Julius Randle was fined $ 15,000 by the NBA, then tried to score 15,000 points in the humble Wizards.
Randle eliminated any lasting frustration from the referee on Washington’s Tuesday at the Garden by scoring 37 points, scoring 7 out of 10 points out of 3, while the Knicks eliminated the Wizards by 131-113. Randle’s seven 3s tied for a career high.
The All-Star striker, who was punished for his fiery comments about the referee’s loss to the Knicks to Philly on Sunday, is the main reason the Knicks were 22-22, already outpacing last season’s total victories.
Randle, who has not lost a game this season, hit 13 out of 24 field shots in the Knicks’ win in a wire-to-wire dispute.
They face the Wizards at the Garden again on Thursday. With another victory, the Knicks would have trained Las Vegas, which had its Over / Under for victories at 22 ½.
Randle scored 35 points in the middle of the third quarter, hitting 3 points on all Washington youths, including Israeli lottery player Deni Avidja and Rui Hachimuru.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau kept Randle for much of the fourth quarter, instead of rolling with newcomer Obi Toppin, the one in the Knicks lottery, who is in crisis. Toppin played just eight minutes and went scoreless for the fourth straight game, with Randle offering a few words of comfort on the bench at the end of the competition.
The Knicks built a 69-49 lead at the break with Randle going for 21 points, hitting 8 of 14 shots, hitting 3 of 4 from the 3-point line.
Center Mitchell Robinson, in his second game back after hand surgery, scored 16 points with 12 rebounds and three blocks. RJ Barrett scored 21 points and Alec Burks added 20.
The starting point guard, Elfrid Payton, returned from an absence of four games due to a thigh strain. He threw a high alley-oop pass to Robinson, who jumped onto the roof of the Garden for Monster Slam.
Before the game, Robinson admitted that it would take a little longer.
“I just have to get back into shape, like playing a game, ” he said. “I have been running a lot. I just have to be in game form again. But it was great to go back there with the guys. ”