The New York Knicks defeated the Golden State Warriors 116-114. After a disappointing trade deadline for some, the Knicks secured a win.
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The New York Knicks returned to the win column by defeating the Golden State Warriors 116 to 114. The Knicks got off to another hot start, showing off their faster-paced approach and getting the scorers going early. They needed every ounce of effort as the Warriors’ offense never slowed or waned. But by the early fourth, the Knicks were up by thirteen and focused on protecting a lead.
Protecting that lead was no easy feat. The Warriors knocked down tough shots with Steph Curry’s magic showing up from deep threes to crafty crossovers. With the lead dwindling to just three points and under a minute left, Tom Thibodeau opted for a free-throw shootout that killed the clock. Klay Thompson had a chance to force overtime, but a spirited effort from Evan Fournier got him to barely miss.
Randle and Fournier are the names of the night yet again. Fourth-quarter Burks made an appearance and Cam Reddish flashed his tantalizing potential. Let’s look at each individual to see how New York managed one of its best wins of the season.
Randle’s rewind continues for the Knicks’ starters
Kemba Walker: 8 PTS (3/10 FG, 1/5 3PT, 1/1 FT), 6 AST, 3 REB, 2 TO in 22 mins
Kemba Walker scored six of his eight points in back-to-back plays. That was enough to eclipse his scoring output in three of his past four games, but I’m not sure how meaningful it is. He still missed open looks from three and failed to get much going inside. Walker’s scoring has flashed a couple of times recently, but he needs his jumper falling to truly pour it on.
On the brighter side, his return to the line-up coincides with a sped-up offense. Walker isn’t directly responsible for the transition offense bumping up, but he does get the half-court sets moving quickly when he’s the man on the rock. Walker’s six assists in 22 minutes were built on clean reads and quick passes on the move. His ability to get the ball anywhere he wants and anticipate defensive responses has helped him carve out 14 assists in about forty minutes over the past two games.
The question is, “Is that enough?” Walker’s defensive limitations require him to produce often to keep his impact positive. Eight points on ten attempts won’t typically cut it. But when we line it up with his six assists and three rebounds, he begins to close in on a neutral or positive impact. Walker gets a 2 out of 5 for his impact grade, which is below starter level but good enough for a rotation spot.
Evan Fournier: 22 PTS (7/17 FG, 5/13 3PT, 3/4 FT), 1 REB, 3 TO in 31 mins
I’ve pounded the table for Evan Fournier’s improvements plenty in these recaps, but I’m not stopping now. Fournier was New York’s only consistent answer to Golden State’s constant three-point attack. In the first quarter, his threes sparked the offense, and then in the fourth quarter, he knocked down difficult shots that helped keep New York’s tenuous grip on the lead.
Fournier’s scoring was center stage, because of the virtue of his makes. But his efficiency did slip a bit in the clutch moments of this game. When the windows to release his shot were smaller and the pressure was highest, he missed a pair of good looks that could have given the Knicks clearer control over the game. That said, he never lacked confidence and continued to take the shots that he should.
I always call out when a player’s only production is scoring. Fournier didn’t pick up assists or scrap for boards like his recent efforts have shown. But his scoring was important enough to provide cover from my usual frustrations. Whether firing away, driving inside or getting to the line; the French wing proved to be a crucial piece in the win. Evan Fournier pulls off a 2.5 out of 5 despite no assists, one board, and three turnovers.
Quentin Grimes: 6 PTS (2/4 FG, 2/4 3PT), 3 REB, 1 BLK in 31 mins
Speaking of creating impact through one key contribution, Quentin Grimes’ 31 minutes were the polar opposite of Evan Fournier. Grimes barely got the ball with opportunities to shoot or attack. He missed his first couple of threes which both felt rushed against closeouts. But that didn’t discourage him from seeking the ball late and making his clutch shots.
Grimes cut his teeth on the defensive side of things to find a positive impact. He’s the definition of a ballhawk, harassing ball-handlers and refusing to back down even when Steph Curry is his match-up. Ironically, Grimes was most visible when he fought against Andrew Wiggins. Grimes gave up a lot of size and had to foul at times to contain the former top pick, but he battled effectively nonetheless.
This is one of the more forgettable nights for Grimes. He didn’t pour in the points and his defensive intangibles were great but failed to mark his stat line. But that’s also why I’m so excited about the rookie. Grimes didn’t have to fill in the boxscore for his impact to be felt. He was mismatched against a bigger scorer and still held his own. Then when the pressure was highest, he wanted the ball and produced. Grimes gets a 2.5 out of 5 for a good impact on a quiet night.
Julius Randle: 28 PTS (10/23 FG, 0/3 3PT, 8/12 FT), 7 AST, 16 REB, 1 BLK, 2 TO in 37 mins
Julius Randle’s hot streak continued and he didn’t need a single three-point shot to keep it up. Instead, Randle pushed the pace and attacked the basket frequently. His success came at the rack or by drawing whistles, with a couple of scattered midrange shots falling along the way. With quick decisions and transition attacks, Randle was able to pressure the Warriors defense all night.
