Knicks Escape Thanks to Bridges Block, KAT Buckets and Deuce Doing Everything

“I’m just very thankful for his long-ass arms.” - Brunson on Bridges

Final Score: Knicks 113 - Bulls 111
Record: 37-18

The bad news: The Knicks continued their trend of playing down to weak opponents Thursday vs. the Bulls.

The good news: The Knicks continue to find ways to win ugly games.

Hosting a Bulls team that had lost four straight games by 20+ points, New York came out of the All-Star break super sloppy early on, allowing Chicago to hang close in the first half. The Knicks were able to build a double-digit lead midway through the contest thanks to a KAT explosion in the third quarter, but lapses on the defensive end allowed the visitors to creep back in and eventually take the lead late in regulation.

With less than 30 seconds remaining in regulation, New York was trailing by two points before Jalen Brunson drilled a step-back 15-foot to even the score. On the final possession of the fourth quarter, Billy Donovan drew up a great play designed to get their center and leading scorer the ball underneath the rim (as he knew NY would switch the down screen). It worked perfectly as Nikola Vucevic caught the ball in the restricted area with a small defender pinned underneath the basket.

However, Mikal Bridges made an incredible block to save NY's bacon and send the contest into overtime. Karl-Anthony Towns closed out the show in OT, scoring six of his team's nine points, as he and Jalen Brunson worked their two-man magic. The only other Knick to score in overtime was Miles McBride, whose contested three-pointer was a huge momentum-shifter in the extra session.

Although KAT racked up more incredible numbers, and JB posted solid stats as well, the game ball from Thursday's victory 100% belongs to Deuce.

With both Josh Hart (knee) and OG Anunoby (foot) sidelined (more on those two in a bit), McBride made his first start of the season and was incredibly impactful on both ends of the floor. Deuce finished with 23 points (9-of-19 FGs) with six rebounds, three assists, three steals, three blocks, and five three-pointers in 42 minutes.

McBride is just the second player in Knicks franchise history to tally at least five treys, three steals and three swats in the same game.

He also became the first player in the NBA this season to tally at least five three-pointers, three steals, three blocks and three dimes in a single game. Deuce also didn't commit a single turnover in the win over Chicago. Per Basketball Reference, the only other player in NBA history to match or exceed those stats in those categories with zero turnovers was Raja Bell back in 2006.

"Whenever he's in the starting lineup or comes off the bench, he has the same mentality, the same energy," Brunson said of McBride after the game. "I just love the way he's grown into the player he is, the way he works, the confidence, the way he's been successful. Very proud of him, very happy for him. Just love to see him out there, whenever he's out there."

Plenty of fans have been calling for Thibs to consider inserting McBride into the starting lineup since the start of the season, and we saw why they have a valid argument Thursday night inside MSG.

McBride's ability to stretch the floor, especially by taking and making above-the-break three-pointers, opens up new paths to success for this Knicks offense. While OG and Bridges are phenomenal shooters from corners, neither are confident stepping into triple tries from the top of the key or the wings.

On the season, KAT and Deuce are the only Knicks shooting above 40% from above the break. In fact, they are two of only 20 players in the NBA shooting north of 40% on more than 125 such attempts. Conversely, Bridges is 46-of-167 this season (28.7%) from this zone. Hart and OG are both around 36%.

McBride is the only player in the NBA this season with more than 100 assists, more than 50 made three-pointers and 30 or fewer turnovers.

When you factor in his defense, particularly at the point of attack, and incredibly team-friendly contract (he'll make just $8.2 million over the next two seasons COMBINED), and you understand why the Knicks considered McBride all but untouchable at last month's deadline and in trade talks this summer.

And, by the way, last night was not an anomaly. Over his past ten career starts, Deuce is averaging 19.3 points, 3.3 assists (vs. 0.7 turnovers), 3.2 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 4.0 made three-pointers, while shooting 43.9% from downtown.

Defend like a demon, knock down open looks and take care of the basketball. That's Thibs' dream "create a player."

Other Takeaways and Knicks Notes:

🏀 KAT started out ice cold Thursday night, missing 13 of his first 15 FG attempts, but caught fire in the third, making seven straight shots. Towns finished the contest with 32 points, 18 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two three-pointers in 43 minutes.

As of two weeks ago, no player in Knicks franchise history had tallied more than 35 points, more than 12 rebounds, more than three treys and multiple steals in a game.

During the Knicks' current three-game winning streak, KAT is averaging 38.7 points, 13.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 4.0 made three-pointers and 2.3 steals.

However, on the flip side, Towns' defense has been underwhelming, especially in these past two OT contests vs. Atlanta and Chicago. Vucevic was just 9-of-21 from the floor, but he missed a lot of bunnies. KAT continues to get abused in pick-and-roll action and offers limited assistance as a help-side defender.

Thibs has to find ways to hide him defensively. I thought the coach did a solid job yesterday of having Precious guard Vooch in the second half and sticking Towns on one of Chicago's less offensively-minded wings, such as Matas Buzelis, Ayo Dosunmu or Julian Phillips.

That's how the Wolves often got the best defensive metrics out of Towns last season when he played alongside Rudy Gobert (certainly something to keep in mind when Mitch Rob returns).

Also, credit to Thibs for subbing out both KAT and Brunson when the Knicks needed a single stop on the final possession. The head coach had been hesitant to do that with Julius Randle last season, so it's a step in the right direction.

