PORZINGIS-LESS KNICKS ROCKED
Hurting Knicks fall to Rockets despite Beasley’s big first half
HOUSTON — There’s a theory the 22-point lead the undermanned Knicks built in the first quarter was a mirage, that Michael Beasley didn’t actually score 17 first-quarter points.
But it really happened — even if it was in the blink of an eye as the Rockets dominated the rest of Saturday night and cruised to a predictable 117-102 rout at Toyota Center.
The Knicks were without their starting frontcourt of Kristaps Porzingis and Enes Kanter because of back injuries, but behind a breakout performance from Beasley, the Knicks stunned the Rockets in the first quarter.
“We fight, we’re a gritty team,’’ Beasley said. “We have to learn to put together two halves. I felt good. That good feeling was hindered a little bit with the loss.’’
Beasley scored a season high 30 points — 24 in the first half. He shot 14-of-23 with eight rebounds as Porzingis’ replacement at power forward. He also committed six turnovers as he petered out in the second half with the rest of the crew.
“We got to stay together,’’ Beasley said. “We do a pretty bad job of it when things aren’t going our way. The second half, we didn’t do a good job of sharing the ball getting to their 3-point shooters, letting James Harden do whatever he want. We’re a young team.’’
In what was nothing short of miraculous, the Knicks built a 20-point lead of 25-5 after six minutes, then extended it to 22 at 29-7 with 4:22 left in the first on a Beasley reverse layup.
Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni called timeout, looking furious, screaming at the air as his players walked to the bench.
Order was soon restored and a 37-13 third quarter put the Rockets up 95-74. From the time the Knicks led 29-7 in the first until the end of the third, D’Antoni’s speedballers outscored the Knicks 88-45.
Hornacek said he wasn’t too confident the big lead would stand.
“They were missing shots at the beginning and they shoot a lot of threes,’’ Hornacek said of the Rockets. “So they probably weren’t too concerned with that.”
While Beasley started at power forward, Kyle O’Quinn got the call at center for the second straight night adding 20 points while Courtney Lee scored 17 points — 15 in the first half.
Harden was magnificent in notching 37 points and 10 assists, making 5of-13 3-pointers, and Ryan Anderson added 17 with three treys. Chris Paul delivered 13 assists and six points for the Rockets (15-4).
The Knicks, who blew a 17-point lead Friday in Atlanta, fell to 10-9 and 1-6 away from the Garden.
The Knicks return to the Garden Monday against the Blazers — with Porzingis having a better shot of returning to the lineup than Kanter.
Buried recently on the bench, Beasley was a first-half demon. The loquacious forward erupted for 14 points in the first 5:30 minutes, making 7-of-9 shots, draining 3s and snaking to the basket for scoop lefty layups.
His 24 first-half points came on 11of-15 shooting in 18:22. He refused to make his past playing time an issue, though it is.
“I’m doing what the coach asks me to do — making up for 45 points and 20 rebounds we didn’t have today,’’ Beasley said. “If I play 36 minutes or don’t play 36 games, I still got to be in a fox hole with the fellas. I’m used to it. It doesn’t change my mentality.’’
“We know Mike can score on guys,’’ Hornacek said. “He did a great job. Our guys threw him some nice passes inside and he’s got great hands, if you‘ve seen the size of his hands, you know he can catch a ball and finish down low as well as take guys 1 on 1. Offensively, we know he can give it to us. That was a big lift for us without KP out there.’’