Mike’s on, Kris is off in big win
MICHAEL BEASLEY has labeled himself many outrageous things. Among them: “A walking bucket,” “Your favorite player’s favorite player,” and (paraphrased), “Just as talented as LeBron.”
At least for one unpredictable night Thursday, Beasley was underselling himself.
With Kristaps Porzingis struggling through his worst game in his NBA career and riding the bench for the final 17-plus minutes, Beasley, the can’t-missprospect turned enigmatic journeyman, carried the Knicks to a 102-93 win over the East-leading Celtics.
Beasley even earned “MVP” chants while scoring 28 of his 32 points in the second half. Asked when he started feeling the hot hand, the 28-year-old said from birth.
“Jan. 9, 1989,” he said. “As humbly as I can say it I just feel like every shot is going in.”
Porzingis returned from a two-game absence because of a sore knee and was dreadful, finishing with one point while missing all 11 of his field goals.
He was subbed out for Beasley with 5:37 left in the third quarter, and that’s when the Knicks took control. More specifically, that’s when Beasley went on a scoring rampage. Right away he dropped 10 points in nine minutes, erasing Boston’s nine-point advantage before the start of the fourth quarter.
He was showered with ‘MVP’ chants while at the foul line in the third quarter, and then again after his jumper sealed the victory with 1:06 remaining. On the night, he connected on 13 of his 20 field goals and added a game-high 12 rebounds.
“It definitely felt great. Especially because it’s a win,” Beasley said. “They’re a great team so we knew they were going to fight till the last second. But it felt awesome. It felt really good.”
The Knicks (17-14) won their fifth consecutive home game, avenging an early-season blowout defeat against the Celtics (26-9) at Boston. Enes Kanter, who a day earlier learned he’s facing over four years in prison in Turkey for insulting the country’s president (he’s safe from prosecution so long as he stays in the U.S.), had a double-double at the half and finished with 14 points and 10 boards. Starting guards Courtney Lee and Jarrett Jack had 12 points apiece, but it was rookie Frank Ntilikina (eight points) who was on the court again down the stretch. In fact, coach Jeff Hornacek kept all his starters on the bench for the entire fourth quarter.
“About every 10 seconds actually (I thought about bringing the starters back in),” Hornacek said. “I kept asking myself, ‘Should I put those guys back, should I put those guys back? But those other guys were playing well.”
Beasley played especially well. Out of his mind, actually. The former second overall pick is on his sixth team in six years, having failed to stick with one franchise for more than two seasons.
But the relocations never killed his confidence. That helps sometimes when the Knicks need a hero.
“With my eyes closed,” Beasley said about his confidence making shots. “Nah, I’m just playing.”
So maybe Beasley has his limitations. His eyes have to be open.