In very good form at the moment, with three straight wins thanks to an iron defense, the Knicks succeeded, in the face of Kings on the floor of their Madison Square Garden, to duplicate this formula once again to offer themselves a fourth consecutive success (112-99), their longest series of the season, synonymous with a positive balance sheet (14-13) and a Top 5 further afield.
In fact, the men of Tom Thibodeau delivered a new high quality defensive performance, containing the Kings to 40% on shots, including 26% from behind the arc (10/39). With 16 points ahead at the break (66-50), the Knicks were then able to manage this gap rather quietly in the second half. Great in the first half Julius Randle was sent off early in the third quarter after losing his temper, and then it was Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett and more broadly the bench of the Knicks who ensured in the absence of the MIP 2021.
Kings side, De’Aaron Fox was absent again, and if his team came out without him in Cleveland in the previous game, this time it was more laborious in attack: 16 loss of ball for 20 assists, even if Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray and Kevin Hurter did the best they could without him.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Knicks continue to win on defense. This nice success against the Kings is the fourth in a row for the residents of “MSG”, who finally seem to have found a strong identity in defense for a week, as in the 2020/21 season. For the third time in the last four games, the Knicks have thus conceded less than 100 points, this time against the second most effective offense in the league (118.8 points on 100 possessions before the game), which stopped at 99 units at 33/83 on shots, for 20 assists and 17 bullet losses. Physical intensity in the duels, aids on the opposite triggered at the right time, presence in the rebounds (62 takes against 52), everything was there for “Thibs” and his soldiers. The first quarter of the season has brought its share of turbulence to the “Big Apple”, but these Knicks seem to have finally found each other. Now all that’s left to do is make the fun last until April.
– Julius Randle’s Emotional Elevator. After an awesome 27-point first half, during which he netted some crazy shots that recalled some of his best streaks from his All-Star and MIP season in 2020/21, the power winger quickly returned to reality after returning from the locker room. His shots were no longer coming in, and a few contacts were beginning to annoy him. Then, there was a push from Domantas Sabonis not whistled by the referees during a rebound battle, and “Ju” cracked. Scooping a first technical foul after yelling in the face of a referee… then a second, after yelling in the face of another official a few seconds later. It’s a shame, because his game was so far flawless (27 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists). Over the years, the Knicks strong winger continues to struggle to manage his emotions.
TOPS & FLOPS
✅ Immanuel Quickley. A little clumsy (4/11 including 1/5 at 3-pts), the Knicks wisp still had a nice full game off the bench, compiling 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and an interception in 25 minutes. His energy deployed and his systematic desire to push the leather in transition always brings a breath of fresh air, as does his mischief when he attacks the circle (4 free throws collected). The former Kentucky player is playing well overall this season, and does not seem particularly troubled by more or less serious rumors that his club could include him in a transfer from Cam Reddish Where Evan Fournier these next few weeks.
✅ Mitchell Robinson. If he was not the best scorer or the flashiest player on the Knicks side in this meeting, he was probably the one who wet the jersey the most. Generous in his efforts with a slider always placed at the maximum on the intensity scale, the pivot of the Knicks made a construction site in the paint on both sides of the field: good placements in attack which allowed him to score 12 points , 9 rebounds and 2 blocks to maintain his season average (1.9). All while twisting his ankle on the way back from the locker room. Forced to the bench at the end of the fourth quarter after picking up his sixth foul, he was rightly applauded warmly by the Madison Square Garden crowd.
✅ RJ Barrett. Difficult to know where to start as his match was good and his volume of play generous. So we just give the line of stats, more telling: 27 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks. It was indeed a very complete performance for the Canadian, first lieutenant of Julius Randle in the first period, before gaining momentum in the second half, after the expulsion of the former Kentucky. His ease in the paint was particularly impressive: he scored 21 of his 27 points in this area (including 6 free throws, acquired in the paint).
✅ Domantas Sabonis. Even if he finished the match with -6 +/-, difficult to blame the Lithuanian pivot, the oven and the mill in the absence of his leader, as in the previous match of the Kings against the Cavaliers . On the Garden floor, “Domas” did what he knows how to do best: a double-double, 20 points at 7/10 on shots and 12 rebounds (not to mention 4 assists).
⛔️ Malik Monk. On the floor of Madison Square Garden, it was the immature Malik Monk of the bad nights of the Hornets era who was out. Indeed, the Kings guard had 12 points, albeit on 15 shots, with some caught in questionable conditions and questionable pace, to put it that way is an understatement. To add nothing, he lost 3 balloons. In summary, a (rare) game missed this season, for one who is nevertheless among the best substitutes in the league.
THE FOLLOWING
– Knicks (14-13): trip to Chicago, Wednesday night to Thursday (1:30 a.m.)
– Kings (14-11): trip to Philadelphia, Tuesday night to Wednesday (01:00 a.m.)
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