Randle and Company Squander A Legendary Performance from Kemba

Kemba Walker is the first Knick ever to rack up at least 90 points, 20 rebounds, 15 assists and 15 made three-pointers over a three-game span.

Game Recap: Wizards beat the Knicks, 124-117

Since it's Christmas Eve, let's start with the good news, which is the remarkable resurgence of Kemba Walker. 

It's been three games since injuries and a Covid-19 outbreak forced coach Tom Thibodeau to look down to the end of the bench and call Kemba's number. Somehow, Walker has played better and better in each successive showing. 

Thursday night's game was shaping up to be one of those unforgettable Madison Square Garden memories (Walker authored one such moment as a collegian at UCONN courtesy of a step-back jumper). Kemba got hot in the first half and was still scorching in the third quarter. By the start of the final frame, Walker had poured in 41 points.

As we now know, the Knicks could not seal the deal, but Walker's final stat line was no less impressive. Walker finished with 44 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, zero turnovers (!!) and seven made 3-pointers. In the process, he became the first player in Knicks franchise history to tally at least 44/9/8 and seven treys in a single game. In fact, he is the first player in NBA history to post those numbers without committing a single turnover. 

Over the Knicks' last three games (after being benched for ten consecutive contests), Walker is averaging 31.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists (vs. just 1.0 turnovers) and 5.0 triples, while shooting over 44% from downtown and 90% from the free-throw stripe. Incredibly, he's the first Knick to rack up at least 90 points, 20 rebounds, 15 assists and 15 made 3-pointers over a three-game span. The only other player in NBA history to match those numbers and also commit fewer than five turnovers during a three-game stretch was Steph Curry, during his MVP season, in March of 2016. 

It also should be noted that the Knicks have outscored their opponents by 18 points in the 120 minutes Kemba has been on the court since returning to the starting lineup. That's the best plus/minus on the team. New York has been outscored by 18 points in the 24 minutes he's sat during this current stretch.