And eight for the Knicks! Despite injuries to OG Anunoby and Julius Randle, Tom Thibodeau's team manages to stay the course. And as in Charlotte during the previous match, it was Donte DiVincenzo who was the big man of the evening with his 33 points at 9/15 at 3-points, which earned him a well-deserved ovation from Madison Square Garden. Jalen Brunson (29 points, 9 assists), Josh Hart (10 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) and Precious Achiuwa (18 points, 5 rebounds) also contributed to this new success.
Donte DiVincenzo set the tone from the start with three 3-point baskets in the first half, including one to end the period with a score of 29-22. But it was in the third quarter that the match changed for good, as the Sexton-Dunn-Markkanen trio revived the Jazz in less than three minutes after the break (61-60).
The locals first went 13-1 with Jalen Brunson in all the good shots (74-61). It was then a 15-0 fueled by two 3-point baskets from Donte DiVincenzo, one from Jalen Brunson and a 2+1 from Precious Achiuwa which derailed Utah for good (91-66).
Warmly greeted by Madison Square Garden, Donte DiVincenzo went for his career record in the last act with two final 3-point missiles on two serves to Josh Hart's hair. The latter then offered himself a triple-double by grabbing a final rebound then making his 10th assist of the evening for Precious Achiuwa's dunk for the last basket of the Knicks in this clear victory, 118 to 103.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Donte DiVincenzo doubles the bet. He was one of the big winners of the trade between the Knicks and the Raptors, and his last two games have confirmed him in his position as a major player alongside Jalen Brunson on the back positions. Already the author of 28 points in Charlotte during the previous match, this time he shattered his career record with 33 points and also another record with 9 3-point baskets scored on 15 attempts.
– “Next-man up mentality”. Tom Thibodeau had warned that compensating for the absence of Julius Randle would not be the job of a single player but an entire collective. With the absence of OG Anunoby in addition, the Knicks coach had high expectations of the players who would take over from them. Whether it was Precious Achiuwa at position 4 or Josh Hart on the wing, the two delivered two big performances to compensate for the absences of two major players. Even if he still has some waste, the first delivered one of his best matches under his new colors (18 points at 8/13, 5 rebounds) and the other flourished in the register we know from him, with his hyperactivity on both sides of the court which earned him a triple-double at 10 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists.
– The Knicks' near-perfect January. The New Yorkers ended the month of January with a record of 14 wins and 2 losses. Despite Julius Randle's injury at the end, they were able to continue their series with this 8th success in a row. Above all, this is the franchise's best record for the start of a calendar year since… 1994! Enough to fuel ambitions for the rest of the season.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
