Knicks Rip Philadelphia 76’ers 112-99

October 28, 2021 LouV 2021-22 0

The Knicks ripped the Philadelphia 76’ers 112-99 on a Sunday night at MSG, taking a 20-point lead in the 2nd quarter and maintaining a double-digit lead until the end.

NY was trailing by 3 points after the 1st quarter, and then got to work — led by Kemba Walker — blowing the 76’ers off the court 36-16 in the 2nd quarter.

Afterwards however, Philly coach Doc Rivers said the first quarter was actually the problem for the Sixers, not the second. He said New York’s physicality and pressure completely took Philadelphia out of its comfort zone, and said that the Knicks were clearly the better team on this night.

1. Kemba Electrifies Knicks

Just when it looked like it wasn’t working out with Kemba Walker this year — he finally got his groove on and shot the Knicks to the big lead.

Kemba missed his first few shots of the game in the 1st quarter and the chatter on Knicks Twitter was for him to sit down and let Kevin Knox or a rookie take his place.

But the Knicks as a team played Philly tough and took command of the game the first 8 minutes of the 2nd quarter — gaining a 9-pt lead with 4 minutes left on the play of Immanuel Quickley, Mitchell Robinson, Alec Burks, and Julius Randle.  And then Kemba Walker hit a 3.  And then another 3 (with 2:49  left). And then an 18 footer. And then another 3 and it was NY 57-40 with 1:18 left in the half.

A Kemba Walker 3 midway through the 3rd period gave NY a 24 point lead. Another 3 pointer by Walker a minute later gave NY a 27-point lead.

Walker finished with 19 points on 7-15 shooting (5-11 from 3) but they were all big shots.

2. Toppin Great

Obi Toppin played another great game — making some spectacular plays. He was active defensively and made like Dr J on some moves to the basket.

Toppin finished with 9 points on 4-7 shooting in 12 minutes — the loudest 9 points you will ever read about.

3. Philly Made Their Run; Knicks Snuffed It

Philly trimmed the 27-point Knick lead down to 18 to end the 3rd quarter, and made their run in the 4th, pulling to within 14 several times — but the Knicks pushed it back to 20 on the shooting of Evan Fournier and Derrick Rose and the inside play of Mitchell Robinson.

A Robinson dunk made it 105-85 NY with 3:56 left. Philly kept knocking on the door but could not get closer than the 13 points they lost by — the Knicks would not let them in.

4. Barrett Bounce Back Game

RJ Barrett got off to a hot start — he was 4 for his first 5 (2-2 from 3) after poor performance his previous two games. Barrett finished with 10 points on 4-10 shooting and 7 rebounds.

Immanuel Quickley and Alec Burks had good games off the Knick bench. It was what you call a ‘solid team win’.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401359874

 

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