Amidst an infinite number of reasons to enjoy the Knicks’ fifth straight win, the number 33 keeps on popping up — a good omen

As numbers go, 33’s kind of a big deal. It’s a palindrome, whether written traditionally or as a binary (100001). It’s literally a big deal: the dwarf planet Ceres is the 33rd-biggest celestial object in our solar system. The holy name “Elohim” appears 33 times in the Genesis creation story. Islamic prayer beads include three sets of 33, corresponding to the 99 names of God. The longest professional baseball game ever was 33 innings. And when it comes to the New York Knicks, perhaps no number today carries the immediate weight of Patrick Ewing’s retired 33.

This season, the Knicks’ 33rd game was their first after trading for OG Anunoby. They’re 5-0 since after last night’s 112-84 toying with the Portland Trail Blazers. By my math, the Knicks have led for their last 165 minutes of game time (33 x 5): wire-to-wire wins over Portland, Washington and Philadelphia after being up the final 21 minutes of the Minnesota game. There are probably 33 different numbers to feel good about from last night. Where to begin?

Let’s start near the end, where once New York’s fourth-quarter edge fell below 33 Tom Thibodeau shocked the world by pulling the last of his starters. That this came with over seven minutes to go was clearly an attempt at aversion therapy for Thibs, who normally leaves Randle, Brunson et al in blowouts until the literal last minute. A lot of Knick fans were thinking what I was when the game was already decided in the third quarter: will Thibodeau again tempt fate by leaving his best players in too long?

Reader, he didn’t! Maybe even Thibs knows this isn’t a boat you wanna risk rocking by trusting in probability. At 32 minutes, Julius Randle was the only Knick to play over 30. Proud of you, Thibs. You showed real growth and trust. That’s not easy. You get a sticker.

33 combined points from Quentin Grimes and Miles McBride, whose minutes and efficacy have turbocharged since the trade. Prior to the deal, Grimes was averaging seven points in 20 minutes a game, making 38% of his 4.6 threes; in the five games since he’s nearly doubled his scoring to 12 a game, while drilling 45% of 6.2 threes per. That’s a 55% increase in 3-point makes despite averaging one fewer minute in that span. His growing comfort as a ball-handler and willingness to break the mold of a strict 3-and-D guy gives serious pause to those who think he’s an easy throw-in in the next big trade.

The inclusion of Malachi Flynn in the trade implied a possible battle for backup point guard minutes between him and Miles McBride. Three things put a stop to that: Flynn was banged up enough to miss his first few games as a Knick, the organization gave McBride a three-year contract extension and he’s taken his chance and run with it. Again, the biggest number to pay attention to here is minutes. McBride’s played 50 the past three games; he hadn’t played that many over that stretch since 2022 turned into 2023, 79 games ago. Like Grimes, there’s a clear dividing line in McBride’s season: over the Knicks’ first 34 games (117 minutes), he had 42 points, nine threes (41%) and nine assists. Over the last three games (50 minutes), he’s scored 36 points while dishing the same number of dimes and draining the same number of threes, albeit at a higher mark (60%). Between he and Grimes, the Knicks’ 2021 draft class is looking pretty good.

You really could pick virtually any number from this game and each would be but another facet of a jewel of an effort. The lowest plus/minus for a Knick starter was Donte DiVincenzo’s +14. Jalen Brunson shot 3-of-11, yet finished +29. The Knicks went nearly nine minutes without a field goal, yet were still up 19 when Isaiah Hartenstein finally ended that drought with a dunk. They won on the glass. Dimes were plentiful. Flynn scored his first points as a Knickerbocker. Hell, they even made their free throws. The Blazers are not good.

And now the Knicks go back on the road for a Thursday jaunt in Dallas and a Saturday night constitutional in Memphis. After that, 60% of their remaining 43 games will be at home, where they’re a striking 11-4. I’ve thrown a lotta numbers out in this piece. One last call-back to 33: that’s how many years it’s been since the Knicks hired Pat Riley, who along with #33 launched the longest run of winning basketball this franchise has ever known. From the end of the bench to the president’s office, the 2024 Knicks seem similarly on-target. They’re not just winning games; they’re winning hearts and minds. Bigger deal than Ceres.