N.Y. Knicks: No Assistance Needed For The Stingy

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

MLK DAY at MSG

Magic     84

Knicks    91

FINAL

The New York Thibs remain among the top two stingiest teams in the league.  To date, they have yielded an average of 102.7 points through fifteen games.  Monday afternoon against the Orlando Magic marks the fifth time this season the Knicks held an opponent to 100 points or less.  On back-to-back nights they held the Celtics to just 75 points at Boston and then limited the Magic to 84 points on MLK Day at the Garden. 

Speaking of a back-to-back, Julius Randle and RJ Barrett both register double-doubles in each game.  Against the Celtics, Barrett goes for 19 points and 11 rebounds in a curtailed 29 minutes, then on Monday against Orlando scores 22 points with ten rebounds in 38 minutes.  It was Barrett's third double-double of the season.  Randle scored 20 points and secured 12 defensive rebounds against the Celtics then scored 21 with 17 rebounds against the Magic.

However, the worst scoring team in the NBA still is numb to the touch.  The Knicks were just 31/87 (35.6%) from the floor including 5/27 (18.5%) from afar and missed ten free throws (24/34) to boot.  The Knicks also registered a season-low 15 assists.

Rookie Obi Toppin saw nine minutes against Orlando, going 1/3 from the floor and 0/2 from the arc.  In 17 minutes against the Celtics, Toppin scored 12 points with five defensive rebounds.