Julius scores 44 to lead red-hot team past Mavs for fifth straight victory
DALLAS — The Knicks are hottest team in the NBA.
Technically, their five-game winning streak is currently tied with the Celtics, but the Knicks are certainly the most surprisingly successful given the expectations. And they’re overdue.
Their latest victory Friday night was over the Mavericks, 117-109, with Julius Randle going bonkers again with 44 points and the Knicks (30-27) getting the best of Kristaps Porzingis.
It’s their first five-game winning streak since 2014.
Randle was spectacular while shooting 16-for-29 and finishing just one point shy of his career-high, outplaying Porzingis (23 points, 12 boards) and even Luka Doncic (22 points, 19 assists). It was the third straight game Randle has scored over 30 points. Not too long ago, it appeared Randle was fading and the heavy minutes were taking a toll. But he’s revved up again and playing at his best.
Randle was motivated from the start in his hometown of Dallas, scoring 13 points in the game’s opening five minutes. The game was close until the start of the fourth quarter. With Doncic, Porzingis and Randle all on the bench, the Knicks started the final period on an 11-3 run that put the Mavericks in a hole that proved too steep to get out of.
The Knicks were without Alec Burks, their sparkplug off the bench, who entered the league’s COVID protocols Friday and is out indefinitely. In his absence, Derrick Rose picked up the slack with 15 points in 25 minutes. Frank Ntilikina logged his most minutes (albeit just four) since March. The Frenchman also knocked down a key 3-pointer at the start of the fourth.
RJ Barrett logged 46 minutes and scored 24 points. Nerlens Noel, who missed the previous game with an ankle injury, returned to the starting lineup and blocked three shots, including a spectacular rejection on Dorian Finney-Smith’s dunk attempt in the fourth quarter.
“That’s the beauty of the team. I really like the depth of our club,” Thibodeau said. “And we’ve had a number of guys step up in the fourth quarter, and play well. You need everyone and the willingness to sacrifice, put the team first, recognize when someone’s going well. That might mean you might not finish the game that particular night, but you search that person out because he’s got a good matchup and he’s going well. You have to put winning and the team first and that’s what I love about this group, their willingness to sacrifice and commit to the team first.”
The Knicks swept the Mavericks last season but lost their matchup about two weeks ago at MSG, with Doncic going off and Porzingis punctuating Dallas victory with a dunk.
On Friday, the Knicks led by nine after the first quarter. Porzingis started slow but managed 10 points in the first half with eight rebounds. The other former Knick from two years ago, Tim Hardaway Jr., dropped a team-high 16 points in the opening half. But the Mavericks were fortunate to only trail by four at the break because Doncic only had six points on four shots. He seemed more eager to facilitate until the third quarter, when the Slovenian took charge.
It wasn’t enough because Randle is the hottest player on the hottest team.
TAKING THEIR SHOTS
Thibodeau’s team is also playing defense against COVID-19.
The coach revealed Friday that several Knicks players and staff members received vaccination shots.
“I’m not sure how many have gotten it but I know a number have, and a number of our staff have as well,” Thibodeau said. “So I think everyone, like the rest of the country, that’s where everyone’s moving towards, and hopefully we can get back to normal at some point.”
A team spokesperson wouldn’t disclose how many players were vaccinated but called it “a good number.” The news came in the wake of backup guard Alec Burks becoming the latest player to miss time due to COVID health and safety protocols.
“We’re just making sure that we will follow the guidelines,” Thibodeau said. “And I think it’s pretty common right now that you see there are a number of players that it’s happened to throughout the course of season. So when you start off the season you prepare for all these situations.”
In the earlier stages of the vaccine rollout, many top NBA players were skeptical of the vaccine and refused to promote it, according to ESPN. LeBron James declined to reveal whether he’ll take the vaccine, saying it’s a personal decision.
Given their youth and strong health, most NBA players infected with COVID have brushed off the illness and returned to form. Celtics star Jayson Tatum, however, said he’s still feeling the effects over three months after infection. He now uses an inhaler before games. The Knicks’ Derrick Rose also had a rough experience with COVID-19 and missed nearly four weeks of games.
The NBA has postponed 31 games because of COVID concerns, according to the list on NBA.com, but none since Feb. 28.