That is how contenders deal with shorthanded opponents: by taking them to the woodshed and delivering an intensive beating.
The Knicks prolonged their spectacular streak to seven wins of their final 9 video games with a 118-85 blowout victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday.
The Pelicans (4-17), limping into Madison Sq. Backyard on a seven-game shedding streak, have now dropped 14 of their final 15 video games. They got here into the matchup lacking key starters Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Herb Jones, in addition to reserves Jose Alvarado and Jordan Hawkins — a playoff-hopeful staff decimated by accidents.
It was an opportunity for the Knicks to atone after almost stumbling simply two days prior in a sloppy efficiency in opposition to the undermanned Charlotte Hornets.
In that sport, regardless of dealing with a roster stripped of LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, Grant Williams, Mark Williams, Nick Richards and Tre Mann, the Knicks barely eked out a one-point victory, weighed down by turnovers and sluggish vitality.
Three days after Thanksgiving, nevertheless, the Knicks regarded rejuvenated. Towards the Pelicans, it was New York allotting the lopsided punishment.
New Orleans didn’t crack double digits till the ultimate minute of the primary quarter, and their complete of 28 first-half factors marked the lowest-scoring half for any staff this season. For the Knicks, it was their finest defensive half in over 20 years, a milestone not seen since a 2001 matchup in opposition to the Golden State Warriors.
“[The Pelicans are a] good offensive rebounding team,” head coach Tom Thibodeau stated earlier than the sport. “I say it all the time: You can’t get here without being a great player, so 1 through 18, they’re all great players.”
Nonetheless, the Knicks didn’t let up, suffocating New Orleans on each ends of the ground. For Mikal Bridges, the sport was a chance to interrupt out of his taking pictures hunch.
The Knicks acquired Bridges from the Nets on the steep value of 5 first-round picks, banking on his means to ship on each ends. After some inconsistent scoring performances — together with an eight-point outing in opposition to Charlotte — there was some trigger for concern.
However on Sunday, Bridges rediscovered his rhythm.
The Knicks wing erupted for a season-high 31 factors on 12-of-19 taking pictures, together with 7-of-12 from three. Bridges sliced by way of the Pelicans’ depleted protection with aggression and confidence — a stark distinction to his latest struggles.
“I think just my teammates, coaches, everybody around me just picking me up, just telling me to stay confident and stay with it,” Bridges stated in his walk-off interview after the sport. “My teammates were finding me and I was just being aggressive as well.”
Forward of tipoff, head coach Tom Thibodeau credited Bridges’ persistence and poise, emphasizing the significance of sticking to fundamentals.
“The thing is the game tells you what to do. I say that all the time, so just shoot good shots. That’s it. If you’re open, you shoot it,” Thibodeau stated pregame. “I think getting easy baskets is important. I think the last two games, we played at a slower pace, so hopefully we get our legs back and play faster. I think moving without the ball, he’s always been a great cutter, he’s always been good in transition, and then the corner 3s, he shot extremely well throughout his career. So just take good shots. It’ll come around.”
Jalen Brunson added 16 factors and 9 assists, whereas Karl-Anthony Cities dominated the glass, knocking down 19 rebounds to go together with 14 factors in simply 25 minutes. With the sport properly in hand, Thibodeau sat his starters — Brunson, Cities and OG Anunoby — late within the third quarter and totally cleared the bench with over 9 minutes remaining within the fourth.
On the defensive finish, the Knicks had been stifling.
No Pelicans participant scored greater than 13 factors, and New York held New Orleans’ starters to a meager 21-of-58 taking pictures (36%). In the meantime, the Knicks rained threes, taking pictures 20-of-45 from past the arc whereas holding the Pelicans to a paltry 4-of-27 from deep.
The win units up an intriguing problem for Tuesday, because the Knicks host the Orlando Magic on the Backyard.
The Magic, presently lacking 2022 Rookie of the 12 months Paolo Banchero resulting from an indirect damage, are removed from a straightforward goal. They journey into New York on a six-game profitable streak, having gained 12 of their final 13 video games — a stark distinction to the Pelicans’ struggles — as they journey Franz Wagner, who’s on a Most Improved Participant of the 12 months marketing campaign.
The Knicks might want to carry the identical vitality and execution they displayed Sunday to take care of Orlando’s surging squad. But when their latest type is any indication, New York is greater than able to answering the bell.
