The Knicks played a phenomenal half of basketball on Wednesday night against the Pacers. Unfortunately, it was the first half and the Pacers are a good basketball team that knows how to make adjustments.
The Knicks took a 66-61 lead at half-time, but the mood soured at half-time when it was announced that rookie Immanuel Quickley would lose the rest of the game after suffering a hip blow.
Quickley assumed the ineffective initial role of PG Elfrid Payton and provided a spark for the Knicks once again. After Quickley left the game, everything started to get worse from there. Elf was virtually impossible to play, and the Knicks’ offensive stagnated.
The greatest saving grace throughout the game was RJ Barrett’s strong game. The second-year player looked like an All-Star in the first half, losing 20 points in a perfect 8-8 shot. He would finish just 11-15 for 26 points, however – as if that were a bad thing – to go along with 8 rebounds, 5 assists and only 1 turnover.
Obi Toppin had a strange night, finishing 3-12 off the field – although a very good 3-7 beyond the arc – and threw a dime at RJ.
Julius Randle played a tremendous first half of team basketball, but returned to his usual bullshit as the Pacers moved away.
Alex will have the recap. Have a good weekend.