The Knicks performed — and misplaced — like they’d a debilitating Luka Doncic hangover.
Two days after their epic collapse in Dallas — once they allowed a 60-point triple-double to Doncic — the Knicks had been pummeled Thursday night time by the rebuilding Spurs, 122-115, for a fifth consecutive loss.
The Mavericks’ defeat was deflating. The Spurs’ defeat was simply miserable.
“The ball was in our paint the whole night,” coach Tom Thibodeau stated. “[Spurs scored] 38 points in the first quarter. They shot a high percentage. They outrebounded us. Then it was too little, too late at the end.”
Thibodeau had an excuse of lacking Jalen Brunson and RJ Barrett, who had been each out with accidents. But the Knicks (18-18) additionally trailed for a lot of the night by double-digits towards one of many league’s worst groups, permitting the Spurs (12-23) to carve up a protection that left its coronary heart in Dallas.
“[Missing Brunson and Barrett] is part of it. But we still scored 115 points,” Thibodeau stated. “That’s enough.”
The first quarter set the tone with the Spurs scoring 38 factors. The Knicks by no means recovered or regained the lead, as San Antonio’s Keldon Johnson and Romeo Langford mixed for 53 factors.
Julius Randle tried his greatest whereas dropping 41 factors in 43 minutes. But the difficulty was protection. And the Spurs took benefit of New York’s laziness — capturing 51% and ending with extra assists than the Knicks (25 to twenty) and rebounds (48 to 38).
It was Brunson’s second straight sport on the inactive checklist due to a sore hip. He warmed up pregame however was dominated out about an hour earlier than tipoff. Barrett’s absence was his first of the season, though he managed simply two minutes in Friday’s defeat to the Mavericks due to a lacerated finger. MSG Network reported through the sport that Barrett’s finger was minimize so deep {that a} tendon was uncovered. As the Daily News reported, Barrett was anticipated to overlook a couple of week due to the harm.
With the Knicks shorthanded, Evan Fournier made his first look in over six weeks and logged 17 minutes off the bench. Fournier, who was fully out of the rotation for 22 straight video games, completed with 11 factors however the Knicks had been outscored by 9 with him on the ground. Miles McBride performed 31 minutes because the beginning capturing guard. Immanuel Quickley dropped 36 factors however did it inefficiently on 12-of-27 capturing.
The Spurs are rebuilding within the twilight of Gregg Popovich’s spectacular profession, getting into Thursday permitting over 120 factors per sport because the NBA’s worst protection. They additionally owned the league’s worst level differential and had been lacking main scorer Devin Vassell with a knee harm.
Still, they carried the Knicks via 4 quarters.
Popovich, 73, the NBA’s all-time chief in victories, hasn’t revealed his retirement plans however he’s already been nominated for the 2023 Naismith Hall of Fame class and isn’t anticipated to teach for much longer.
Around the league, the assumption is former Utah Jazz coach Quin Snyder can be thought-about as Popovich’s alternative.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com