Golden State helped Randle by allowing him to isolate in the post. Randle picked out his match-ups by setting screens to force switches, then posted up players like Klay and Steph. He had similar success against Andrew Wiggins. When bigger bodies like Kuminga guarded the Knicks’ star, he faced up and blew past them.
Randle’s rebounding and passing deserve shouts too. His chemistry with Evan Fournier has blossomed and when he’s not feeding a shooter like Evan, he seeking cutters like Mitch. On the glass, Randle took advantage of the undersized Warriors frontcourt with some crucial offensive boards in the fourth quarter. Randle looked like a star player and has been on this trajectory since the Western Conference trip began. He gets a 4 out of 5 for his impact on this win.
Mitchell Robinson: 7 PTS (3/8 FG, 1/1 FT), 11 REB in 28 mins
Mitchell Robinson’s night felt more impactful than his numbers suggest. He was still a monster on the glass, grabbing eight offensive rebounds throughout the night. But Kevon Looney and the rest of Golden State refused to let anything come easy for Mitch. They swarmed him and made him pass the ball back out or fouled to reset the plays. Looney sat often due to foul trouble in the early going.
The strategy worked somewhat. Robinson shot below 50 percent from the field, an incredibly rare occurrence for the big man. The shot blocker even had to make a mini-hook shot for one of his three made field goals. But that’s the impressive part for Mitch. The Warriors put bodies on him constantly, and they still couldn’t keep him from forcing extra possessions.
The shot blocker’s defensive impact was harder to gauge. Golden State attempted 45 three-pointers. They’re a perimeter-oriented offense which makes it hard to tell where a shot blocker is deterring them or where they’re just running their offense. But even with his defensive presence muted, Robinson had a stronger night than his numbers suggest. Mitch picks up a 3 out of 5 for his presence in the paint.
Burks gets clutch and Reddish flashes his potential in the Knicks’ second unit
Immanuel Quickley: 5 PTS (2/3 FG, 1/2 3PT), 1 AST, 1 TO in 16 mins
Immanuel Quickley did just enough to get himself over the fifteen-minute hump for an impact score. He knocked down a three from well behind the line and snuck inside for a pair as well. But IQ spent a lot of this night dashing inside the arc and then dribbling through to reset on the perimeter. The bright side is that he didn’t hurt the team with turnovers, but he shifted the defense for others to attack with limited time on the shot clock.
The good news is that IQ’s movement and passing were contagious. The ball movement while Quickley started sets was some of the best we’ve seen. He set the tone by probing with patience and other plays like Reddish and Burks followed suit. They were more aggressive in the lanes, but everyone proved willing to reset the offense instead of settling for contested shots.
I might be fishing for compliments to pin the second unit passing on IQ’s unselfish demeanor. We could look at his hesitance to shoot as a sign of waning confidence. But the three-pointers he attempted and the number of times his feet met the paint tell me otherwise. I think Quickley is still looking for his balance as a passer and scorer, which hurts his production. But he managed to have a decent night regardless, 2 out of 5 for IQ.
Alec Burks: 15 PTS (4/7 FG, 1/2 3PT, 6/9 FT), 5 AST, 6 REB, 1 STL, 2 TO in 25 mins
I was frustrated with Alec Burks for a small portion of this game. He and Julius Randle had a series of four straight possessions where they played catch with each other, then forced up shots while looking for whistles. The end result was two free throws, three misses, and a thirteen-point lead that dwindled down to seven. But then it happened! Fourth-quarter Burks appeared.
Burks attacked the lane and started to finish some ridiculous attempts inside. He got some of the calls that he was looking for and suddenly his pressure on the Warriors’ defense was massive. It helped free up Randle in isolation and Mitch for offensive boards. The microwave scorer managed to even pick up assists by spraying the ball out for shooters.
I’m not surprised that Burks got back to last season’s form on a night he was back with the bench. Even after his role switched to point guard, he’d already established an assertive rhythm off the dribble. That helped him to scrape production out of nearly every touch he got. Add scoring to the passing and rebounding he’s provided even during struggles and suddenly Burks is a quality contributor again. Burks gets a 3 out of 5 on a strong night.
Cam Reddish: 12 PTS (4/8 FG, 1/3 3PT, 3/4 FT), 3 AST, 2 STL, 1 TO in 19 mins
The interesting thing about Cam Reddish is that I can see why coaches might not love his game. His decision-making is loose and his attention to detail can slip up in cases of defensive spacing. But his physical tools and skillset mean that for every mistake, he’ll usually also show you a flash of exciting potential on another possession.
Reddish got to run some plays from sets that RJ Barrett used to take. With Barrett out, Reddish got to be the man collecting a swing pass and attacking a screen from the wing. He frequently chose to fake toward the screen man and instead make a beeline for the basket. That led to some pretty finishes and fast whistles as he caught defenders sleeping.
