It was fun while it lasted. The New York Knicks hosted the Pheonix Suns Monday night at Madison Square Garden riding a 9-game winning streak after taking out the Toronto Raptors last Saturday afternoon120-103. It was the longest winning streak for the organization that has been marred by mediocrity since 2013. The Suns came into the Garden with a record of 42-18 after losing to the Brooklyn Nets Sunday 128-119. The 118-110 win put them within 1-game off the Utah Jazz (44-17) who are fighting for first place in the Western Conference.
Things began well for the Knicks as they sported their all-blue jersey’s with “New York” and team numbers cropped in orange. Forward Taj Gibson gives the team a 15-point lead (30-15) after hitting a short jumper. The Knicks outscored Pheonix 36-27 to end the first quarter. New York picked up the pace in the second going up by as many as 13 (59-46) after guard Immanuel Quickley (11-points) nails a 3-pointer. From that point on, the Suns would outscore the Knicks 10-4 getting them within 7 at 63-56 at halftime.
Starting the third quarter, Pheonix had never had the lead but that was about to change. With both teams scoring at will, the Knicks could not extend their lead any higher than 6-points (76-70) after a Julius Randle fadeaway jumper. Suns Mikal Bridges (21-points) gives his team the first lead of the game after sinking 2-free throw and the quarter would end in a tie at 87. Although they fought valiantly as they had done during the 9-game winning streak, the Suns with guard and future first ballot Hall of Famer Chris Paul were just too much for the Knicks to handle.
New York had a 94-90 lead with 10:01 in the fourth quarter. From that point the Suns outscored the Knicks 28-16 with Paul hitting clutch circus shots down the stretch. Paul scored the team’s last 7-point after the Knicks narrowed the lead (100-98) after a Derrick Rose jump shot.
Paul Burns Knicks Down The Stretch Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
Suns guard Devin Booker (33-points) led all scorer as the Knicks were led by Rose’s 22-points coming off the bench. Four other Knicks scored in double figures with Randle chipping in 18 although he struggled all night. Randle took only 17 shots, making 6 although he converted 3-6 3-pointers. “It’s always gonna be games like this where you’re playing a team that’s hot like that, with so many threats out ther. You gotta make sure you play close to a perfect game,” Rose said after.
Pheonix had the loss to Brooklyn on their minds coming into the game. “That’s last thing we said in the locker room,’’ Booker said. “We’ll be ready for Monday.’’
First year head coach Tom Thibideau had a simple message for the team after the loss. “Just get ready for the next one,” he began. “We didn’t play as well as we could have in the second half. That said, our guys have been fighting all year,” he concluded. Randle, who was the biggest reason for the winning streak shared similar sentiments. “It’s over. Win the next one. I’m fine. I saw a lot of bodies but it was what it was. The games in the past and move onto the next one. Find a way to close out the homestand with a win.’’
That game took place last night as New York hosted the Chicago Bulls before going on a crucial 6-game road trip in which they play Houston, Grizzlies, Denver, Pheonix, Clippers and the Lakers. Their postseason seeding could depend on the outcome of those games.
