The New York Knicks and Kevin Knox fought tooth and nail, but couldn’t overcome a 24-point deficit against the Philadelphia 76ers.
- New York Knicks 105 (10-33)
- Philadelphia 76ers 108 (28-16)
- NBA, Final, Box Score
- Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
The New York Knicks were down 24 points, and then just 16 at halftime. They battled to late in the fourth quarter, worked the 76ers lead down to one, but fell nonetheless 108-105.
Kevin Knox and Luke Kornet are the stories of the game. They combined for 54 points and 12 rebounds, with Knox setting a new career-high at 31 points.
The only players younger than him to score 30 are Jaren Jackson Jr., Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant.
Correct me if wrong, but I think that’s pretty good. The Knicks outscored the 76ers by 11 points when Knox was on the floor.
Beast mode @KevKnox ? pic.twitter.com/cMWJnguCFI
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 13, 2019
It was his best game thus far, by far. Knox was aggressive down the lane and making smart plays defensively.
He really turned it on in crunch time, scoring his 31st point on a three to cut the Sixers lead to four with just seconds left.
That display of instinct should excite Knicks fans, as the team inches closer and closer to Kristaps Porzingis return. And hopefully, winning basketball games.
Then there’s big man Luke Kornet, who matched his career-high with 23 points on 7-for-13 shooting from the field.
For the talk that circles New York youth, he doesn’t get talked about nearly enough. Kornet was playing Embiid about as good as you can late in the fourth, and like Knox, hit a clutch three late to keep the team in the game.
The big man is getting better every day at moving without the ball, and he led the entire second unit today. Kornet finished as a plus-25 today, a team-high, and in a game the Knicks lost.
No look ✅
Big Luke ? pic.twitter.com/RBVx1xQxVu— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 13, 2019
Frank Ntilikina even saw some significant playing time, which hasn’t been common between DNP’s and his ankle sprain.
The second-year point guard finished with eight points, six assists, and two steals in 28 minutes. Note: Today was one of New York’s best games defensively all season. One has to wonder if there’s any correlation to Ntilikina having played 28 minutes.
Halftime Highlight ✨
??? ? the rook for the finish pic.twitter.com/5thpnzJ9OS
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 13, 2019
It was an exciting game for a team that’s lost 17 of their last 19, and I don’t use that word lightly when it comes to this team. Following a missed Damyean Dotson free throw, the team had a chance to tie the game behind an Emmanuel Mudiay three-point try.
If you didn’t watch the game, this won’t come as much surprise, but he missed — along with four other tries from deep. Mudiay’s shooting 32 percent from deep this season, but good on him for pulling the trigger on a potential tying three ball.
New York will travel overseas and represent the NBA in London, in a game against the Washington Wizards on Thursday. Tip-off is 3:00 p.m. EST.