We’ll forego his passing because the assists came on quick swing passes that weren’t particularly complicated. Cam’s defense needs a few words. His spacing may have been problematic, but his ability to fill empty space quickly and close out was impressive. His on-ball defense was fantastic as he guarded an assortment of different scorers. The potential with this kid is genuinely special, but there’s work to be done to sharpen and hone every tool he has. Reddish gets a 2.5 out of 5 for his contributions and the potential they show.
Obi Toppin: 3 PTS (1/6 FG, 1/2 3PT), 1 AST, 4 REB, 2 TO in 11 mins
I liked the assertiveness that Obi Toppin brought to this game. He tried a few post-ups, made hard cuts despite the Warriors denying passing lanes, and waved for shots along the perimeter. The downside to his aggression is that Toppin couldn’t get much going. I breathed a sigh of relief when he finally knocked down a three because his efforts deserved to be rewarded.
But three points on six tries in just eleven minutes isn’t cutting it. I loved his effort, but he’ll need to produce more behind that work. I still believe a true point guard (Derrick Rose) will bring out the best in Toppin. For now, his minutes dipped again and he was off the floor before his production caught up to his efforts.
Taj Gibson: 10 PTS (3/4 FG, 2/2 3PT, 2/2 FT), 1 AST, 7 REB, 1 BLK in 25 mins
Taj Gibson had eight points in his first five minutes of action. The big man pulled that off by knocking down a pair of threes early. From then on, Golden State was forced to respect the veteran’s ability to hurt them offensively. They slowed down his scoring, but couldn’t stop Taj from finding a myriad of ways to impact the action.
Gibson was back in his old reliable form. He was a physical presence inside, scraping together boards or clearing the way for teammates to grab them. His defense was never in question, although the same issues for Mitch were present. Gibson was a willing challenger at the rim but rarely had to worry about it.
We’re fast approaching the point in the season where playing Gibson over Jericho Sims will seem like a failure to develop youth. But Gibson has knocked down four three-pointers in the past two games, and if he’s knocking down shots then the math gets complicated. Gibson is a veteran presence that does more than his numbers suggest. If the Knicks are chasing wins, Taj is earning the nod from Thibs with performances like this. Gibson grabs a 2.5 out of 5 for making the game easier for everyone else.
Every choice counts as Thibodeau’s coaches New York to a win
Tom Thibodeau: Nobody needed this win more than Tom Thibodeau. The trade deadline passed without any movement and RJ Barrett arrived to the arena in a walking boot. Thibodeau had to restore some goodwill and he accomplished that by trusting some unlikely pieces. He gave extra minutes to Cam Reddish and let Grimes play thirty minutes despite not being particularly productive by the numbers. Those two had a defensive impact beyond their years and played key roles in the win.
The coaching staff deserves praise for convincing their old dogs the new trick of pushing the pace. Julius Randle, Evan Fournier, and Alec Burks all made quick outlet passes to mid-court off defensive rebounds plus continued to run hard as trailers. It’s a simple shift for the offense but it has made a world of difference during this road trip.
Of course, the biggest choice was running the risk of fouling Golden State with under a minute left and a three-point lead. The Warriors made their freebies in this section while the Knicks missed a free throw which made tying the game a matter of two points. But the Warriors had very little time to convert and Klay Thompson missed. So Thibodeau’s big risk paid off. Thibodeau picks up a 4 out of 5 for this strong coaching performance.
Closing Thoughts
The trade deadline was a gut punch. That’s not because the Knicks failed to improve with CJ Mccollum or some other major names. The disappointment is born from the fact that New York couldn’t get rid of any veteran contracts. The Knicks rewarded a number of players this offseason, and to a man, they’ve regressed. The trade deadline served to confirm our fears that the rest of the league sees those deals the same way most of the fanbase does. Those contracts were mistakes.
But disappointment for the fans can look like a vote of confidence to the players. Alec Burks is definitely better than his recent struggles, Evan Fournier is earning his contract since the new year started, and Nerlens Noel is a good player when healthy. I might stick to tankathon instead of Espn standings for a while, but the deadline could be a gift in disguise. Maybe these guys can play up their value or regain our confidence in the closing months of the season.
The Knicks play the Portland Trail Blazers next, in a game that looks much more winnable after the trade deadline. With Oklahoma after that, they have a chance to carry a three-game winning streak out of their run against Western Conference opponents. The Blazers game is on my birthday, so I might not have a recap ready for y’all, but I’ll be watching and ready to discuss with you after.
The front office has left all the weight on the players and the coach to bring back good vibes for a frustrated fanbase. Here comes the hard part Knicks fam, I’ll see you at the next one!
Stay tuned to KnicksFanTV.com for the latest Knicks news, rumors, and recaps throughout the 2021-22 NBA season. And in case you missed it, make sure to check out the panel and fans’ reactions to the NBA Trade Deadline.
