The streak is over.
The hottest staff within the NBA misplaced to the coldest on Wednesday night time, when the Knicks folded down the stretch and succumbed to a profession night time from Pascal Siakam in a 113-106 defeat to the Raptors.
Siakam completed with a career-high 52 factors, together with the dagger and-one lay-up with 15 seconds remaining. It was the primary 50-point sport at MSG since James Harden dropped 61 for the Rockets in 2019.
“It’s cool, obviously,” Siakam mentioned after getting doused with water in a locker room celebration. “Obviously I’m not a super basketball historian. I didn’t start basketball till late and I’m learning about these things. But I know how special this building is. And I think that for me — the more important thing is my team needed every bucket to get a win.”
Siakam’s dominance meant the Raptors (14-18) concurrently snapped their six-game dropping streak and New York’s eight-game successful streak.
The Knicks (18-14) led by a degree after RJ Barrett’s thunderous dunk with 3:20 remaining, however got here up empty on their subsequent three possessions — together with a blown lay-up from Julius Randle when the ball slipped from his palms — and the Raptors pounced. Overall, the Knicks obtained spirited offensive performances from Barrett (30 factors) and Randle (30 factors, 13 rebounds), however Jalen Brunson was bottled up whereas managing a season-low seven factors on 3-of-14 taking pictures.
“The way I played, I feel terrible. It’s unacceptable on my part,” Brunson mentioned. “Five turnovers, just way too much. Shots I make with ease, I missed. Not going in the basket. I’m just disappointed in my turnovers and it’s just unacceptable on my part.”
Brunson and the Knicks had hassle cracking Toronto’s zone protection and dedicated 16 turnovers.
“I put it on us. We knew it coming in and we just didn’t execute, so that’s on us,” Randle mentioned. “That’s on the players, on the team.”
Siakam, in the meantime, shot 17-for-25 with 9 rebounds, seven assists and left with the sport ball.
“I haven’t had one of those in forever,” he mentioned. “There’s always a first.”
The Knicks have been lacking their two-way cog within the lineup, Quentin Grimes, who suffered a sprained ankle the night time prior towards the Warriors. Grimes continued to play after the damage Tuesday and logged 32 minutes, offering hope that he may keep away from any missed video games.
But the 22-year-old wing was dominated out after warmups Wednesday.
“Normally when something like that happens the next day he has to go through the protocols and see where he is and if he needs a day, he’ll get the day. If he doesn’t, he’ll be out there,” Tom Thibodeau mentioned. “I don’t think it’s anything long term.”
Wednesday’s loss underscored the significance of Grimes, whose perimeter protection had re-established the staff’s being stingy with factors. Grimes crammed the outlet left by Reggie Bullock, who was the unsung hero of the Knicks run to the 2021 playoffs however left for the Mavericks within the following free company.
Last season — with out Bullock — the protection fell aside. And on Wednesday, the Knicks gave up extra factors — 113 — than any of their earlier seven non-overtime video games.
“[Grimes] competes. I noticed that last year when he got minutes,” Randle mentioned. “He doesn’t try to get out of character and do something he’s not comfortable doing offensively. But I know defensively, he’s going to compete on the ball, he’s going to fight over screens, try to make it tough for the other guy and accept the challenge. You got to love a guy like that.”
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com