Down But Not Out

You can hit them, knock them down, foul them, and they'll keep coming.

Final Score: Knicks 120 - Kings 109
Record: 45-31

Three minutes into the second quarter, De'Aaron Fox sank a pull-up three-pointer to put the Kings up 46-25. Sacramento had built its massive 21-point lead by converting 19 of its first 28 FG attempts (68%). 

In what was essentially a "must-win" game for the Knicks, New York had dug themselves a deep hole and were in deep trouble. 

The Knicks 2023-24 season, which seemed so incredibly promising at points, was teetering.

Earlier in the day, the team announced that Julius Randle, the team's burly, do-everything forward and highest-paid player, needed surgery on his right shoulder, which would sideline him for five months. 

OG Anunoby, NY's best perimeter defender, is still nursing a nagging elbow injury. Mitchell Robinson, the team's best interior defender, is attempting to work his way back from major ankle surgery. Josh Hart, who has been forced to log an absurd amount of minutes, is dealing with a wrist sprain on his shooting hand. 

The Knicks came into Thursday's game vs. Sacramento still reeling from three straight demoralizing, last-second losses. How many haymakers and gut punches can one club take? 

And there they were, down three touchdowns in the second quarter to a talented Kings team that was also fighting for its playoff life. A loss to Sacramento could have sent New York careening toward the Play-In.

It would have been understandable if the Knicks let go of the rope. They were undoubtedly exhausted, both physically and mentally. 

But the thing is, this club doesn't know how to quit. The NovaBockers (Brunson/Hart/DiVincenzo), Deuce, and iHart—these guys don't know the word's meaning. 

So, the players on the floor controlled what they could control: the 35+ minutes remaining in this crucial contest.

On the Knicks' first possession after Thibs called a timeout, Brunson hit a 10-foot floater to cut the lead to 19. New York then got a stop, and Hartenstein hit Hart with a beautiful dime for an And-1 layup. On the Knicks' next trip down the floor, DiVincenzo drilled a triple. 

Those three buckets by the NovaKnicks were part of a 16-2 run that got New York back in the game. And right before the halftime buzzer, Brunson buried a three-pointer to cut the Kings' lead to just eight. 

The home team took control in the third and laid the hammer down in the final frame, cruising to a double-digit victory. After flailing behind by 21, New York outscored Sacramento 95-63 the rest of the game.

It was a win the Knicks needed not just to stop a losing skid and secure their place in the standings (we'll dig into that in a bit). The team (and the fanbase) needed this win for their psyche. Everyone needed something to feel good about. 

Unsurprisingly, it was Jalen Brunson who led the way for New York. Despite Sacramento coming into the contest with the sole focus of slowing down the NY PG, Brunson poured in a game-high 35 points and dished out a game-high 11 assists in 38 minutes. He also played just as hard on the defensive end. The Kings' guards got it going early on, but Knicks defenders made it extremely difficult for them to get good looks over the final three-quarters. Brunson drew multiple charges and had a game-high three steals. 

When asked about Brunson after the game, Kings coach Mike Brown replied, "His mental and physical toughness is extraordinary for a guard. You can hit him, knock him down, foul him, and he's gonna keep coming."

"He's gonna play through you. He's not shying away from contact at all," Brown stated. "He gets to his spots because he's forceful, mentally and physically. And he's strong."

Brown was speaking specifically about Brunson, but those same characteristics define this entire team. Mentally tough. Physically tough. You can hit them, knock them down, foul them, and they'll keep coming.

It's why the Knicks have been so successful since Brunson and Hart arrived in NYC and why they've been able to persevere through all the turmoil and unpredictability this season has wrought. 

And it's why New Yorkers and Knicks fans have fallen in love with this team. 

Other Takeaways and Knicks Notes: