New Sixth Man of the Year favorite emerges amid Knicks' winning streak
Immanuel Quickley made a rare start Sunday and showed why he might be the NBA's best sixth man.
Quickley played 55 minutes and scored 38 points in the Knicks' double-overtime victory over the Boston Celtics. The third-year guard took over in the second overtime, scoring the Knicks' first three baskets and outscoring Boston 7-2 for the first 2:55 of the second extra period.
Even though he only sat for three minutes of the game, Quickley seemed like he still had more energy than anyone else on the court in double OT.
The Knicks only reached the second extra period through Quickley's heroics at the end of the first overtime.
Quickley did it late and early. Some bench players try to ease their way in when they join the starting lineup. Not Quickley. Starting in place of Jalen Brunson, he came out firing immediately with a very deep three just seconds into the game.
He's now the odds-on favorite for Sixth Man of the Year at -130, leapfrogging Boston's Malcolm Brogdon in what's become a two-man race for the trophy. Brogdon missed the game with a sore ankle, while Quickley filled up the box score on both ends. He led the Knicks with five three-pointers, seven assists, four steals and two blocks.
It's a remarkable rise for a player who was a long shot for the award two weeks ago.
Quickley has been a huge part of the Knicks' nine-game winning streak, which has left them one game behind Cleveland for fourth place in the Eastern Conference and home-court advantage in the first round. During the streak, Quickley has averaged 18.8 points while shooting 45.9 percent from three-point range and 54 percent from the floor. The Knicks have been 9.4 points better when he's on the court.
Even if he doesn't come away with the Sixth Man of the Year Award, Quickley has certainly proved he's one of the NBA's best dancers.
The 23-year-old is serving notice to awards voters, and Brodgon may have just gotten served.
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