Knicks 131, Celtics 129 (2 OT): And he danced
Another dub, another day, another sense the ceiling’s raised
“I feel full after the risotto,” George Costanza’s girlfriend says when he asks if she feels the same after their lovemaking as she does after eating risotto. To be satisfied is not the same as to be full; the former is a matter of taste, the latter of sum. The New York Knicks won their ninth straight game Sunday night, beating the Boston Celtics 131-129 in double overtime. Few wins this season have been as tasty, as satisfying. Yet getting a taste of success doesn’t ever diminish this team’s appetite for it; the hunger only grows sharper. There’s room for more sum.
The Knicks were without Jalen Brunson, struggling with soreness after hurting his foot Friday in Miami. How would Tom Thibodeau adjust to this blow to his normal nine-man rotation? By cutting it to six, mostly: Immanuel Quickley started in place of Brunson and Josh Hart played most of the night as the off-ball wing, pushing Quentin Grimes down a peg at the position. Those six playing like they were nine went a long way toward the W, too – in terms of minutes and magnitude.
Mitchell Robinson took advantage of Robert Williams III’s absence to plant his flag and himself in the paint; his monopoly of the offensive glass was an understated cornerstone of the win, keeping the offense afloat over stretches when no one could make a shot. Julius Randle may not have been the best player on the floor, but continues to carry himself like he is and most nights makes a good argument for it. Randle and RJ Barrett combined for 60 points, 20 rebounds and eight 3s. Josh Hart played 40 minutes off the bench, many of them effectively hounding Jayson Tatum into a sub-par shooting effort (he did score 40). Hart also displayed a willingness to attack all the way to the rim against defenses that load up on denying the Knick point guard the ball. And then there’s Maude, and if you’re wondering why I’m burying the lede it’s an homage to how often he’s been buried over his career.
That’s ontological beef between differing Immanuel Quickley factions since he came into the league. He’s not a pure point guard, some say, neither stylistically or spiritually. So what is he? A shooting guard? A combo guard? A baller? Your favorite baller’s favorite baller’s baller? Such a loaded question. Let’s consider it epistemologically: what do we know about IQ? And how do we know we know?
We know IQ played a game-high 55 of the 58 minutes the double-OT contest required. In those minutes he put up 38 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and six stocks (four steals, two blocks). No Knick has ever put up that line (since they started tracking stocks); Bob McAdoo came closest. We know Quick did this against one of the league’s great powers, on both ends of the floor in all kinds of ways: primary defender, help defender, creating for others or calling his own number. He scored the Knicks’ first three baskets in the second overtime, the only three they made in that session and the ones that put New York ahead for good. And he danced the whole time.
I’ve deliberately kept the perspective in this recap pretty limited, working hard not to let my mind wander. The truth is I don’t have a grip on what this nine-game winning streak means for the Knicks. I felt full going into last night’s game. I didn’t expect them to win, and I wasn’t bothered by that. They’ve had a good innings – who can complain after eight straight Ws? May as well get the loss out of their system and get started on a new streak, right? When Al Horford missed the game-winning shot at the buzzer, I made a sound of pure elation, clear as light. Normally a big win gets a fist pump or a certain tone of voice in response. This W was different, though. It just felt so extra, like you already had a great day on The Price is Right and then won both Showcase Showdowns. Like, wow. Just wow. That and thank you. Thank you, Knicks. More, please.
