Rocket would drive into the paint freely while Mitch played. Robinson blocked three attempts at the rim in short order, energizing the entire team. One of his blocks hammered off the backboard and sparked a fast break while he snatched the ball out of Jabari Smith’s hands for another block. His rim protection truly changed the game.
And just as Tom Thibodeau did for Randle, he cut Robinson’s night short. The Knicks had a big lead, and Isaiah Hartenstein played great basketball. None of that changes the fact that Mitch set the tone for the defense. After three and a half games of no protection, the Knicks woke up thanks to Mitchell Robinson. He receives a 3 out of 5 for bringing New York’s defense back to life.
The Knicks’ second unit runs and guns
Miles McBride: 3 PTS (1/4 FG, 0/2 3PT, 1/2 FT), 4 AST, 2 REB, 2 STL,1 BLK, 2 TO in 18 mins
Miles McBride looks like he’s ready for a permanent rotation role. He didn’t shoot well in this game but did everything else effectively. McBride’s passing led to assists or opened up assist opportunities for teammates; he perfectly fits the second unit’s ball movement and cutting. Even his lone field goal came off a feed to Hartenstein followed by a clever cut to the basket.
As usual, McBride’s defense lived up to his reputation. He picked passes off and harassed ball handlers. His hedging was fantastic, and his rotations were a step ahead of the Rockets’ offense. Deuce’s ability to read the action was fully displayed as he followed a pass to Alperin Sengun and blocked the seven-footer.
McBride’s production off the bench easily earns a 2.5 out of 5, which is impressive in just 18 minutes.
Josh Hart: 9 PTS (4/4 FG, 1/1 3PT), 2 AST, 5 REB, 2 STL, 2 BLK, 1 TO in 25 mins
Describing Josh Hart’s performances feels repetitive. He’s always an energy booster, he plays efficient basketball, and his defensive effort is incredible. Hart did everything in this game, from scoring to blocking shots. His defense never slipped, even when the rest of the team seemed a step slow.
I don’t have much new to add to Josh Hart’s performance. He does this consistently, and that’s why we all want to see him re-sign with the Knicks long-term. He’s a spark that turned the second unit into a game-changing force. Ultimately, he gets a 3 out of 5 for producing everywhere, but I agree with the KFTV postgame show caller that said Hart could afford to be even more aggressive.
Obi Toppin: 15 PTS (6/12 FG, 3/8 3PT), 2 REB, 1 BLK in 20 mins
Obi Toppin finally got extra minutes to work with. The additional run helped him find a rhythm as the game wore on. He barely produced in the first half, missing the jumpers he took. But once Obi knocked down a three from the wing, he found his range. On top of that, Toppin ran the floor constantly, and eventually, his teammates began to see him on the break for easy highlight dunks.
Obi + minutes = production. We’ve seen this equation work since last season. He’s stuck behind an All-NBA player in the rotation, so the minutes aren’t always there. But performances like this are a great reminder that the Knicks have a promising power forward developing. Toppin earns a 2.5 out of 5 for his strong showing.
Isaiah Hartenstein: 8 PTS (3/4 FG, 2/3 FT), 6 AST, 6 REB, 2 STL, 1 TO in 24 mins
New York’s second unit needed a playmaker, thanks to Immanuel Quickley’s start. So Isaiah Hartenstein took on the role, hitting cutters with beautiful passes out of the high post. Big Hart has expanded the options from the typical dribble handoff to the wing. Now he is turning to face up or posting up and passing instead of immediately sending the ball back where it was delivered. It led the backup center to 5 first-half assists and 6 total.
Furthermore, Hartenstein showed no fear of protecting the rim on defense. He narrowly avoided a Jalen Green poster and met athletes like Kevin Porter Jr. and Kenyon Martin Jr. at the basket. His hedging and rotating led to a pair of steals, not to mention the almost chase-down block in the third, but it didn’t make the scoresheet.
Big Hart’s passing is perfect for the cutting action of players like Josh Hart, Obi Toppin, and Quentin Grimes. In addition, his defense and rebounding are reliable tools for Tom Thibodeau to count on. Hartenstein gets a 3.5 out of 5 for a strong performance in all areas.
Tom Thibodeau gets back on track
There’s nothing like a game against the second-worst team in the league to restore positive energy. The Knicks needed momentum, and the Rockets provided plenty. First, Tom Thibodeau had work to do snapping his players into gear on defense. Thibs’ next challenge was deciding when to rest the starters. He let most of them sit through the fourth quarter, getting key players a much-needed break.
Against a weak opponent, this result is all we can ask for. Thibodeau earns a 3 out of 5 for an easy win.
Closing Thoughts
The Knicks needed that victory. They suffered an ugly losing streak, but timing helped. New York had a few days to rest and a weak opponent to bounce back against. It feels like everything aligned perfectly for the upcoming showdown with Miami.
The Knicks will have a 2.5-game lead over Miami into this final matchup, with six games remaining on the schedule. A victory should all but seal their spot as a fifth seed, and this is a chance to avenge the last loss and prove that the win over Houston wasn’t a mirage. I can’t think of anything else but the importance of that game.
Players will be rested, Brunson should be back, and I expect playoff intensity from all sides. There’s nothing like a Knicks vs. Heat showdown with playoff implications at the Garden. I can’t wait! See you next time, 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 Knicks Weekly, where CP and Alex discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly from the previous week!
