The New York Knicks gained a bit of momentum on Tuesday evening when they overcame the Los Angeles Lakers 106–100. The Knicks lead for the majority of the game, displaying a bit of dominance, stifling off a late comeback attempt by Russell Westbrook and Co.
Finally, the Knicks’ starters stepped up and had adequate performances, as Julius Randle posted 20 points and 16 rebounds. Evan Fournier pieced together a 26 point game, adding four rebounds, shooting 57.1% from the field and 66.7% from three-point range. In two of his last three games, Fournier has hit 50% or more from deep, indicating an upward trajectory with his shooting.
The starters needed time to gel, despite starting off the season strong and showcasing some of their newfound scoring prowess. However, Randle stated after the game that it takes time and poor play never broke their confidence.
“18 games in? This s**t takes time. The thing about us is we’ve stayed encouraged, we stayed positive, we’ve had highs, we’ve had lows but once it starts clicking we’re going to be a really really good team.”Inconsistencies are natural in the NBA, but when the second team is picking up the slack, it casts a dark shadow on the starters, who have stepped up lately knowing the team needs more production from their biggest names. Head coach Tom Thibodeau mirrored a similar message, stating:
“The ball always finds energy. If we’re doing the right things when we’re pushing the ball and we’re attacking the rim, oftentimes those are the best shots you can get.”The Knicks did everything right against the Lakers, holding them to just 37.4% from the field and 30.6% from three-point range. They limited Anthony Davis to just 20 points, a sufficient number for a player who regularly averages 25+. While Russell Westbrook posted 31, 10 assists, and 13 rebounds, his stellar outing wasn’t enough to propel Los Angeles to a win. New York has an incredibly difficult schedule ahead, taking on the Phoenix Suns, Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, and Chicago Bulls consecutively. They will need the starters to be on the top of their game if they want to emerge victorious against competitive teams.
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