FRENCH LESSON49
Knicks taken to school on French Heritage Night
French Fried. French Toasted.
However you want to characterize it (just not French Kissed), the Knicks couldn’t hang with the Hornets on French Heritage Night at the Garden and were trounced on Sunday, 119-107.
Except Frank Ntilikina. He was tremendous until he fouled out on questionable calls in the fourth quarter, sending coach David Fizdale into a rage at the officials that led to technical fouls and his first ejection on the Knicks’ sideline. “I disagreed,” Fizdale said. With what? “The calls.” Ntilikina was back in the rotation – although only by default – and scored all 18 of his points in the second half to briefly give the Knicks life. It was a career-high for Ntilikina, who had been curiously dwelling inside Fizdale’s doghouse recently.
But a real opportunity sprouted when Allonzo Trier became a late scratch Sunday because of a hamstring strain, leaving the Knicks with only two options at point guard (Emmanuel Mudiay and Ntilikina). Ntilikina entered in the first quarter but waited until the second half to impress against Tony Parker, the king of all French point guards and Ntilikina’s idol.
“I think that’s from the work I put on every day. That’s the mindset,” Ntilikina said. “I want to be more aggressive to get to the hoop, to get to my spot. It’s an improvement. But I can say also I’ve got to make it consistent and even better. It’s just the beginning. I want it to go more, further.”
Ntilikina fouled out in just 20 minutes but his fifth infraction – an offensive foul while driving against Frank Kaminsky – was bogus. He stared down the referee and Fizdale took up the argument passionately during a timeout. The coach was ejected with 8:33 left.
“Because he was playing well and obviously I didn’t agree with the call they made, the charge (against Kaminsky). I think that was one that really put me over the top,” Fizdale said. “But obviously I wanted him to keep going and I just was really upset that he couldn’t continue with the game. I didn’t want to take him out of that game. He was rolling. We were down 18-to-20 points that whole time, so why take him out? Just let him go to work. Unfortunately he fouled out.”
The Knicks trailed by 16 when Ntilikina fouled out with nine minutes remaining, which was only an accomplishment because they were down by 28 in the third quarter. But the comeback died with Ntilikina’s foul-out, as the Hornets immediately pounced and took control.
Kemba Walker, a Bronx native and a top free agent in the summer, dropped a game-high 25 points for the Hornets (13-13). Parker had 16 points off the bench.
“I mean, I’m home. This is where I’m from,” Walker said. “I’m pretty sure anyone that goes home to play where they’re from, it’s exciting for them. It’s exciting for me, when I get a chance to play in front of my family and friends, play in front of the people that know me best.”
Kevin Knox was also a bright spot offensively for the Knicks, tying a career high with 26 points. But he also needed 25 field goal attempts to get there.
Ntilikina was efficient. The 2017 eighth overall pick had logged three straight DNPs until Fizdale finally played him late Saturday. On Sunday, he was the Knicks’ best player.
“I think his deal now is I’m hoping he’s taking his destiny into his own hands,” Fizdale said. “And keep turning your work into production and every time you get your opportunity go out there and make the most of it.”
The Knicks (8-20) have lost four straight. Their defense is abysmal and Fizdale doesn’t have any more excuses to bench Ntilikina.