Mitchell Robinson ripped down 18 rebounds and scored 14 points on 7-8 shooting to carry the Knicks to the Tuesday night win in Minnesota. RJ Barrett also helped with a strong 4th quarter – making amends for a horrible shooting night until then – he scored 8 points all in the 4th; big buckets all.
1. Robinson Leads League in FG %
Mitchell Robinson came into the game leading the league in field goal percentage at .776 – a higher number than when he set the all-time single-season record with .7419 in 2019-20. But he doesn’t qualify yet this year; once he does, he will have a sizeable lead over current leader Rudy Gobert at .716.
.@23savage____ on clean up duty 🧹 pic.twitter.com/UPR9fLRXMT
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 29, 2021
Robinson was only 3-4 from the floor at the half, which actually was lowering his percentage – but he finished 7-8 to slightly raise it. In the 4th quarter, he was a beast on both the boards and slam dunks inside off alley oops or offensive rebounds.
2. Barrett Big 4th
RJ Barrett was playing his 2nd game after a 10-game COVID protocol hiatus and looked rusty. Quentin Grimes was having another stellar game off the bench (4-11 shooting, 3-9 for 3 for 11 pts and a +6) while RJ entered the 4th quarter with zero points on 0-7 shooting.
But in the 4th, RJ took it to the basket for baskets and hit a big 3 – going 3-3 for 8 points – all huge buckets in the close game.
LET'S GO RJ. pic.twitter.com/F37jzUxJFl
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 29, 2021
3. Knicks Stave Off Wolves in 4th
NY came into the 4th with a 10-pt lead before the Wolves clawed to within 4 with 6 minutes left off a Jake Layman layup. But RJ Barrett took it to the basket for a bucket to up the Knick lead back to 6.
Greg Monroe (who signed a 10-day contract with Minnesota due to so many of their players missing with COVID protocols) made a bucket to pull the Wolves back to within 4, but again it was RJ Barrett answering – this time with a huge 3 to put NY back up by 7 with 4:13 left.
RJ CORNER POCKET 🎯 pic.twitter.com/hYZLoXEV1Y
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 29, 2021
With the game 90-85 NY – Barrett made a bucket off a Kemba Walker assist to put NY back up by 7 again with 1:12 left. And that was the old ballgame.
Etcetera
Julius Randle had 13 pts, 15 rebounds and 2 assists although he shot poorly (5-20 and 1-5 from 3). Obi Toppin electrified off the bench again – although Tibs only played him 11 minutes which caused questions from reporters after the game. Toppin was 3-3 (1-1 from 3) for 7 pts.
Evan Fournier had 13 points on 5-14 shooting.
Be the first to comment