It lastly occurred. Miles McBride bought his Madison Sq. Backyard second — and it was one to recollect.
As a part of the Knicks’ 143-point demolition of the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday, McBride delivered a highlight-reel dunk that had the sellout crowd on its ft.
With 3:30 left within the fourth quarter and the Knicks up by 33, McBride made a pointy reduce from the left wing.
His defender, Jake LaRavia, turned his head to assist as Jericho Sims screened Tyler Kolek, who was dealing with the ball.
Kolek then slipped a bounce go to McBride, who caught a physique, hovering for a one-handed tomahawk over Memphis’ 7-1 middle, Jay Huff.
“S–t, finally! F–k!” Karl-Anthony Cities exclaimed postgame. “It’s been forever. We’ve been waiting.”
McBride’s punch on Huff, simply his sixth dunk of the season, was a very long time coming, in response to his teammates.
“I see it all the time in practice,” Cities mentioned. “I’m just so happy for him. He’s one guy that shows professionalism every single day — always in the gym, working hard on his game and taking care of his body. Nights like this, when he gets to show his athleticism and what he can do, make me proud as his teammate and brother.”
Mikal Bridges even gave McBride the nod for Dunk of the Evening, regardless of Treasured Achiuwa’s vicious transition tomahawk over Memphis’ 7-footer Santi Aldama.
“Precious just be taking off [all the time],” Bridges mentioned. “But I gotta give it to Deuce. That one was crazy.”
The dunk not solely electrified the Backyard crowd but additionally introduced the Knicks’ bench to life. Cameras caught OG Anunoby rolling on the ground as teammates jumped out of their seats in celebration.
“Shows how much we love each other,” Bridges mentioned. “It’s great. It shows how together we are and how much we want the next guy to succeed.”
“These guys work so hard in this locker room and they get a chance to show their skills in front of their fans, in front of the most famous arena in the world and having the chance to show the work they put in every day and the professionalism that they show to us every single day,” Cities added. “I just think more about that if we do our job, we give our teammates a chance to show what they can do and produce for their families.”
KAT’S PAW
Cities lastly discovered his contact from past the arc.
After going 1-for-10 on three-point makes an attempt since spraining his thumb in a Jan. 13 matchup towards Detroit, Cities hit two of his 4 triples in Monday’s win over Memphis.
“Man, it’s been a struggle, huh? I ain’t gonna lie to you — I was worried my damn self,” Cities admitted. “But shooters always think the next one’s in. My teammates kept the confidence in me, and I just wanted to reward their trust.”
When requested whether or not his improved capturing night time was attributable to rising comfy enjoying with the harm or his sprained thumb truly therapeutic, Cities was fast to make clear.
“It ain’t the last one [the thumb healing],” he mentioned with a smirk. “I think it’s more just getting more comfortable out there.”
Regardless of the stoop, Cities is capturing a career-high 43.2% from three this season. Cities declined to enter element when requested how his thumb feels bodily.
“It feels like we’ve gotten two wins by a great margin,” he mentioned. “And I feel very good when I go home to eat food.”
NEXT UP: JOKIC
The Knicks’ subsequent problem isn’t any small activity — Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets go to MSG on Wednesday. Jokic, a three-time MVP, is averaging a 30-point triple-double this season and stays the centerpiece of a Denver staff in rivalry for the highest seed within the West.
Cities, who has an extended historical past with Jokic from their years as Western Convention rivals throughout his 9 years with the Minnesota Timberwolves, downplayed the matchup.
“[I approach Jokic the] same way I approach every other game: try to be our best, execute our game plan,” Cities mentioned. “He’s a tremendous talent, one of the best we’ve ever seen. It’s always great when you get to play against the best.”
The Knicks will look to copy their Nov. 25 success towards Denver, once they scored a season-high 145 factors in a commanding win. Cities dominated that recreation with 30 factors and 15 rebounds, whereas the Knicks held Jokic to a uncommon off night time — simply 22 factors, 7 rebounds, and seven assists.
