MOTOWN MISERY
Stagnant Knicks headed for KP reunion off bad loss to Pistons
DETROIT — This is no way to go into the Kristaps Porzingis Bowl on Friday night, mired in a four-game losing streak, carrying a 1-7 record and possibly without starting center Mitchell Robinson.
The Knicks couldn’t get any worse than their Sunday performance against the Kings. Though they showed improvement on the offensive end Wednesday and received strong games from Frank Ntilikina and Julius Randle, the night ended in a rout anyway as they lost 122-102 to a depleted Pistons team at Little Caesars Arena.
The Knicks now head to Dallas to face Porzingis for the first time, and they might not have Robinson, who is in the concussion protocol after leaving the game in the first quarter following an elbow to the head from
Markieff Morris. The Knicks also won’t have their prized piece of the Porzingis trade, Dennis Smith Jr., who hasn’t returned to the team after his stepmother’s death.
Robinson, who left seven minutes into the contest, was missed against Andre Drummond. The Pistons’ big center murdered the Knicks for 27 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists.
“[Robinson] had a great start to the game,’’ Knicks coach David Fizdale said. “Obviously, he’s our best defensive big. Not having him tonight, it’s a big blow.”
The Knicks battled in the first half and wound up down just 64-59 at halftime, then got blown out after intermission.
Frustration reached a high midway through the fourth quarter as the Pistons kept piling it on. Marcus Morris was called for traveling and bounced the ball hard, sending the sphere sailing up in the air with 6:26 left. He was hit with a technical. Randle also received a technical with 3:43 left.
“I just want to get wins, man,’’ Randle said. “It’s tough. You try to look at the long-term perspective of where we’ll be at the end of the season and are we taking the right steps to get there. I think we are. But in the short term, it’s tough losing.”
Randle awoke from an offensive slumber to put up 20 points on 8 of 15 shooting, even draining three 3-pointers, but was lacking on defense. Ntilikina had a smooth game on both ends, with 11 points on 5 of 7 shooting, four assists and three blocks.
The Knicks didn’t defend much otherwise, particularly in transition. They couldn’t hold down a Pistons team without its top two point guards
in Reggie Jackson and Derrick Rose, and star power forward, Blake Griffin.
A turning point came midway through the third quarter. On a controversial call, Randle was called for a flagrant foul on a Markieff Morris 3pointer, allegedly for tripping him — though it appeared Morris landed on Randle’s foot.
After Morris made the free throw for the four-point play, the Pistons regained possession and Drummond scored inside. That six-point swing put the Pistons up 80-72, and the Knicks trailed 96-85 after three quarters.
“That’s a tough one,’’ Fizdale said. “It’s tough to weather a six-point [swing]. … It’s a tough call. It’s just becoming nearly impossible to contest a 3-point shot with a real contest without getting a foul called. It’s very difficult to teach around that.’’
Randle was fuming at the call, but watched his tongue.
“I was extremely frustrated,’’ Randle said. “I’m just not going to get into the officials. I have a son. So I want to save my money for him. It’s tough. You’re trying to close out to knockdown shooters and you’re not really allowed to do anything.’’
As for Randle, he became a premier inside-outside threat again early. Randle, who had not reached double figures in the past two games and hadn’t put up a star-like game since the season opener, racked up 17 points by halftime. Randle was 1 of 18 from 3point range coming into the contest
“I was in a better rhythm,’’ Randle said. “It’s a long season so I knew it was going to happen eventually.”
Ntilikina, now the starting point guard with Elfrid Payton and Smith unavailable until further notice, put together a strong two-way performance in the half. Rookie RJ Barrett finished with 15 points, eight assists and six rebounds.
Only the Knicks could turn Tony Snell perfect. Snell went 9-for-9 from the field (6-for-6 from 3-point range) for 24 points. Detroit shot 44 percent from 3-point land.
Markieff Morris outplayed his twin, Marcus, outscoring him 22-18. The Knicks were competitive in the first half and looked like they’d take a step from the Sacramento rout, when they were blown out from start to finish. But they faded Wednesday in the second half.
“The first half [was positive], the second half we got too stagnant,’’ Randle said. “Our pace slowed down.”
And now a 7-foot-3 Latvian awaits in Big D.
“I’m not thinking about Dallas right now,’’ Fizdale said. “I’m worried about watching this film right now and talk about Dallas [on Thursday].”