Happy New Year! Julius Randle, Jalen Brunson help lift the Knicks to victory over the Phoenix Suns.
It was easy, too easy, for the Knicks. Jalen Brunson returned to action, Julius Randle continued his excellent play, and the Knicks rolled to a 102-83 blowout win over the Phoenix Suns, Monday afternoon at Madison Square Garden.
On this second day of 2023, here’s what I saw from the Knicks.
Jalen Brunson
On their Texas-Triangle trip to close out 2022, the Knicks were missing their starting point guard. Brunson, returning from a sore hip, found his groove in the second quarter against Phoenix with 16 of his 24 points.
Brunson is the engine which makes the Knicks go, his poise sets the tempo for his teammates.
Game of Runs
If it’s indeed a game of runs, there were two runs in the first half which put this game away for the Knicks. In the first quarter, after Phoenix got out to a 4-0 lead, the Knicks went on a 14-0 run. From there, the onslaught came again in the with a 21-0 run to extend to a 52-20 lead with 4:28 to play in the second quarter. This was the run which blew the game open for the Knicks.
On this night, a game of Runs for the Knicks meant game over for the Suns.
This version of Julius Randle is always welcomed to the table
There’s very little right now Randle is doing on the court that’s wrong. His shot selection and court vision continue to be at an All-Sar level. Throughout the month of December, Randle elevated his play while the Knicks benefited with an eight-game win streak. There’s nothing about Randle’s current game that’s forced; it must be what it feels like when players talk about how the game’s slowed down for them.
Against the Suns, Randle showed us more of the same. Making the right pass, taking the right shot, every move having a purpose. Additionally, he’s attacking the boards. Randle looks very much like the player he was two years ago when he earned an All-Star bid.
The chants of M-V-P from the MSG crowd are well-deserved.
Defense, Defense, and Defense – The Coach Thibodeau Way
After Saturday night’s win in Houston, Immanuel Quickley emphasized the re-commitment to defense as a key to the team’s success. With any Tom Thibodeau-coached team if you’re not playing defense then you’re not playing. Defense is what gets you on the court. Rebounding and hustle will keep you on Thibodeau’s good side.
Yes, the Suns were missing Devin Booker, but the show goes on, and the Knicks still needed to do their jobs on the defensive end – and that they did.
The Suns struggled making shots from the start with only 11 points after the opening quarter.
Chris Paul, in 30 minutes of action, was limited to just 11 points on 4-for-11 shooting from the field. DeAndre Ayton wasn’t much better with 12 points on 6-for-13 in 29 minutes.
The Knicks held Phoenix to just 10 for 37 from the three-point line, with seven of those made three’s coming in the second half with the game seemingly out of reach. The Suns came into today’s action as a top-five three-point shooting team.
Phoenix shot just 39.1% from the field, the Knicks outrebounded them 45-36. Their 83 points was the second-fewest points allowed by the Knicks this season.
There’s plenty to choose from that’s going well for the Knicks right now. Their recent five-game losing streak wasn’t one of them, however, they remained competitive – despite coming short in Texas and despite getting hit with the injury bug.
At the top of that list should be the Knicks finding their identity under Thibodeau as a team that thrives off their defense.
What Else?
- Derrick Rose sat out against Phoenix with a knee contusion, per reports.
- RJ Barrett remains sidelined with a lacerated finger.
Count It – AND ONE!
The Knicks improve to 20-18 on the season, they’ll matchup with the San Antonio Spurs, Wednesday night at the Garden.
The Knicks, with their win today, snaps a nine-game losing streak to the Suns.
Anthony Rushing is on Twitter @TonyRushingNY
Baseline Sports NY is on Twitter @Baseline_NY
