The New York Knicks whooped the Chicago Bulls 114-91. The Knicks continue their hot streak with their sixth straight win!
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The New York Knicks stormed past the Chicago Bulls, 114 to 91. The Knicks out-hustled the Bulls all night, forcing 20 turnovers and winning the rebound battle 50 to 39. That hard work meant the Bulls managed just 91 points despite shooting 47 percent from the field and 40 percent from three. This marks the fourth time in 6 games that the Knicks held an opponent below 100 points.
By the end of the third quarter, the Knicks controlled the game and led the rest of the way. The Bulls seemed tired and ready to go home. The home crowd in Chicago didn’t show life until Derrick Rose knocked down a three in garbage time. Let’s look at New York’s dominant performance, player by player.
The knicks starters dominate, led by the backcourt
Jalen Brunson: 22 PTS (7/14 FG, 6/9 3PT, 2/2 FT), 6 AST, 2 REB, 3 STL, 3 TO in 31 mins
Jalen Brunson started the game shooting well and knocked down timely jumpers for the rest of the night. He dominated his match-up for the second game in a row. His playmaking remained on point as well.
The Bulls made a run to lead by 7 in the second quarter. Brunson knocked down back-to-back threes to erase New York’s deficit. The Knicks picked up momentum from there, and the Bulls never recovered. The Knicks’ leader sparked the comeback, and that run never ended.
Brunson played the passing lanes well on defense. He picked off corner kickouts with excellent anticipation. He also drew a charge from Demar Derozan. That gives Brunson significant impacts at both ends of the court and a 4.5 out of 5 for another outstanding performance.
Quentin Grimes: 22 PTS (6/10 FG, 5/9 3PT, 5/6 FT), 2 AST, 2 REB, 1 STL in 29 mins
Quentin Grimes knocked down a pair of threes late in the first quarter and never cooled off after. The defensive ace hit three-pointers off the dribble, following cuts, and from the catch-and-shoot position. He also flew to the rim to earn free throws, particularly in transition. His efficient scoring led to 22 points from just 10 attempts.
Grimes’ defense is always a treat, but he was even more impressive in this action. That’s because he spent the game forcing Demar Derozan into difficult possessions and multiple turnovers. As a result, DeRozan finished with just 14 points, 12 shy of his season average.
Grimes was incredibly efficient, with impressive defense to boot. His constant movement led to open looks all over the floor. The sharp shooter’s jumper is back, and his defense was better than ever against an elite opponent. That warrants a perfect 5 out of 5 for Grimes.
RJ Barrett: 27 PTS (9/20 FG, 3/5 3PT, 6/11 FT), 2 AST, 4 REB, 2 TO in 38 mins
RJ Barrett started things off sloppy. He turned the ball over and missed bunnies off his forays inside. But Barrett came out of the half with an 11-point third quarter. He finally finished at the rim and nailed his three-point looks, only struggling at the free-throw line.
Barrett’s defense continued to take a step forward from his prior struggles. In this battle, he often matched up with Zach LaVine and forced him into difficult jumpers. Nevertheless, he still made a few mistakes, but his effort and effectiveness have improved.
Barrett led the Knicks in scoring and +/-, despite leaving 5 points at the free throw line and starting the game by missing some layups. But the young prospect poured in 27 points on 45 percent from the field, and there were ways he could easily improve that performance even more. In the end, Barrett grabs a 4 out of 5 for a dominant second half.
Julius Randle: 19 PTS (6/16 FG, 2/8 3PT, 5/7 FT), 4 AST, 12 REB, 3 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO in 36 mins
Julius Randle didn’t hit a three-pointer until deep into the fourth quarter. He struggled with his jump shot, and the Bulls continued to throw double-teams at him. Randle responded by taking fewer attempts and moving the ball. His efficiency isn’t pretty, but he took the right approach to remain positive for his teammates.
This might have been Randle’s best defensive performance of the season because the big man didn’t let his scoring woes drain his efforts elsewhere. For instance, he switched effectively, hit rotations with gusto, and attacked the glass with reckless abandon. Randle did everything well to make up for poor shooting.
That’s a far cry from the Julius Randle we got accustomed to last season. He didn’t let offensive struggles drain his game elsewhere and stepped up in those areas instead. The former All-Star is locked in right currently and making a positive difference for this team nightly. Randle gets a 4 out of 5 despite struggling from the field.
Mitchell Robinson: 6 PTS (2/3 FG, 2/2 FT), 2 AST, 9 REB, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 28 mins
Mitchell Robinson might only have 2 field goals and 6 points, but his presence loomed large over this game. He grabbed timely offensive boards that always felt discouraging for the Bulls (he even dribbled into his first assist, which was a handoff to Grimes). Mitch impacted the offense even with fairly pedestrian stats.
Defensively, Robinson’s 3 stocks are already an excellent mark of impact, but the stocks don’t tell the whole story of Mitch’s defensive presence. Now, I lost track of the steals he produced for teammates, but opponents would slash into the lane, see Mitch rotating to meet them at the rim, and throw the ball away in late kickouts. Because of those late passes, they frequently turned into baseline steals for Jalen Brunson, Immanuel Quickley, and Miles McBride.
I’m unsure if the league will recognize Robinson’s defensive impact without tuning into games because the metrics won’t do him justice. His ability to anchor New York’s defense has been game-changing. He dominates the painted area, even against players that used to give him fits, like Vucevic. Mitch gets a 3.5 out of 5 for another strong outing.
