The league has done the world champion Knicks (2-3) no favors to start the new campaign. Their first four games were matches against playoff teams, and when they finally faced an easier opponent, it was a road game on the second night of a back-to-back.
Tonight’s opponent, the Chicago Bulls (1-4), came into the game as the NBA’s worst perimeter shooting team, but you wouldn’t believe it as they hit 43% from deep and took the Knicks to the wire. If New York was fatigued after beating Detroit last night,
they benefited from huge minutes by reserves Tyler Kolek (9 PTS, 9 AST, 0 TO, 18 MIN), Jordan Clarkson (18 PTS, +15, 17 MIN), and Landry Shamet (14 PTS, 5 AST, 32 MIN).
With the second unit cooking, and double-digit points from three starters—Jalen Brunson (38 PTS, 7 AST), Karl-Anthony Towns (19 PTS, 13 REB), and OG Anunoby (23 PTS, 6 REB)—the Knicks overcame a 19-point deficit in the third quarter to win in the fourth, 133-127.
This summer’s fourth draft pick, Caleb Wilson (20 PTS, 6 RBS, 2 STL, 1 BLK), is a fixture of the rebuilding Bulls. He showed his pop when dunking over OG Anunoby in the first quarter and thefting two steals. Should he add any muscle, the kid might live up to his confidence.
Last night, Mikal Bridges got back on track against Detroit. He continued it tonight with an early corner bomb, but got a quick hook and played just nine first-half minutes.
The eleventh pick two years ago, Matas Buzelis (17 PTS), mixed in a three-pointer and a couple of free throws. Chicago came into the night ranked 30th in the league for long-range shooting. Their play supported that rotten rating, as they converted just 2-of-10 from deep in the first 12 minutes, while the visitors shot 5-of-9 from the yard.
Midway through the period, Chicago’s Noa Essengue was knocked into Karl-Anthony Towns. KAT appeared to injure his wrist when he fell to the floor and went to the locker room for treatment. With two minutes remaining in the quarter, Towns returned with a taped left wrist and was accompanied by Anunoby, Bridges, and Tyler Kolek. The latter made his first trey of the season with a minute to go in the period. After six lead changes, New York sat on top at the break, 34-33.
The second quarter saw five more lead changes, as the teams took turns leaping ahead. Kolek continued to dish, hitting Anunoby for an alley-oop and a three. Chicago had an answer for every score, with New York playing less enthusiastic defense than they did 24 hours earlier against Detroit. Blame fatigue. Jordan Clarkson gave them six points in support, and the team was generating second looks (10 offensive rebounds in the half), but they failed to give themselves breathing room. Miles McBride went scoreless on six shots, and Bridges missed his only attempt of the quarter and committed a turnover before being yanked again.
Chicago closed the half on a 13–3 run, thanks to timely baskets from Buzelis and Normal Norman Powell (30 PTS, 10-15 FG), and Tre Jones’ last-second buzzer-beater gave the hosts a 62-56 lead, their largest of the night.
Through the half, the Knicks were outshot 45% to 37%, and their 10 turnovers gifted the Bulls 12 points. The home team had a 28-20 advantage in the paint, despite the guests winning the boards 31-26. New York had shot better from deep (33% to 26%), but the Chi-Guys were capitalizing on easier baskets. Brunson led all scorers with 16 points, while Buzelis had nine.
KAT scored five quick points and dished to Anunoby for a dunk, but then the big fella’s fourth foul banished him to the pine at 9:03. While he sat, Chicago hit the gas. Powell drove to the cup, while Josh Giddey (10 PTS, 11 RBS) doled out three dimes and added a jumper. In a blink, the halftime lead had jumped from six to 13. Our heroes continued to squander their chances: Bridges missed twice before Shamet replaced him, and Anunoby blanked on two threes and was blocked by Buzelis at the rim. The Bulls scored nine unanswered to push their lead to 19 halfway through the frame.
From there, Captain Brunson ignited a 22-7 run. Jalen scored six of those, Kolek added his second and third triples of the night, and Drummond had some nifty cleanups at the rim. In the final second, Anunoby fouled Powell, who made two freebies. Chicago’s once-formidable lead was just 96-90.
Onto the fourth we went. Towns and Clarkson hit threes, as did Isaac Okoro for the villains, and Kolek added a steal. The third-year man has had at least one steal in each game he’s played this season. With a sprained ankle keeping Jose Alvarado out, Kolek is certainly making the most of his minutes. He distributed five assists while Brunson rested, and New York’s 14-8 run tied the score at 104 with just over eight minutes left.
Clarkson gave New York its biggest lift off the bench, scoring 12 fourth-quarter points and stealing consecutive Chicago passes to set up a Shamet three and his own layup.
That steady vet Powell kept answering for Chicago, but the Knicks were getting contributions throughout the lineup. Brunson scored 13 points after checking in at 7:04, hitting three triples as New York’s lead reached 11. His last three, following Hart’s offensive rebound, made it 130–122 with 1:39 remaining.
Jalen Smith (17 PTS, 11 RBS, 5 AST) buried a corner three to pull Chicago within three with 46 seconds left. Powell missed a potential tying triple, leaving New York ahead 130–127 with nine seconds on the clock. Cap and OG made their free throws. Ballgame.
Up Next
My notes say that Mo has a recap coming your way. The Knicks host Philly at home on Friday for a Cup game. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.
