The Knicks played nip-and-tuck with the Bulls in Chicago on a Sunday night — NY’s 2nd game of a back-to-back and short-handed with Mitchell Robinson and Taj Gibson out. NY led 74-72 entering the 4th quarter and the game was 93-91 Chicago with 5 minutes left — but Chicago was able to pull out a win in those final 5 minutes.
1. Knicks Allowed Four 3’s at Start of 4th
Playing the 2nd game of a back-to-back on a Sunday night in Chicago, many felt the recently-struggling Knicks would have a hard time with the red-hot Bulls — especially with Robinson and Gibson out. Yet the Knicks played well and hung with Chicago, and in fact led this game 74-68 late in the 3rd, and 74-72 entering the 4th quarter.
But Chicago jumped ahead in the 4th on three 3’s from the corner by Coby White, a 3 by Derrick Jones Jr, and the scoring of DeMar DeRozan. Still this was a 93-91 game, Chicago ahead, with 5 minutes left.
2. Barrett Terrible Shooting But Great D & Rebounding
RJ Barrett was in the middle of a terrible shooting game, but had been playing great defense on Zack LaVine all night — LaVine 5-18 from the floor for 11 pts midway thru the 4th. But in the last 5 minutes, Barrett switched to DeRozan, and LaVine was able to score multiple times on Derrick Rose (a jumper and a drive), or get to the line where he went 6-6; and that was the difference down the stretch.
Barrett finished with 2-12 shooting (0-2 from 3) for 9 pts but had 15 rebounds and a +6.
LaVine was 5-18 with finished 7-20 (0-5 from 3) for 21 pts but a -8.
DeRozan killed the Knicks all night — 10-20 shooting (2-2 from 3; 9-9 from the free throw line) for 31 points.
2. Randle Carries Knicks
Julius Randle was a tour de force all night with 34 pts on 13-19 shooting and 10 rebounds, 3 assists.
Ju has been on ANOTHER LEVEL 😤
📊25 PTS / 9-12 FG pic.twitter.com/jc1Puh52we
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) November 22, 2021
Nerlens Noel didn’t have an exceptionally great game, and with Robinson and Gibson out — Randle and Barrett did the lion’s work on the boards for NY.
Ju. Won't. Miss. pic.twitter.com/29VuW3wKFC
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) November 22, 2021
3. Toppin, Quickley, Burks Provide Strong Bench Play
The Knicks took the lead in the 3rd because of the strong play of their bench — especially Obi Toppin, Immanuel Quickley, and Alec Burks.
AB stands for A Bucket. pic.twitter.com/lJh34I7wLY
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) November 22, 2021
Toppin had 10 pts on 3-5 shooting (2-3 from 3) in 13 minutes; Burks had 13 pts in 29 minutes on 3-6 shooting, and Quickley had 12 points on 4-11 shooting but was 1-8 from 3.
This find from @drose 🥽 pic.twitter.com/Zkde7eJMc6
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) November 22, 2021
Alex Caruso played especially great defense throughout the game.
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