Knicks fans can already rejoice. With this large victory against the Wizards, the New Yorkers have won more matches in this 2020/21 fiscal year than during the entire last season. And this symbolic achievement still bears the mark of their best player, Julius Randle.
The interior had a very solid start to the meeting, scoring exclusively on the left side of the field, halfway or behind the 3-point line, while several finishes were missing near the circle. As much as the left-hander remains on the outskirts, therefore, to use his “jab step”.
Washington largely led to the break
If his racket mate Nerlens Noel is already showing his advantage by throwing Bradley Beal back to the circle or nabbing a ball, the substitute pivot stands out more. For a good part of the evening, Mitchell Robinson will dominate the opposing racquet thanks to his athletic qualities. At the end of the evening’s “alley-oop”, sent to heaven by Elfrid Payton, he also displayed a lot of offensive rebound activity (7 catches, as much as the Wizards) to offer precious second chances to New York.
Alec Burks and Immanuel Quickley, author of an ugly 3-point stepback ahead of Raul Neto, also bring a lot of energy from the Knicks bench. These three men from the bench, the only substitutes to score on the Knicks side, still bring 50 points.
Led after 12 minutes (39-31), the Wizards seem to have a clear strategy: get the ball back as quickly as possible after a basket has been conceded. A more or less profitable strategy because Russell Westbrook collides more than once with the opposing arms, once in the opposing racket. At least he and Bradley Beal are getting plenty of free throws to fuel the mark.
Julius Randle’s crazy 3-point streak
Hindered by the opposing defense, the strong tandem of the Wizards displays only 9/29 on shots. While Julius Randle is force-fed balls in front, and rightly (21 points at the break), Washington returns to the locker room with his head down (69-49). The reaction of visitors? It does not take place. Because the start of the third quarter is marked by several finishes in the circle of RJ Barrett, rather responsible for being an offensive “facilitator” so far.
Its rise in power is mainly accompanied by an incredible heat stroke from Julius Randle. A first basket three out of dribbling, a second in the corner then a third in first intention by raising the ball and finally a fourth in “catch-in-shoot” (88-57)! A sequence of madness greeted by the few thousand fans present at Madison Square Garden with “MVPs!” Towards the interior.
The latter has just killed the match in the middle of this third quarter and opened a long “garbage time” in which the premises logically emerge victorious. The Knicks (22 wins – 22 losses) thus return to victory before replaying the same Wizards (15 wins – 27 losses) in the same room on Thursday.
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