Randle Tossed and Fined in Loss to Suns
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By Andrew Rosario
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
With the Big East tournament invading the World’s Most famous arena (Madison Square Garden) the New York Knicks took their show on the road. It began last Friday night in Phoenix when they took on the Suns. The Knicks had the only 50-win team on the ropes all night even having a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter. The end result was how the season has been defined for Julius Randle and the team.
Randle paced the Knicks having scored 25 points as they scored 38 points taking a 12-point lead going into the final quarter. Things changed with 2:40 in the third when Randle shoved Cam Johnson which ended his night as he got ejected. Johnson got his revenge by nailing a buzzer beater in the 115-114 victory. Johnson finished with 38 points (21 in the last quarter) sending the Knicks to their 7th straight loss. The Suns were without guard Chris Paul while New York were without Derrick Rose, Nerlens Noel, Quentin Grimes and Obi Toppin.
As demoralizing as that loss was, the Knicks rebounded Sunday night with a 116-93 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. 6 players scored in double figures led by RJ Barrett’s 24 points. Immanuel Quickley came off the bench adding 21 and Cam Reddish helped with 17.
The winning streak continued Monday night when they went to Sacramento to take on the Kings. Randle made up for the ejection against the Suns. He finished the night with 46 points and 10 rebounds in the 131-115 win. Barrett and Quickley had a second straight solid night finishing with 29 and 27 respectfully.
As a result of the Randle scrum aside from his ejection, he was fined $50,000 as he pushed a ref who was trying break up the altercation.
When the New York Knicks played in Dallas Wednesday night, they were in 12th place in the conference with a 27-38 record. After the Mavericks, they travel to Memphis before coming to Brooklyn to face the Nets.
