Knicks 121, Rockets 99: That backcourt… could be lethal
The Knicks have played eight straight quarters of dominant basketball. Matthew Miranda recaps the Knicks’ second straight blowout in the second game of a back-to-back, highlighted by phenomenal guard play (and Julius Randle, of course).
Derrick Rose’s last home game as a Knick before last night came nearly four years ago. It may have been his best game as a Knick: 27 points, six assists and no turnovers in a blowout over Detroit. Rose’s second opening night on Broadway wasn’t quite that prolific, but he, Immanuel Quickley, and Elfrid Payton combined for 53 points on just 31 shots, propelling the Knicks to a 121-99 rout over the Houston Rockets. Second billing: Houston made only eight of their 43 3-point attempts. It’s like the Rockets’ long game was an enlarged prostate. A drip here and there, and no more.
Houston’s performance issues were understandable given they were missing their two leading scorers, Christian Wood and Victor Oladipo. They’ve now dropped all five games Wood’s been out. I thought with Mitchell Robinson out and no Wood, the Rockets would force-feed DeMarcus Cousins early and often to try and draw fouls on Nerlens Noel — who sometimes struggles with physical pivots — and get into the Knicks bullpen, i.e. Taj Gibson. But while Cousins is still productive, the double-double he put up in 22 minutes is less meaningful than the 22 minutes. Cousins only plays about 20 minutes a game. The pre-2018, pre-Achilles tear Cousins would have eaten these Knicks alive. But this is the new Cousins, and evidence continues to pour in suggesting these are the new Knicks.
Reggie Bullock drilled three corner threes in the opening minutes, part of a balanced breakfast featuring eight Knicks scoring in the opening frame. Some were prettier than others.
As has been the case since Rose’s reacquisition, the Knick bench sparked and sparkled, with Rose, Quickley, and Obi Toppin all reaching double digits. The starters weren’t too shabby themselves. Julius Randle was his typical excellent self. RJ Barrett had five assists in just 22 minutes. Payton was dishing, swishing, stealing, and dealing. Noel did a fine approximation of the lob threat and defensive presence Mitch provides.
The Knicks didn’t turn the ball over until the last minute of the first half. Ten different players scored, but not until that last minute did any have double figures. Conversely, Houston had Eric Gordon going and that was about it. The team that popularized 3>2 made just two of their 20 first-half attempts from deep.
John Wall picked up the scoring in the third, hitting five in a row at one point and eventually cutting the Knick lead to five. But like Friday’s win in Washington, the lead never felt in danger. Part of that was Houston featuring Wall and Gordon rather than, oh, say, James Harden and Chris Paul. Part of it was the small but valuable bit of confidence this Knicks team has inspired over 28 games. Payton put in a good shift on both ends. Randle shows no signs of slowing down; his combination of size, strength and skill made a damn fine defender in P.J. Tucker look helpless.
It was Quickley who’d separate the wheat from the chaff once and for all, knocking down three triples in a row and knocking the Rockets out.
Notes
The Knicks have been kicking butt for eight straight quarters and it feels good. Man does it.
Over his last five games, Bullock is 15-30 from distance. He and Alec Burks compare quite favorably to some of the wing combos we’ve seen over the years. They’re not Allan Houston and Latrell Sprewell, but they’re no Courtney Lee and Lance Thomas.
Some love for the old heads: Taj spinning and winning off glass. He doesn’t have the above the rim or rim protection credentials that Mitch and Noel do, but it’s nice seeing a Knicks center do something off the dribble besides hand it off.
Rose is that rare caliber of elite athlete even among other elite athletes that even after all the years and devastating injuries, once a game you catch a glimpse of an ember and remember how bright he burned back in the day.
Quickley always slaps five with invisible teammates after he shoots a technical. I have all the respect in the world for that. If you can fit your neurodiversity into your workplace as any kind of benefit to you, do it. Music and writing are the two great loves of my life and in some (not all) ways, my neuroses help me in both.
Kevin Knox with another four-minute stint. His highlight-to-minute ratio led the team.
RJ’s minutes the last four games: 19, 27, 26, 22. His season average is now 34 minutes per game. I think that’s OK.
On the one hand, even with the frontcourt missing Mitch, Toppin played only 15 minutes. On the other hand, that means he played 15-plus minutes in consecutive games for the first time as a pro. Play Obi more, por favor. Play more this:
Cousins and Wall, man. What a ride. Cousins’ Achilles tear literally cost him hundreds of millions of dollars. Five years ago Wall was as good as anybody in the East after LeBron. Two incredible young talents and two dudes back then I would’ve loved to see on the Knicks. Now Cousins is a change-up and Wall can’t shake Payton.
Despite being banged up, Tucker suited up for his 267th straight game, the NBA’s second-longest active streak behind only Cory Joseph.
Gordon is someone I would have enjoyed seeing more of over the years. He can shoot. Defend. He can get to the line, though he doesn’t as much now that he takes like 10 threes per game. Every year some vet signs with your team and over 82 games you learn depths you didn’t know they possessed. I feel like Gordon would have been a fun Knick.
Rocket rookie and KTP alum Mason Jones is shooting better from deep than from the foul line. Someday that whole “good free throw shooting suggests something about three-point accuracy” schtick will go the way of the pay phone.
Jeff Hornacek is an assistant coach with Houston. Hey, Jeff!
Quoth Nerlens Noel: “That backcourt... could be lethal.” Rose and Quickley have gone together like peanut butter and jelly. Next game is Monday when the Knicks host the Atlanta Hawks, whose Trae Young can be lethal too. See you then.
