With Jalen Brunson nonetheless rehabbing from a sprained proper ankle, the Knicks have needed to discover new methods to gas the offense.
The reply in Sunday’s victory over the Portland Path Blazers?
A heavier dose of wings.
OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges every scored 28 factors, because the pair of Knicks forwards affectionately known as “Wing Stop” mixed for 56 factors on 23-of-48 capturing from the sphere to gas a 110-93 victory over the Path Blazers on Sunday.
After struggling consecutive losses to bottom-four groups in every convention, the Knicks have now gained 4 of their final 5 video games.
And consequently, New York has strengthened its maintain on the East’s No. 3 seed, now 3.5 video games forward of the No. 4-seeded Indiana Pacers with solely eight video games remaining on the regular-season schedule.
The Knicks nonetheless have six video games left towards playoff or Play-In contending opponents — however they’ve given themselves a cushion to maintain their document, at the least till Brunson returns to the rotation.
And the Knicks wanted their wings greater than ever on Sunday. Karl-Anthony Cities mustered simply 10 factors and 11 rebounds and 4-of-13 capturing from the sphere.
With out Brunson, the Knicks have leaned on Anunoby, who scored 23 or extra for the sixth recreation in a row on Sunday towards the Path Blazers. Anunoby credited his scoring streak to “being aggressive and trusting his work,” however head coach Tom Thibodeau stated the star ahead who signed a five-year, $212.5 million contract in the course of the offseason is increasing his recreation.
Anunoby shot 11-of-16 from the sphere towards Portland.
“I think it’s all around. I think you see in transition, you see it in post-ups, you see it off the dribble, you see it in (threes), volume threes,” Thibodeau stated forward of tipoff on Sunday. “But I think the main thing is what we can get off our defense getting into the open floor where he’s getting downhill and attacking the rim.”
The Knicks superior to a 7-5 document in video games performed since Brunson’s March 6 damage on Sunday. New York wasn’t solely with out its captain towards the Path Blazers.
The Knicks had been additionally brief sixth man Miles McBride (groin) and veteran level guard Cameron Payne (ankle). Delon Wright began instead of McBride, and rookie Tyler Kolek performed prolonged minutes as soon as once more off the bench.
“We’ve said this all along from the standpoint of, you’re not going to replace Jalen individually. You have to do it collectively, and I think we’ve done that,” Thibodeau stated. “And it’s been good for our group from the standpoint of anytime someone goes out, it’s an opportunity for someone else to go in. But I think our defense and our rebounding, we know that everyone is capable of doing that. And if we lock into that and keep our turnovers down, we know we’ll be in position to win. So that’s what we’re striving for. Continue to improve. And when Jalen comes back obviously that adds a lot to our team.”
Path Blazers ahead Deni Avdija hung a game-high 33 factors on 14-of-25 capturing from the sphere. Avdija had 27 factors and 15 rebounds towards the Knicks on March 12, the third recreation Brunson missed as a result of ankle sprain, and three extra standout performances towards New York predating his commerce to the Path Blazers from the Washington Wizards.
“Terrific. He’s having an unbelievable year,” Thibodeau stated of Avdija forward of tipoff on Sunday. “Just so skilled and doing so many different things. Attacking the basket, making plays, his size, decision-making, plays, his size, ability to get to the rim, score on all different levels. Really developed into a terrific player.”
Subsequent up, the Knicks host the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday earlier than touring to Cleveland for the primary leg of a back-to-back towards the conference-best Cavaliers.
