Precious Helps Stifle Orlando
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By Samori Benjamin
The New York Knicks went into their game against the Orlando Magic last Friday night having lost to them three times in three meetings on the season. With Orlando standing a half game ahead of New York in the standings going into the game the Knicks sent a statement by holding the Magic to the lowest point total of the NBA season in a 98-74 victory. The Knicks had five players score in double figures led by point guard Jalen Brunson who returned from a one game absence and finished with a game high 26 points. Forward Precious Achiuwa had 15 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots. “He’s guarding Banchero who I think is an incredible talent, and that requires a lot,” Knicks Head Coach Tom Thibodeau said of Precious Achiuwa’s efforts against Orlando’s All-Star forward after the game. “Then offensively he made a number of big plays for us. Hustle plays, the offensive rebounding, but not only the offensive rebounding, the dribble handoffs, the extra effort type stuff, the screening. There is not a statistic for second and third efforts or deflections, or tipping a ball, or screening somebody, or getting an offensive rebound or kickout and a dribble handoff, and him rolling to the pocket and creating something off that, and he’s doing that. So that stuff is invaluable to the team.”
The win moved the Knicks into the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference and their next two games are at home against the 76ers who they have beat twice this season in Philadelphia. The Knicks are just two games behind the Sixers, who own the #7 spot, in the standings.
The Knicks do not want to end up below the sixth spot because if they do they will have to play in the NBA’s Play-In tournament to try and qualify for the playoffs. They have played 31 games since New Year’s Day. They went 15-2 through the first 17 and have gone 5-9 over the last 14 games. The slide has been due in large part to injuries to several key players, one of whom, OG Anunoby, is expected back any game now.
