Coming off a hard-fought road win against the Philadelphia 76ers, the New York Knicks looked to start their four-game week strong by hosting the Sacramento Kings at Madison Square Garden.
From the opening tip, the Knicks set the tone, outscoring Sacramento by nine points in the first 12 minutes of play. The Kings stayed competitive throughout the second and third quarters, battling back and eventually sending the game tied at 72-72 heading into the final quarter.
New York’s depth proved to be the X-factor, as eight different players scored and helped create separation in the final 12 minutes. Jalen Brunson led the way with 28 points, while Mitchell Robinson grabbed 13 rebounds and proved to be the team’s unsung hero.
Dominican star Karl-Anthony Towns added yet another strong double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby contributed 18 and 15 points, respectively.
Robinson = Key Piece
Robinson has proven to be a key piece in the Knicks’ rotation, but injuries have limited his availability. Postgame, he spoke about the team’s plan for managing his workload.
“I want to play every game. And with this plan… I kind of just have to embrace it… So I put my pride and ego to the side, and it’s working out,” Robinson said.
Head coach Mike Brown also emphasized the importance of having Robinson available as much as possible.
“It’s one of the goals, especially playing in back-to-backs. Having him available helps us get a better feel for how to use him,” Brown said.
Robinson’s presence down the stretch helped the Knicks close out the game, even as the Kings cut the lead to five points with under four minutes remaining. Towns sat for much of the fourth quarter to make way for Robinson’s impact off the bench.
With the NBA trade deadline approaching, questions still surround this Knicks team, but it will be interesting to see what moves they make as they look to return to the Eastern Conference Finals.