Knicks Get Back On Track After The Break

The Knicks were missing their starting center, their starting PF and their starting SF. Brunson was 5-of-18 and had seven turnovers. Yet, New York still won by 14 in Philly.

Final Score: Knicks 110 - Sixers 96
Record: 34-22

The Knicks, beleaguered by injuries, limped into the All-Star Break. 

Thursday night, after seven days of rest and rehab, they welcomed three key rotation players back and looked refreshed and recharged. The Knicks were motivated to send a strong message out of the gate, and the shorthanded Sixers felt the brunt of New York's increased depth and determination. 

The 'Bockers opened the contest by jumping out to a 15-3 lead. Precious Achiuwa and Josh Hart (the pair starting in place of OG Anunoby Julius Randle) set the tone early on, combining to tally 16 points and nine boards in the first ten minutes. 

Achiuwa would finish the evening with 18 points (7-of-9 FGs, 3-of-7 FTs), 11 rebounds, two assists, two steals, one block, and one 3-pointer in 37 minutes. He continues to play at an incredibly high level, making crucial contributions at both ends of the floor. Over New York's past nine games, Precious has averaged 14.9 points (on 55% shooting), 10.9 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.6 blocks. 

He is one of only six players averaging more than 14 points and more than 11 rebounds per game in February. The other five are Nikola Jokic, Anthony Davis, Domantas Sabonis, Rudy Gobert and Bam Adebayo. Of these six, Achiuwa is the only one also averaging more than one block and one steal. 

Bojan Bogdanovic took over in the second quarter, pouring in 19 points on 7-of-8 shooting. Bogey drilled all five of his three-point attempts, letting Knicks fans know he can break a game open when he gets going offensively.  

New York led by as many as 26 late in the second quarter and took a 23-point lead into halftime. However, the Knicks took their foot off the gas pedal in the third, leading to a furious Sixers comeback.