Well Balanced Team Effort Earns Knicks a Win in Home Opener

Dating back to the start of last season, Quickley has tallied 20+ points, more than five boards and more than five assists off the bench four times. No one else in the NBA has more than one such game.

* I pointed out Friday morning that the Knicks needed to secure some victories at home over the next few days before entering a nasty stretch of their schedule. They did just that Friday night, pounding the Pistons 130-106.

The beauty of the NBA season is that there are continual opportunities to redeem oneself after poor performances. In Wednesday's season-opening loss to the Grizzlies, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley were awful, shooting a combined 3-for-24 from the floor. Both players bounced back in a big way vs. Detroit. 

Barrett set the tone early on, scoring or assisting on each of the Knicks' first four baskets. RJ finished with 18 points (on 8-of-15 shooting), three rebounds and four assists. 

Quickley did it all for New York, leading the team in points (20) and assists (7) to go along with seven boards and three made three-pointers in 27 minutes. The Knicks outscored the Pistons by 27 points in the 27 mins Quick was on the court. According to the team, IQ is the first Knick with at least 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists off the bench in the team's home opener since Ray Williams on October 13th, 1978. 

"It was great to see [Quickley] play like that," coach Tom Thibodeau said after the game. "I feel every time he shoots, particularly his threes, I think they're all going in. It puts a lot of pressure on the defense. He's got us playing fast."

Dating back to the start of last season, Quickley has tallied 20+ points, more than five boards and more than five assists off the bench four times. No one else in the NBA has more than one such game, and the rest of the league combined has only six such contests. 

IQ's BFF and running mate, Obi Toppin, got into the act after a silent opener as well. Toppin tallied 16 points (7-of-12 FGs), four rebounds, three assists, one block, and two 3-pointers. As anticipated, his frenetic style of play energized the home crowd. Derrick Rose also provided a nice offensive spark, chipping in 13 points (converting three of his four 3PT attempts), six dimes, and three boards. Isaiah Hartenstein ripped down a game-high 11 rebounds in 21 minutes off the pine.