N.Y. Knicks: California Dreamin'

From the desk: KICKING CANS DOWN 33RD STREET WITH JIMMY

LEFT COAST SWING

THURSDAY

Knicks   119

Warriors 104

FINAL

A fifteen point victory over the Golden State Warriors ... be honest, considering their early schedule, who out there thought the Knicks would start the season win eight wins in their first sixteen games?

Not many, myself included.

The New York Thibs do it again.  A long flight to the Left Coast and playing the front end of back-to-back games means a long bench.  Coach Thibodeau went five deep, with all receiving at least eleven minutes.  Alec Burks led the effort with eleven points and five rebounds in 31 minutes.  Nerlens Noel adds six points, eleven rebounds, and four blocks.  Rookie Obi Toppin squeezed in five points in twelve minutes.

RJ Barrett scores a career-high 28 points on 10/17 from the field, including 2/3 from the arc in a team-high 37 minutes.  Julius Randle drops 16 points, distributes a game-high nine assists, and secures a game-high 17 rebounds in 36 minutes.  Mitchell Robinson was second on the team with 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

The Knicks outrebounded the Warriors by a 55-48 margin and shot an improved 46.3% from the field, including 45.8% from three.

Stephen Curry led the floor with 30 points.

Coach Thib's number one rated defense is at least three points better than the second-place Los Angeles Lakers.

FRIDAY

Knicks   94

Kings   103

FINAL

 

The Knicks defense stays true, but their scoring touch fails them yet again.  Sacramento pulls away down the stretch.  The Knicks were plus-three in total attempts but only convert on 36/94 shots for 38.3% percent from the field.  Mitchell Robinson scores twelve and grabs ten rebounds.  Julius Randle leads the floor with 26 points and 14 rebounds.   The Knicks continue leading the league with the fewest points scored per game yet still lead the league in allowing the fewest points on defense by a 3.6 margin better than the Lakers.  The bench shot just 11/37 (29.7%) from the field for 28 points in 87 minutes.  That just will not do.