Defense offsets poor shooting from New York’s second unit
Deuce McBride: 5 PTS (2/3 FG, 0/1 3PT, 1/1 FT), 1 AST, REB, 2 STL in 14 mins
Miles McBride made a flashy move to the basket for his first bucket. His second came on a steal and coast-to-coast finish. Deuce flashes an ability to get downhill more and more lately, but he’s still only doing it once or twice per game.
McBride’s defense continues to pop off the screen in all areas. He pressures players full-court, hedges incredibly well, and rotates faster than plays can develop. It’s enough to make up for his somewhat timid offensive approach. McBride’s defense is tone-setting, and he seems to wear out opposing players by the second half.
I’m still waiting for a breakout offensive game from McBride. His three-point shot has begun to fall, and he’s shooting it more confidently. He gets into the paint periodically and trusts that ability more each night. His defense is always great, but he’s also on the verge of breaking through on offense. Deuce picks up a 3 out of 5 in limited playtime.
Immanuel Quickley: 3 PTS (1/12 FG, 0/7 3PT, 1/1 FT), 2 AST, 1 REB, 1 STL in 25 mins
Immanuel Quickley struggled mightily from the field. He couldn’t buy a three-pointer and failed to convert at the rim. The scoring guard seemed hesitant on open looks, repeatedly trying to pump fake into a move. His inability to threaten as a scorer sapped his playmaking ability as well.
IQ’s defense still held up, at least. He forms a three-headed monster on the perimeter along with Grimes and McBride. The trio ensures that opposing ball handlers are constantly harassed throughout the 48 minutes. So opponents are worn down, and Quick’s defensive metrics become an impressive rabbit hole to dive into.
The crafty scorer seemed to lose confidence in his jumper. That meant Quickley became predictable and easier to guard. As a result, he had one of his worst offensive games of the season and maybe even his career. Nevertheless, Quickley gets a 2 out of 5, with his defense keeping his game from being a complete disaster.
Jericho Sims: 4 PTS (2/2 FG), 3 REB in 14 mins
Jericho Sims got a few extra minutes after Isaiah Hartenstein was hurt in the first half. Sims quickly grabbed an impressive rebound and snagged an off-target lob for two field goals. But, unfortunately, the big man didn’t get much work on offense outside of those points.
Just throw it at the hoop, and he’ll get there.
Sims stood out on defense for a switch situation. He found himself guarding Alex Caruso on the perimeter and locked the guard up. Sims didn’t bite on fakes, and he defended with his feet. That showed off switchability that could boost his defensive utility because the other bigs can’t match it. Sims gets 2 out of 5 in his limited role.
Isaiah Hartenstein: 3 PTS (1/7 FG, 0/1 3PT, 1/2 FT), 10 REB, 1 TO in 14 mins
Isaiah Hartenstein drove me crazy with a series of missed tip-ins. His rebound tally looks impressive on paper, but half of the offensive boards came from missing attempts at the rim and grabbing his own rebound to miss again. The big man would do well to get two hands on the loose ball and come down with it.
Defensively, Hart suffers a bit from not being Mitchell Robinson. He plays solid defense most nights, but Robinson’s dominance often overshadows that. It makes Hartenstein’s mistakes stand out, while his subtle contributions feel less impressive.
Hart nets a 1.5 out of 5 for solid defense, but not much else to hang his hat on.
Derrick Rose: 3 PTS (1/3 FG, 1/3 3PT), 1 TO in 3 mins
Derrick Rose only entered the game for a few garbage minutes. But he drew the biggest crowd reaction of the night, first when he approached the scorers’ table and then after he knocked down a three-pointer. The Chicago crowd showered him with love, so props for showing love!
The Knicks look like a Tom Thibodeau team
The Knicks have felt like Tom Thibodeau’s team since the rotation changes sparked this six-game streak. But these two consecutive games in Chicago sealed that feeling as a reality. The Knicks’ defense wore Chicago down, from the players to the fans. By the third quarter of this second match-up, Chicago seemed like they were over the match-up and wanted to rest.
That’s the Thibodeau identity to a “T.” The team’s gritty defense meant they gave up significant percentages from the field but still held the opponent to 91 points. They dominated the hustle stats, from offensive boards to forced turnovers and transition scoring. As a result, new York outworked their opponent.
This game didn’t require complex calculations from the Knicks’ staff. New York won off the strength of its defensive identity and the leadership of its key players. Players are stepping up and finding ways to contribute because they understand their roles. Thibodeau gets a 4.5 out of 5 for another easy night.
Closing Thoughts
I know there are caveats based on the recent strength of schedule, but consider me a believer. I’m buying into the Knicks’ new identity and its ability to sustain for the rest of this season.
Quentin Grimes is a glue piece whose impact looms much larger than I’d expected. So now we know why the Knicks were keen to keep him during trade discussions. Deuce McBride and Immanuel Quickley are tormenting backcourts off the bench. Mitch anchors it all, with Hartenstein covering for him with solid rim protection.
Those players set a defensive identity that makes up for any shortcomings Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett, and Julius Randle might have. The trio of leaders can focus on scoring and producing for the offense because their teammates make defending easier. But to their credit, the Knicks’ big three have stepped up on the defensive end.
This is something to build off. Julius Randle is the oldest player in the rotation at 28 years old. The team has tangible room for growth from within, as five of its rotation players are still years away from their primes.
The Indiana Pacers are next, presenting another chance for New York to put space between itself and the play-in teams. The Knicks’ streak has helped them keep pace with the elite teams of the East while gaining ground on play-in teams. This week is a chance to continue that trend.
We’ll see if their identity holds after this next action and discuss the results here. I’ll see you then, 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 the Knicks’ recent trade rumors!
