Randle and Knicks Need Wins
Photo: Special to the NY Knicks
By Shara Talia Taylor
The New York Knicks returned to Madison Square Garden Wednesday evening after seven away games and took on the Portland Trail Blazers to win 128-98.
New York sits at 12th place in the Eastern Conference standings and have tied the Washington Wizards with 29 wins. The Knicks were upbeat and made their shots to start the game and increased defense in the second half for the win.
“Usually, the first game back after a road trip your sluggish, but we came out and got our defense going in the second half and it was good,” said forward Julius Randle, who had 20 points and led the Knicks with seven assists and nine rebounds.
The Knicks were ahead the majority of the game. They quickly jumped into action in the first quarter with quick passes.
One came at the end of the quarter when Evan Fournier made a steal and sent a backwards pass to Randle who converted the layup. “We were just trying to keep it loose,” he said.
Knicks were ahead 37-29 at the end of the first quarter and led 66-55 by halftime. New York shot 50% and Portland shot 47.8% by halftime.
“I liked our offense a lot, to start in the first half, and then we got our defense going in the second half,” said Knicks Head coach Tom Thibodeau. ”But the offense was really good. The bench was really good. Starters played well. It was a good, balanced attack.”
New York continued scoring well in the third and fourth quarters and increased their defense. Knicks Obi Toppin added 10 points in 10 minutes of playing time.
Josh Hart led the Trail Blazers with 17 points. He had five total rebounds and three assists. RJ Barrett led the team with 31 points. He had four rebounds and 5 assists in the game. “Last time we were up big and they came back and beat us,” Barrett said. “This was also a little more personal, this game.” The Trail Blazers won 112-103 at the previous meeting with the Knicks.
It was a win they needed following a 107-110 loss to the Brooklyn Nets Sunday.
“After any game particularly one in which you lose, you want to work on everything, and obviously that’s impossible to do,” Thibodeau said. “So, you prioritize the 2 or 3 things you think that need the most work and you lock it to that.”
He said the team realizes the importance of practice and “when you practice well you play well”.
Those efforts proved effective Wednesday and might continue into fruition Friday when the Knicks take on the Wizards in hopes of pushing pass Washington in the standings.
