The New York Knicks blew out the Detroit Pistons 124-99. Donte DiVincenzo’s 11 threes broke Evan Fournier’s Knicks single-game record right in front of him.
The New York Knicks blew out the Detroit Pistons 124-99, but Donte DiVincenzo’s record-setting performance kept things interesting for Knicks fans.
The Knicks stormed to a double-digit lead within minutes and never had much to worry about. That left the focus on Donte DiVincenzo as he chased the record for three-pointers made in a single game by a Knick. The arena stayed full of life, even in the blowout, as DiVo entered the record book. Meanwhile, Jalen Brunson cruised to an efficient 28 points, and Josh Hart added another triple-double to his season total.
There’s not as much to discuss in a blowout, but let’s have fun reviewing the performances.
The Knicks’ starters get forty and a new record from Donte
Jalen Brunson: 28 PTS (10/20 FG, 3/7 3PT, 5/5 FT), 6 AST, 2 REB in 30 mins
Jalen Brunson seemed happy to facilitate for most of the first half. He broke down the defense and found open players, kicking off the ball movement that carried New York throughout the night. Brunson switched gears in the second half, starting the third quarter with a series of quick buckets that proved he could score at will. Brunson would rest early while still compiling an efficient 28 points and six assists without a single turnover.
Brunson took a backseat to his teammates, letting DiVincenzo cook while Josh Hart and McBride created from the wings. That makes Brunson’s production even more impressive because it often felt like he could take over if necessary. The Knicks have found their star, and Brunson gets a 4 out of 5 on light work.
Miles McBride: 13 PTS (5/12 FG, 1/7 3PT, 2/2 FT), 4 AST, 5 REB, 1 STL in 43 mins
Miles McBride cooled off from three and even took a few bad shots for a change. But he still pieced together an impressive performance that left marks across the score sheet. He beat defenders off the dribble for some impressive finishes at the rim and mixed in quality playmaking from the weak side. Deuce added a healthy dose of rebounds to his typical scoring and playmaking production.
McBride’s defensive effort never wanes. He played 43 minutes in this blowout and never stopped harassing ball-handlers. It must be frustrating for would-be scorers to struggle for an ounce of daylight no matter how many screens they run Deuce through. McBride gets a 3 out of 5 for another strong performance, even as his jumper slipped up.
Donte DiVincenzo: 40 PTS (14/23 FG, 11/20 3PT, 1/3 FT), 2 AST, 5 REB, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 4 TO in 41 mins
Donte DiVincenzo snapped out of his shooting slump on Saturday and made up for lost time on Monday night. He hit three-pointers off the dribble, on the catch-and-shoot, through screens, and at every spot around the arc. DiVo spent his night setting a new record for the most three-pointers any Knick has made in a single game.
DiVo would have tied the record midway through the third quarter without the refs calling back one of his makes. But instead, he spent the fourth quarter chasing the record while Evan Fournier, the previous record-holder, did everything possible to stop him. The Big Ragu needed most of the fourth to get his record-breaking eleventh three finally, but he’s officially in the books now.
DiVincenzo gets a 5 out of 5 for making a blowout interesting by chasing history.
Josh Hart: 11 PTS (4/10 FG, 1/3 3PT, 2/2 FT), 10 AST, 14 REB, 1 STL, 3 TO in 40 mins
Josh Hart tallied another triple-double while everyone was focused on DiVincenzo. Hart benefitted from DiVo’s hot hand, often seeking his Villanova teammate for quick dimes. While his teammates capitalized on Detroit’s shoddy defense by scoring, Hart spent most of his time breaking the defense down for passing purposes.
Hart’s rebounding performance should be studied. He anticipates loose balls and chases them down with reckless abandon. The Knicks can afford to go small because Hart is a better rebounder than most players who are half a foot taller. It’s telling that I often have more to say about his scoring and playmaking than scoring; Hart’s a different kind of player.
