“ There's nothing really better than that, coming to the Mecca of basketball and snatching a victory on their floor. » After missing the Cavs' only trip to the Knicks' den last season, Darius Garland did not miss his visit to Madison Square Garden last night.
“ Everyone contributed. It was really a team victory, a collective effort, a great effort, we fought for 48 minutes. Everyone said we weren't tested in the first three games. Tonight was a challenge, we were up to it “, judges the playmaker.
Undefeated Cavaliers
Before this trip, his team was in steamroller mode: +30 points against the Raptors on their floor, +12 against the Pistons and finally +19 in Washington. This meeting against one of the teams expected to be at the top of the table in the East was therefore on another level.
In full growth since the start of the season – 7, 13 then 23 points – Darius Garland had the opportunity, against Jalen Brunson, to show himself “ aggressive “, to be ” [lui]-even » and play with “ joy » which he recently said he lost last year.
It didn't fail. The 24-year-old once again showed his speed in his penetrations and his technique to align the “floaters” when his team was in need: in the third quarter, when the Knicks' lead exceeded 10 units. And when the 3-pointer also follows, as in the fourth quarter, Darius Garland is difficult to stop.
Darius Garland decisive in defense
On arrival, an outing with 34 points (12/19 including 5/8 3-pointers), 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 interceptions and 2 blocks. “ Everyone will talk about his offensive performance, I want to talk about his two stops, his two blocks at the end of the match. These were very important actions “, notices his Kenny Atkinson side.
A reference to this counterattack led by Jalen Brunson two minutes from the end. The Knicks leader was not even able to trigger as his opponent, the last line of defense in front of the circle, put his hands on the ball.
A few seconds later, the same Brunson made his way towards the circle, but Garland rose with him to counter him with authority! A rarity for him. Remember that he never finished a season with more than 10 blocks.
“(The Knicks) were trying to post (Mikal) Bridges on him and he held », Said Kenny Atkinson again, before finishing: “ So to play this match on offense – we all know he is capable of it – but to add defense to that, it’s a 10/10 for his match. He was phenomenal. »
| Darius Garland | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2019-20 | KEY | 59 | 31 | 40.1 | 35.5 | 87.5 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 3.9 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 2.6 | 0.1 | 12.3 |
| 2020-21 | KEY | 54 | 33 | 45.1 | 39.5 | 84.8 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 6.1 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 17.4 |
| 2021-22 | KEY | 68 | 36 | 46.2 | 38.3 | 89.2 | 0.6 | 2.7 | 3.3 | 8.6 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 3.6 | 0.1 | 21.7 |
| 2022-23 | KEY | 69 | 36 | 46.2 | 41.0 | 86.3 | 0.4 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 7.8 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 0.1 | 21.6 |
| 2023-24 | KEY | 57 | 33 | 44.6 | 37.1 | 83.4 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 6.5 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 3.1 | 0.1 | 18.0 |
| 2024-25 | KEY | 4 | 28 | 54.7 | 50.0 | 100.0 | 0.2 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 5.0 | 3.2 | 1.2 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 19.2 |
| Total | 311 | 34 | 44.9 | 38.6 | 86.5 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 6.7 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 3.1 | 0.1 | 18.4 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
