Landry Shamet & Knick Reserves Shine Out. NY 113 Brooklyn 105

April 14, 2025 LouV 2024-25 0
Landry Shamet with 29 pts and intense defense. Photo courtesy NY Knicks.

Landry Shamet shot lights out again — but this time for a whole game — scoring 29 points on 9-17 shooting and 7-13 from 3 — as the Knick reserves beat the Nets 113-105 on the final game of the year — at Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn.

The Knicks rested all their starters, and played only reserves — sans Mikal Bridges who started and played half a minute before being pulled so he could keep his consecutive playing streak alive.

The Knick starting 5 also included Cameron Payne (21 pts on 6-13 shooting, 3-7 from 3), Miles McBride (17 pts and 8 assists), Precious Achiuwa (18 pts, 9 rebounds), and P.J. Tucker (6 pts).

The 3rd team became the 2nd team — with Kevin McCullar Jr, Delon Wright, Tyler Kolek, and Pacome Dadiet getting extended minutes, and MarJon Beauchamp and Anton Watson playing as well.

“It was really the medical recommendation that they had,” said coach Tom Thibodeau afterwards with complete straight face and seeming sincerity. “We thought that was the best thing for our team and we’re always going to put that first. It was a good opportunity to give the bench guys extended minutes — and to get a look at them — I thought McCullar was fantastic in the 2nd half; he was huge. Landry big game; Cam big game; PJ made some really tough plays for us; Precious gave us really good minutes; Delon did a very good job as well. It was good for those guys to get extended minutes.”

NY finishes 51-31, the 5th best record in the NBA and a game better than last year. Their #1 pick in the draft — which goes to Brooklyn as part of the Mikal Bridges trade — is set at #26. Had Brooklyn won the pick would have been between #22 and #26. Brooklyn ends the season 26-56.

1. Shamet On Fire

Landry Shamet — who has been ON FIRE off the bench with quick release 3’s from the corner and Intense Defense — was unleashed in this game as a starter, and he did not disappoint. He was ON FIRE throughout, leading NY from the get go.

Shamet, Cameron Payne, Precious Achiuwa, and Miles McBride carried NY to a 38-37 lead after 1 quarter, with Shamet hitting three 3’s — including one with 1.2 seconds left.

Precious Achiuwa was also getting it done — extremely active as the Knicks’ lone big man.

Shamet hit a 3 to start the 2nd quarter, but the Nets came back and were able to take a 7-pt lead at 55-48 as the game went back and forth.

2. Brooklyn Up 10 in 3rd

The Nets were without Cameron Johnson (sore back), D’Angelo Russel (ankle), Ziaire Williams (knee), and have been without Cam Thomas (hamstring) since March.

They had starter Nic Claxton (12 pts, 2 rebounds in 22 minutes) playing, along with key reserves Trendon Watford (20 pts on 8-12) , Jalen Wilson (18 pts on 6-11 shooting, 5-8 from 3), and Keon Johnson (14 pts).

Brooklyn was up by 4 points at the half at 66-62, and went on a 10-2 run to start the 3rd, taking a 74-64 lead with 8:38 left.

3. Knicks Take Command in 3rd with 17-0 Run

Brooklyn was up 79-70 with 5:50 left in the quarter when the Knicks went on a 17-0 run — starting with a technical free throw by Cameron Payne.

Miles McBride got a bucket and free throws to slice the lead further, and then Cameron Payne with a drive and a 3 to give NY an 80-79 lead.

 

Then Shamet hit a 3, Precious hit a drive inside, and Kevin McCullar Jr. hit free throws and NY was up 87-79.

4. Nets Pull within 2 with 4 Minutes Left

Tyler Kolek was at the point for NY to start the 4th, and NY maintained a 9-pt lead thru the first few minutes of the quarter.

NY was up 103-96 with 5:26 left in the game when a Drew Timme floater and Trendon Watford 3 pulled Brooklyn to within 105-103 with 4:05 left.

5. Knicks D & Shamet Win It

But the Knick D intensified. With Delon Wright in at the point, NY outscored Brooklyn 8-2 down the stretch, with free throws by Landry Shamet off a drive, a big bucket by Precious Achiuwa, a deuce by Delon Wright, and a layup by Landry Shamet with 24 seconds left to ice it.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401705754

 

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