Josh gets a 4.5 out of 5 for another triple-double added to his total.
Isaiah Hartenstein: 6 PTS (3/6 FG), 5 AST, 10 REB, 1 STL, 3 BLK in 24 mins
Isaiah Hartenstein played an efficient and productive 24 minutes. You know this script already. He scored on some floaters and easy looks inside while playmaking off short rolls and cuts across the lane. His rebounding is reliable, and his defense perfectly balances hedging against ball-handlers with dropping to take away passes to the roll man.
The only thing keeping Hartenstein from having some explosive statlines and forcing his way onto some of our recap graphics is the minutes restriction that keeps him playing half as much as other starters. I-Hart gets a 3.5 out of 5 for providing quality minutes.
New York’s second unit is down to two and a half men
Bojan Bogdanovic: 13 PTS (5/11 FG, 2/7 3PT, 1/2 FT), 1 AST, 2 TO in 18 mins
Bojan Bogdanovic got into a nice rhythm against Detroit’s shoddy defense. He’s still missing open looks from deep that I expect to start falling in time. But Bogey’s found success by attacking the rim more frequently. He can get clean looks from midrange frequently and knows how to draw a foul en route to the rim.
If I have to complain, it’s about Bojan’s turnovers. While his journeys into the paint often end with positive results, he sometimes sees the passing options a step late. That leaves him crowded by defenders and throwing the ball away. But I’ll take the bad with the good since we see signs of Bogdanovic’s offense picking up.
Bogey gets a 2.5 out of 5 for a respectable performance off the bench.
Precious Achiuwa: 9 PTS (3/5 FG, 3/6 FT), 1 AST, 16 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO in 26 mins
Precious Achiuwa turned in a strong night across the board. He feasted on boards, grabbing a game-leading 16 rebounds in less than 30 minutes of action. He would have had a double-double if not for missing his free throws.
But I’d like to zero in on Achiuwa’s communication. The broadcast put mics on Achiuwa for the game, and watching him work was eye-opening. He never stopped talking to his teammates, whether directing them on switches or encouraging them to fight through screens. It’s no wonder the defense is strong when a player like Precious can come off the bench and guide everyone into strong positions.
Precious gets a 3 out of 5, which would be 3.5 if he hit another free throw to earn the double-double.
Jericho Sims: 1 PT (0/0 FG, 1/2 FT) in 7 mins
Jericho Sims only played for a few minutes and didn’t get to do much with them. The only thing that stood out from his performance was his new braids.
Tom Thibodeau minutes-watchers have a conniption
I tend to defend Tom Thibodeau for burning players out this season because half his roster has been hurt for significant chunks of time. But I can’t be mad at people who saw the blowout score and were furious over three starters playing 40 minutes anyway. The caveat is that DiVincenzo was chasing a record, Hart was chasing a triple-double, and McBride was solidifying his permanent role in the rotation.
I assume that Thibodeau asked those guys if they wanted to rest. The Knicks had plenty of cushion, but those players have a mentality driven by hard work. I’m not surprised they stayed out there, and we were rewarded with some impressive performances because they did.
Closing Thoughts:
It might be recency bias, but I think this season will go down as one of the most memorable of my life. The Knicks probably won’t beat the 54 wins that Melo’s squad pulled off in 2012/13, and they have a mountain to climb to match the Finals teams from the 90’s. They’re still fighting to hang on to a fourth seed held in 2021.
But this squad makes up for any counting stats or measures by overcoming adversity and simply being likable. We can see the chemistry among teammates both on and off the court. They spent last night doing everything possible to get DiVincenzo his 11th three-pointer because these guys play for each other. There’s something special about having a team that likes each other, loves the city, and relishes every challenge.
The Raptors are next, with a depleted line-up that suggests another easy win. The Knicks need to avoid trap games and stay in the win column because a top-three seed is attainable, but so is 6th place. Let’s see if they can keep it up and meet back here. See you next time, Knicks fam!
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