Knicks Mow Down Bulls. 7 Reasons Why NY 113 Chi 94 on 4-28-21

April 29, 2021 LouV 2020-21 0

The Knicks held a 1-point lead going into the 4th, and then pulled out their secret-weapon scorer Immanuel Quickley from the bench to stun Chicago and romp to an easy, near-20-point win.

NY is now 35-28 in full possession of 4th place with 9 games to go in the season. But they now enter their toughest part of their schedule — the part the media reported in shock when it was first announced — NY plays their next 6 on the road, many against West Coast powerhouses.

How this one went down:

1. Quickley Unleashed

The Knicks had jumped out to an early double-digit lead in this one, but Chicago kept coming back on 3-pt shooting of Garrett Temple, Nikola Vucevic, Lauri Markkanen, and Coby White amongst others. Vucevic, Temple, and Thaddeus Young also hurt the Knicks inside. Zach LaVine was not playing but Chicago looked dangerous without him. Markkanen made a traditional 3-pt play (bucket and foul) with a minute left in the 3rd to put Chicago up by a point for the first time since the beginning of the game.

And that was all the Knicks were going to have about that.

Julius Randle answered with a bucket inside to end the 3rd with NY up 1.

And then Immanuel Quickley took over in the 4th helping the Knicks to the first 10 points of the quarter. On successive plays:

  • Quickley hit a floater,
  • Taj Gibson tipped in a shot,
  • Quickley got fouled and made 2 free throws, and then
  • Quickley hit a big 3 with 10:19 left and NY was up 85-75.

A Huge swing of momentum.

Derrick Rose then hit Obi Toppin for a slam and it was 87-77 NY.

Quickley wasn’t done — more free throws and then a floater for a 91-77 lead. Quickey had scored 11 of the Knicks first 15 points of the quarter. He personally outscored Chicago 11-2.

And then he fouled out — with 6:39 left, Thaddeus Young stole the ball from him and Quickley scrambled after it and made his 6th foul in the scuffle on the floor.

But the ballgame was in the palm of the Knicks hands now.

2. Toppin Play of the Game

Obi Toppin then made the highlights with a driving layup that rolled out but be shot back up to SLAM the rebound home and everyone watching realized why he was a lottery pick and he could be a superstar one day.

When RJ Barrett popped a 3 with 2:39 left to make it 105-89 Knicks it was Ballgame.

3. Randle = MVP

Julius Randle led the Knicks all night — hitting the big buckets early and some late to keep Chicago at bay. He had another MVP night — 34 points on 12-23 shooting (4-7 from 3, 6-6 free throws), 7 rebounds 3 assists, a block and a +21.

4. Barrett Sidekick Star

And RJ Barrett was big in the 4th and all game. His 3 with 2:39 left mentioned above put the lights out for Chicago, but he had other big buckets in the 4th and throughout the game and was RIPPING down big rebounds in traffic, and playing the hound-dog Defense.

Barrett finished with 22 points on 9-15 shooting (3-5 from 3, 1-2 free throws), 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and a +20. He rocked the boxscore. You have to love those efficient shooting numbers — he is becoming a dead-eye dependable outside shooter.

As mentioned, Zach LaVine did not play in this game so it was disappointing not to see the matchup within the matchup.

5. Noel Leads the DEFENSE

Nerlens Noel anchored the tough Knicks defense they laid down in the 4th quarter (and throughout). He had 5 blocks and 4 steals with 8 points (3-6 from the floor and 2-2 in free throws — important free throws at the time midway in the 4th when it was still a game) for a +24.

6. Payton Played Well

And Elfrid Payton played really well in this game — bouncing back from an off night the previous game. Payton led the Knicks to the double-digit lead in the 1st quarter and played well at the start of the 3rd when he was in. He finished with 9 pts on 4-10 shooting (1-1 from 3), 5 assists and a +16.

It was Derrick Rose who was having the tough shooting night in this one — finishing 2-11 for 6 points. But he orchestrated and penetrated well in the 4th, finishing with 6 assists and a +4.

7. Bullock’s Headline

Reggie Bullock had his usual excellent game — 13 pts on 4-8 shooting (3-5 from 3, 2-3 free throws) and a +12 in 36 minutes. He has become the unsung hero of the Knicks — shoots efficiently, plays great ball and doesn’t snare a headline. The Knicks Twitter account didn’t even post a single Bullock highlight for this game.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401307740

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