Tom Thibodeau painted it as advanced calculus, but really, it’s basic math: Obi Toppin and Julius Randle shared the floor together and led a Knicks comeback against the 76ers on the road.

11/054/22

Mr. Strickland’s class

NYK 106, PHI 104 factorials

Q: 5! - 4! - 3! - 2! - 1! = ?

(Remember to show your work!)

5!

The New York Knicks came from behind late to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 106-104 last night. What they did early was the evening’s original headline, when, after months of anticipation, Tom Thibodeau added Quentin Grimes to the starting five, replacing Evan Fournier. Both struggled, combining to make just one shot and score four points as Grimes works off the rust of starting his season this week and Fournier, doomed yet dignified, suffers the ravages of age. Twas another wing who stood out: Cam Reddish, refined and of mind to leave the Sixers resigned and denied, erupting on offense and disrupting on defense. The five who started were not the five to finish, which became another big headline later.

4! 

• Early in the fourth quarter, Immanuel Quickley got lost defending a pick and chased after Paul Reed, No. 44, already covered by Fournier. This left Furkan Korkmaz doubleplus wide-open for three. Thibodeau called time and replaced Jericho Sims with Julius Randle, and a thousand blog boys and girls felt themselves become real children. 

• With 1:30 left in the fourth and the Knicks down two, Jalen Brunson fed Randle on the right block. As he drove into the lane, he lost control of the ball. Four 76ers were in the paint with him. As he recovered possession, Cam Reddish cut to the basket; Tyrese Maxey, who’d let his eyes linger over Randle’s lost dribble just a little too long, realized this too late and wheeled around to try and recover. Maxey’s good intentions paved a clearer road for Randle’s fastball to find Obi Toppin behind the line. Four seconds after Randle went into his move, Toppin’s rainbow splashed through the net and the Knicks took the lead for good. The elders will tell you it was an omen, and a good one: a metaphor for the old way of doings things that aren’t working trying something new that can.

• On New York’s next possession, Brunson drove the lane for an and-one that pushed the lead to four. 

• With the win, the Knicks improve to 4-4. 

3!

The Knicks pay three centers and none of their services were required for almost the entire final quarter, as the Randle/Toppin lineup outscored the Sixers 32-18. Philadelphia was smaller than usual and even they did some damage on the offensive glass in the fourth, but it’s not about a panacea; it’s about options. Knowing this lineup can be successful will hopefully encourage Thibs to give it another whirl.  

2! 

With their loss, the 76ers, who were absent their two All-Stars, Joel Embiid and James Harden, combine with the other teams the Knicks have beaten for a record of 11-26, the pace of a 24-win team. The four the Knicks lost to are a combined 24-7, a 63-win pace. Such drama and pain, all to end up in the most predictable of places!  

1!

For Obi Toppin, jersey No. 1 and the first star of the game, and hopefully many more.

A: 5! - 4! - 3! - 2! - 1! = 87 

(Correct!)

Toppin’s winning shot was in the air with 87 seconds left. With four score and seven seconds left, everything hung in the balance. By four score and six, the house was no longer divided and the Knicks can feel good about themselves when they host the Celtics tonight. Boston’s bigs are basically Al Horford and OAKAAKUYOAK Luke Kornet, so we may – may – get more of the 6-foot-9 “Nice” Frontline.