Deuce McBride took charge from the start and had a great all-around game, start to finish. Photo courtesy NY Knicks
Miles McBride stepped up and took charge from the 1st quarter on, and the Knicks Defense and 3-pt shooting took it from there, blowing out the Kings in Sacramento on a Monday night.
OG Anunoby (24 pts, 8 assists, and a +23) and Mikal Bridges (15 pts and a +29) excelled on the wings, Karl-Anthony Towns (26 pts on 8-15) dominated inside and out, Josh Hart did damage from everywhere (18 pts on 6-11, 4-6 from 3 and a +29) and the bench dominated as well.
Mitchell Robinson was a tour-de-force on D with 4 steals and a +26 in 16 minutes, and Landry Shamet had 13 pts on 5-7 shooting (3-4 from 3) in 24 minutes. McBride finished with 21 pts on 7-11 shooting (4-5 from 3), with 7 assists, 2 steals, and a +32.
“I thought all around: the defense very good, the rebounding very good; sharing the ball, taking care of the ball — I think those things were huge for us,” said coach Tom Thibodeau afterwards. “Defensive activity — 13 steals; and then getting into the open court, getting those easy baskets. I think Mitch had great impact on the game. I thought OG was phenomenal. Mikal the same. A lot of playmaking. And then Deuce gave us a great all around game, start to finish.”
1. McBride Takes Command from the Start
With Jalen Brunson expected to be out for several weeks with the badly sprained ankle, the Knicks have been looking for Deuce McBride to take over at the point — but he shot poorly in his first game as the starting point guard against the Clippers (2-13 for 7 pts) and was coming off several poor shooting games in a row before that (0-6 against the Lakers, and 2-7 vs Golden State).
Not this game — he came out and took charge from the start with 16 pts in the 1st quarter — going 5-5 from the floor (including 2-2 from 3) and 2-2 from the free throw line.
pic.twitter.com/7k9JjdgaEN
— Strickland Vids (@StricklandVids) March 11, 2025
2. Mitch Leads Defensive Shut Down in 1st Quarter
Meanwhile Mitchell Robinson came in with 5:40 left in the 1st quarter and NY up 15-12 — and applied a Defensive intensity that turned the game. He ripped down a defensive rebound, ripped down an offensive rebound, then stole the ball from Zach LaVine that led to a McBride drive and free throws for a 25-17 Knick lead.
pic.twitter.com/cdDInyDpcW
— Strickland Vids (@StricklandVids) March 11, 2025
A Robinson pass outside to McBride for a 3 gave NY a 28-20 lead.
The Knicks wings were also playing Great D.
Bridges hit a floater, and made free throws off a drive. A McBride 3 ended the quarter with the Knicks up 37-22 and in command.
3. KAT, OG, and Bridges Cook in 2nd Quarter
Cameron Payne took over to start the 2nd quarter, with a drive and a 3.
But Malik Monk started to do his thing for Sacramento off the bench — denting the Knick lead with a couple of floaters, free throws off a drive, and a dunk — pulling Sacramento to within 13 and 46-33.
Monk free throws pulled Sacramento to within 10 midway thru the 2nd quarter — but it was their last hurrah.
Bridges, Towns, Hart, and OG had answers — and the Knick D intensified.
count it for the big man 💪➕1️⃣ pic.twitter.com/FM2FUQA5kv
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 11, 2025
A Bridges dunk off a McBride assist put NY up 18 with 3:04 left in the quarter.
NY took a 66-51 lead into the lockerroom at the half.
4. Knicks Attack from Everywhere in 3rd
It was more of the same in the 3rd — intense Knick D, OG was everywhere, as was Bridges, KAT was scoring inside and out, Josh Hart was knocking down jumpers, and McBride was orchestrating.
what’s the weather in sacramento?
IT’S RAINING THREES ☔️ pic.twitter.com/YsVBHjg5MT
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 11, 2025
NY moved their lead to 103-77 to end the period.
5. Bridges Shuts Down LaVine
Meanwhile Mikal Bridges was shutting down Zach LaVine, who could not get open for shots. LaVine shot 5-10 for the game (2-4 from 3) for 17 pts and a -31.
Hart shut down DeMar DeRozan, who had 11 pts on 4-10 shooting in 28 minutes. OG shut down Keegan Murry who only had 9 pts on 4-11 shooting (1-6 from 3) in 31 minutes.
6. Shamet Brings it in 4th
Landry Shamet and Karl-Anthony Towns took over the Knick scoring to start the 4th. When Bridges hit a 3 with 7:32 left, NY was up 116-89 and the rout was on.
The Boxscore
https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401705505