Recaps
Knicks First Lose Porzingis, then Lose to Cavaliers
The Knicks trotted out the same team pre-All Star Break, which resulted in the same losing result.
The gang — somehow still 100 percent intact after the NBA trade deadline — headed to Cleveland for another bloodbath versus the defending champs.
The scoreboard doesn’t tell the whole story here.
Sure, it was another double-digit victory for the Cavaliers, but the Knicks hung in there to keep this game mostly competitive. That is, until LeBron James decided to slam the door shut at the beginning of the fourth, and a ten point lead quickly doubled as the game was immediately thrust out of reach, giving Cleveland their tenth straight victory over a hapless Knicks team that continued its struggle through the All-Star break.
Courtney Lee came out of the gates hot, throwing up 13 points in the first quarter to lead the Knicks to a 33-point first quarter, only trailing the Cavaliers by 1.
What happened after that was a barrage of three-point bombs from Cleveland, led by Kyle Korver, who knocked down six treys on his way to a 20-point performance.
The Knicks, in typically Knicks fashion, staged a short and fake comeback, trimming the lead to as little as seven, heading into the fourth quarter. After a short rest, LeBron came in and snuffed out Lee at the rim, and the Knicks as a whole, emphatically.
However, the largest loss of the night was not to the Cavaliers. New York played the second half without their young star, Kristaps Porzingis, as he exited the game shortly before halftime with a sprained right ankle, per the Knicks’ PR account.
After Porzingis seemingly overcame his lingering achilles woes and rested up during the break, another new injury plagues the Knicks’ 7'3" budding star. He did not return tonight, and his status for Saturday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers is uncertain at this time.
It should be noted that some in the front office fear that Porzingis may have suffered more severe to his ankle, as noted by Kristian Winfield. Hopefully any impending MRI/x-rays tell us more positive news.
The Good:
- Courtney Lee: One of the Knicks’ few bright spots this season, Lee burst out of the gates in his first game after the break. Lee tossed in 25 points (10–15 FG, 3–5 3PT), with six rebounds and five assists. Lee looked to be in a groove off-the-ball tonight, finding space to shoot early, often, and without hesitation. Per the usual, Lee was the only constant plus on both ends for the team tonight.
- Willy Hernangomez: Starting in place of the still-injured Joakim Noah, Willy posted another double-double, with 11 points, ten rebounds, four assists and two blocks in 27 minutes. One can only hope that Hornacek gives Willy the starting position for the rest of this pointless season.
- Lance Thomas: Lance didn’t do anything significant tonight (Nine points, five rebounds) but it was how he moved around out there. For the first time all season, he really appeared to be playing 100 percent healthy. He rotated well defensively for most of the night, and played within his game on the offensive end without forcing anything. It’s not anything to write home about, but this is the kind of effort the team has needed from their bench guys all year. Minimal, efficient offense and solid defense. When Lance is healthy, that’s exactly what he gives you, and it’s great to have him back.
- This Kristaps Porzingis block:
The Bad:
- LeBron James: LeBron James is good at this shootyhoops sport. LeBron is also roughly two assists per game from averaging a triple-double against the Knicks. LeBron posted a triple-double against the Knicks tonight, with 18 points, 13 rebounds and 15 assists. You did this, Phil.
- The Never-Ending Three-Point Barrage: It’s in the scouting report but you’ll never be able to stop it. This team is just LeBron James, Tristan Thompson, and a bunch of dudes who seemingly shoot greater than 40 percent from three-point range. Sure, it’s easy to say “get out on the shooters!” However, LeBron James is still a thing, and he’s smarter than you, myself, and 99.9 percent of professional basketball players. He knows where his shooters are, and will be, and he finds them with sniper accuracy. Tonight, he found Kyle Korver repeatedly, as Cleveland went 15–38 from deep as a team. In comparison, the Knicks went 8–26, which is not ideal.
- Kyrie Irving: Kyrie had himself a quiet 23 point, six assist effort tonight, but I suppose it’s hard to be impressed with that when his competition defensively was Derrick Rose.
- Kyle Korver: He is good at shooting threes (6–10).
- Kristaps’ Injury:
The Knicks are back at it against Philadephia on Saturday, as they continue to tank for Markelle Fultz, er, I mean, look to get back into the ‘W’ column.
— Kyle Maggio, senior staff writer
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