IT'S TIME FOR 'TAPS Porzingis sets career-high with 35 points as Knicks rock Detroit
Just two weeks ago, Kristaps Porzingis got benched against the Pistons for the final nine minutes of a tight game because of his defensive shortcomings.
Wednesday in the rematch, Porzingis again showed the silliness of the maneuver. The Knicks’ future — and Phil Jackson’s smartest move — smashed his career-high, taking over the game in the second quarter, logging 35 points in a 105102 Garden victory during which the fans serenaded the 7-foot-3 Latvian with “MVP” chants. It was the first time the Knicks won consecutive games this season.
“Too early,’’ Porzingis joked afterward. “It’s a New York crowd. They did the same thing last year when I had that 29-point game [his previous career high] versus Charlotte. All the support we got gave me so much energy.’’
The unicorn let loose, making highlight play after highlight play. Porzingis struck for 25 first-half points, making 9-of-12 baskets, including a coast-to-coast off-balance layup after coming up with a steal.
“Shots were falling, teammates were finding me,’’ Porzingis said. “I got it going. I wasn’t really thinking about the score. Shooting when I was open, driving when I saw an opportunity. It was just happening. A lot of stuff I worked on in the summer came out too — some moves, without even thinking, instinctively they came out.’’
With another New York sports luminary, Odell Beckham Jr., sitting on celebrity row, the secondyear stud scored 10 straight points during the second quarter when reinserted into the game to play with four reserves.
In one back-to-back sequence, partner-in-crime Brandon Jennings made the play of the night, lofting an alley-oop pass to an onthe-dead-run Porzingis on the fast break and he rammed it in. He was fouled as he tumbled wildly to the court unhurt. Jennings did a shimmy and Porzingis made the free throw.
On the next possession, Porzingis added three more points to the ledger, receiving a Jennings pass and drilling a 3-pointer, helping the Knicks (5-6) to a 54-49 half- time lead. Porzingis finished the night 13-of-22 from the field.
“Brilliant,’’ said Carmelo Anthony, who dropped in 22 points. “He put us on his back tonight and that is something I am proud of. He looked like he was in that zone. I have seen people be in that zone. He had a bounce to him. His confidence was through the roof.’’
Porzingis, who said his ailing back from Monday is fine, expects more nights like these.
“I still think I have a lot of room to grow as a player,’’ he said. “That’s the best thing. I look forward to next summer working with Dirk [Nowitzki]. Maybe you’ll see some new moves.’’
“He is growing day by day,’’ coach Jeff Hornacek said.
The Pistons (6-6) made scrappy comeback in the final four minutes, chopping an 11-point lead to three with 3.6 seconds left after Derrick Rose made just one of two free throws.
But the Knicks survived. On the inbounds, Kentavious CaldwellPope clanked an open look from 3point range, preserving the win.
Maligned starting center Joakim Noah, benched in the second half of Monday night’s game with Dallas, had a fiery evening of redemption in notching seven points, 15 rebounds, three blocks and three assists. He also played sound defense on Detroit’s big center, Andre Drummond.
“The big key was Jo playing great on Drummond early,’’ Hornacek said.
“I’m not going to get frustrated by the process,’’ Noah said.
In the third period, Porzingis scored his first bucket of the second half on another doozy. He missed a 3-pointer, tracked his own rebound at the foul line, drove the lane, missed the layup, ripped down the rebound and flushed it down hard for a 68-59 lead, giving him 27 points.
Porzingis surpassed his careerhigh of 29, when he spun in the lane and hit a lovely turnaround. The fans gave a loud roar as the scoreboard commemorated his new career high. Porzingis looked up, too, but only because he didn’t know what the commotion was about.
The frustrated Pistons finally used force against Porzingis as Marcus Morris dragged him down by his jersey on one of his soaring forays to the rim. The call was a flagrant foul 1, even though Morris rushed to apologize. Porzingis made one of two free throws, then drained a 3-pointer off the inbounds — making it a four-point possession.
Late in the fourth, Porzingis shined on the defensive end, blocking a drive by Jon Leuer.
Jennings, who assisted on four Porzingis baskets in the second quarter, mused why he seems to have a strong on-court connection with “6’’.
“We definitely have to give him the ball,’’ Jennings said. “He’s [a] 7-3 who can score and shoot from long distance. If you want an assist as a point guard that’s one of the guys you have to get the ball to.’’