Ideally, we'll see more Deuce/Bridges/Hart/OG/Mitch configurations late in games when the time/score situations call for a defense-first lineup.

🏀 Brunson struggled with his jumper, shooting just 8-of-21 from the floor (including several uncharacteristic missed shots in crunch time), but still finished with 22 points, three rebounds, 12 assists, one steal, one block, and two three-pointers in 38 minutes.

Asked about his reaction to Bridges' game-saving swat, Brunson replied: "I mean, at first, I was like 'Oh my God.' And then he makes the play, and I'm like, 'Oh, good.' I'm just very thankful for his long-ass arms."

🏀 In addition to the block of the season on Vooch, Mikal Bridges chipped in 13 points, 10 boards and five dimes (his first double-double as a Knick). His rejection at the buzzer generated the headlines, but Bridges' defense on Coby White all night was just as important. White, who has torched New York in previous trips to MSG, scored just two points over 44 possessions when primarily defended by Bridges.

"I don't doubt Mikal Bridges against anybody in the NBA," Towns told reporters after the win. "If he's defending them, it's gonna be a tough night. Shout out to him for doing what he does best in the biggest play of the game."

🏀 Precious Achiuwa logged a game-high 46 minutes and ended up with 11 points, nine boards and three steals. His defense on Vucevic was solid, and he also did a fantastic job switching onto White and preventing him from getting a look on Chicago's final opportunity in overtime. However, the Knicks' offense tends to bog down with Achiuwa on the floor due to a lack of spacing, as opposing defenders sag off Precious and clog the lane.

🏀 Cam Payne was just 1-of-5 from the floor, but he dished out five dimes in 17 minutes... Landry Shamet hit a pair of three-pointers and played solid defensively… Ariel Hukporti was again impressive in limited action, grabbing five boards and hitting an iHart floater in the lane. His block in the fourth quarter got the Garden riled up. He has earned increased opportunities, even when the team is back at full strength. Let's hope he gets them.

🏀 As for when the entire roster is available, this afternoon's injury report will be very telling.

After we got encouraging news regarding OG Anunobty on Wednesday (Thibs told reporters that OG was a full participant in 5-of-5 practice), many assumed he would be good to go vs. Chicago.

However, New York ruled him out prior to tipoff, which raised some eyebrows.

Let's recap OG's injury timeline:

• Anunoby was initially sidelined 20 days ago when he suffered a non-contact injury in the third quarter of NY's victory over the Lakers.

• Knicks fans gasped when they saw OG clutch his lower leg, crumble to the floor in pain and limp off the court.

• That night, the Knicks announced Anunoby was out for the game due to a "sprained right foot," which allowed fans to breathe a sigh of relief.

• Speaking with the reporters after that game, head coach Tom Thibodeau said X-rays were negative, and he was unsure if Anunoby would undergo an MRI exam.

• OG missed his first game of the season two days later; however, Thibodeau encouragingly said OG was dealing with only a "mild sprain."

• Anunoby remained sidelined for the next few contests, and on Feb. 9, ESPN's Shams Charania reported OG was dealing with "a toe issue."

• That same day, Thibodeau said Anunoby did "some work" with the team and was "close" to returning.

• At that point, it was assumed OG would remain sidelined through the All-Star break, but on Feb. 11, he was upgraded to questionable, and Thibs said OG would be a game-time decision.

• Anunoby would be ruled out of that contest and sit out the Knicks' final game before the break.

• It was assumed that OG would suit up last night versus Chicago, especially after he completed a full-contact practice the prior day, but was again a late scratch.

Of course, the Knicks may be erring on the side of caution and decided to give OG one more day of rest against the tanking Bulls before allowing him to return against the Cavs in Cleveland on Friday (the second night of a back-to-back). That approach goes against Thibs' philosophy, but it's possible the front office stepped in and voiced their opinion.

Asked last night if Anunoby would travel with the team to Cleveland, Thibs said "I believe so."

"You trust the medical people, the player. So when they're ready to go, they go, and if they're not ready to go, they don't go," Thibodeau told reporters. "And then the next guy gets in there."

Again, as long as both he and Josh (who sat out Thursday due to a knee issue) are ready to rock Friday night in Cleveland, then there's nothing to be overly concerned about. If either player is ruled out for that critical matchup, alarm bells will ring.

🏀 The Knicks are league-best 4-0 in overtime this season.

New York is 9-0 in the nine games in which Precious Achiuwa has made a three-pointer.

🏀 Next Up:
Knicks at Cavs Friday night (7:00 pm tip)

As you may have heard, New York has yet to beat Cleveland, Boston or OKC this season, the three clubs that have separated themselves as Tier-1 contenders.

After stumbling a bit in late January, the Cavs are again red-hot. Their blowout victory over the Nets in Brooklyn last night was Cleveland's fifth straight win. They are 45-10 on the season and 9-1 over their past ten games, with their only defeat coming against the Celtics.

Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said he is looking to use the final 28 games of the regular season to prepare the Cavaliers for the playoffs. "You have to have a sense of urgency," Atkinson declared.

The Cavaliers are 40-0 this season when leading after three quarters.

After Friday's showdown, the Knicks fly to Boston for a matinee against the C's on Sunday afternoon. We should find out a lot about this club over the next 48 hours.

Giddy up.