If you want to see an NBA All-Star in action, feel free to tune in to the MSG the next time the New York Knicks play. Julius Randle made an emphatic defense for the All-Star’s consideration on Monday night, hoping his team would win an Atlanta Hawks game 123-112.
Was Randle any good? Try 44 points in 14-22 shots, including 7 three points, the best of career, to go along with 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Randle started with 17 points in the first quarter while the Knicks reached an initial lead of 13 points. But the Hawks returned to the game in the second quarter thanks to some hot shots and some absolute shit in favor of Trae Young.
The Knicks grabbed a three-point lead in half, and the Hawks absolutely blew the doors open to start the third, building a quick 7-point lead. The matches looked slow and Tom Thibodeau still wouldn’t make any changes. We’ve seen this scam happen so many times over the years.
This time, however, Randle would not let the Knicks go in silence. He scored three in a row to reduce Atlanta’s lead, and his teammates recovered behind him, taking the lead at the end of the third.
The fourth half remained tense until Randle struck again, hitting this filthy jumper at the end of the clock to put the Hawks to bed.
But this game was more than just Randle. We are going to give credit to RJ Barrett (21 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists), who hit a pair of clutch triples in the fourth, this time with a beautiful feed from Immanuel Quickley.
This formation desperately needed RJ to take down 3s and he came in the clutch twice. Watch him all this play, how smart he is moving without the ball. He cuts in half at the perfect moment and forces Collins to make a difficult choice. Nice ride and IQ dish too. pic.twitter.com/i2tYxY95RJ
– Tom Piccolo (@Tom_Piccolo) February 16, 2021
Quickley did his job, as usual, with 16 points and 5 assists. Look at that nonsense.
In the end, however, the victory belonged to Randle. And his companions knew that. Take it away, Theo Pinson!
Julius Randle forever! To recap soon.