The Knicks’ post-trade hangover lasted just three quarters before they woke up and recovered ferociously in the fourth quarter to a 106-102 victory over the Wizards at the Garden on Thursday.
After a horrible first half, RJ Barrett recovered with 24 points on a night when Julius Randle was not himself.
And Alec Burks (27 points, 15 on fourth), rookie Immanuel Quickley (16 points) and Taj Gibson provided courage and scored off the bench after the Knicks lost 60-45 at halftime and 11 after three quarters.
The Knicks beat Washington 39-24 in the final period. Barrett’s biggest move came in a counterattack when he was tied by Bradley Beal, but it still ended with a three-point move, after which he flexed his biceps. Barrett scored just 7 out of 22 in the night, but rocked the Wizards by nine points in the fourth quarter.
Randle, who injured his thigh in the third quarter, responded in the final two minutes to hit two baseline jumpers to cap the comeback. Randle hit just 5 out of 16 to 13 points.
The Knicks were left without their two best defenders when kicking guard Reggie Bullock and center Nerlens Noel. And they were also left without the usual 1-2 blow in the attack on Randle and Barrett in the first three quarters.
The Knicks were flatter than Kyrie Irving’s Earth in the first half, but the rise in the second half from a 17-point deficit moved them to 0.500 to 23-22.
The Wizards were defeated by 18 points in a wire-to-wire explosion by the Knicks on Tuesday and played the first three quarters in revenge before being attacked in the final period.
After scoring Washington for 37 points on Tuesday, Randle lost 10 consecutive baskets at a time, but still found a way to help at the end of the period, despite struggling.
Before the game, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau was asked about candidates for the playoffs in the East, Miami, Chicago and Boston making major updates to the negotiating deadlines, while his team did nothing to comment.
“I love our team, ” said Thibodeau. “You are watching what others are doing. This is your job. We did what was best for us. That’s what we care about. ”
Two hours later, Thibodeau looked more than frustrated, as his club lost 17 points in the first half. And then it was redeemed.