I was nodding off on the couch as the 3rd quarter was ending, and with the Knicks up 16 I figured I could close my eyes for 4 minutes and miss some action. I woke up and the Knicks were up by 4 with 4 minutes left in the game. WHAT???
And then it was a 2 point lead. And then Karl Anthony-Towns barreled in for another score and Minnesota took the lead, 96-95 with 2:48 left.
1. Barrett, Randle, Gibson & Burks to the Rescue
With the blowout long gone, and the Knicks staring into the eyes of an embarrassing loss — the Knicks got their moxie on, and RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, Taj Gibson, Alec Burks and Knicks team Defense stopped it from happening.
- Barrett drove the lane to put the Knicks back up, 97-96 with 1:59 left.
- Karl Anthony-Towns barreled back with 2 free throws to put the Timberwolves up again, 98-97 with 1:44 left.
- Julius Randle powered into the lane and was fouled, hit both free throws for a 99-98 NY lead with 33 seconds left.
- Then the turning point — Towns posted left side and Taj Gibson did all he could do to keep him at bay. Towns got off a tough shot that rimmed in and out with 23 seconds left.
It was then all about free throws, as Minnesota purposely fouled the Knicks. Alec Burks went to the line and went 2-2 — huge free throws with 20 seconds left. Rick Rubio drew a foul on a drive and hit 1 of 2 free throws to make it 101-98 NY. Burks hit two more free throws with 12 seconds left to ice it.
The Defense, the big shots, and Randle and Burks going 6-6 from the free throw line were huge.
Barrett finished with 21 points on 10-20 and a +20.
Randle had 25 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, and a +11.
2. Knicks Survived Sleeping Bear Towns Waking Up
Minnesota had come back in the 4th when Karl Anthony-Towns, who had been sleeping all game, woke up in the 4th. Towns finished with 27 points and 15 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks.
3. Second Team Let Down Again
The Knick starters, led by Elfrid Payton, jumped out to a big lead in the 1st quarter, and NY was up 30-18 at the end of 1 quarter. Payton finished with 11 pts, 7 assists, and a +9.
📽So nice, we're posting it twice. pic.twitter.com/W6u6UiXnp9
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 22, 2021
This was another game where NY’s 2nd team didn’t get it done. Rose was 1-8 for 4 pts and a -12 and Immanuel Quickley was 1-5 for 5 pts and a -10.
The 2nd team was in at the start of the 4th when Minnesota made their comeback.
4. Randle Continues to Play Like All Star
Julius Randle was all everything again. He put on a spin move in the 1st quarter that was probably the quickest spin move made by any Knick ever.
THAT'S OUR GUY RIGHT THERE ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/GZpqXDbIRZ
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 22, 2021
Randle ended the half with a 3, and then of course the big moves and free throws to put the Knicks up for good at the end.
That's how you close out the half @J30_RANDLE pic.twitter.com/3EqqE8ibg1
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 22, 2021
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