N.Y. Knicks: Eight is Great

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

Midweek Thriller at the Garden

WEDNESDAY

Hawks   127

Knicks   137

FINAL/OT

Three Overtime Victories Highlight Eight Game Winning Streak

Julius Randle may be the shining star on this team, but Derrick Rose is the quiet captain since his arrival from Detroit.

Eight games ago, the Knicks took Memphis into overtime and won by four; Rose scored 19 points in 26 minutes.  Last Sunday, the Knicks took New Orleans into overtime and won by ten; Rose scored 23 points, his most since joining the Knicks.  On Wednesday, he calmly helped gear up his mates for yet another extra session. 

A two-point deficit at halftime was increased to seven points after three quarters.  But once Derrick Rose tied the game at 109-109 with 6:25 left in regulation, Julius Randle scored ten of his game-high 40 points in the remaining minutes of the fourth to send this game into overtime.  Once there, the Knicks outscored the Atlanta Hawks 15-5 for a ten-point margin of victory.

Julius Randle continues leading the league with 37.5 minutes per game.  Under Coach Thibs, he's been making the most of it.  With 10.4 rebounds and 23.9 points per game, Randle is one of just 14 NBA players averaging a double-double for the season.  He is presently averaging 27.0 points per game through twelve games in April.  Wednesday's effort was the second time in his last four games that Julius scored at least 40 points.

Derrick Rose absolutely helped facilitate the win with 20 points and a plus-14 in 30 minutes off the bench.  Immanuel Quickley also contributed 20 points in 30 minutes, but his game-high plus-29 proved the most imperative contribution of all.

Atlanta's Clint Capela led all players with 22 rebounds.  However, the Knicks outrebounded the Hawks 49-41, led by eleven from Randle and a team-high twelve from Nerlens Noel, who literally rendered blood for the cause.  

Team Thibs pulled this game out despite eleven fewer possessions.  Reggie Bullock added 18 points in 40 minutes, and RJ Barrett connected for 16 points, six rebounds, and five assists in 41 minutes.

The Knicks improved their record to 33-27 (.550) and move into fourth place, one half-game ahead of the Hawks in the Eastern Conference standings.  They remain the stingiest team in the league, allowing an average of 104.7 points per game, and their 20 home victories rank third-most in the conference.

And, yes, they are now winners of eight in a row!