Knicks Drop Marathon In Excruciating Fashion
The best aspect about the New York Knicks previous loss was that they had a chance to rectify their setback 24 hours later at home vs a team that in ways mirrors their own.
Fighting through a second night of a back-to-back, the Knicks fell short in their most painful loss of the season to date.
The Chicago Bills defeated the New York Knicks 116-115 in double overtime on Monday night at Madison Square Garden to send the Knicks to to a record of 3-8.
Zach LaVine, who came in averaging 26.6 PPG, led the Chicago Bulls with a career-high 41 points at the Garden.
The talented guard hit big shots throughout the game for the Chicago Bulls, including the go-ahead free throw after he was fouled by Emanuel Mudiay with 0.2 seconds remaining in the game.
It was a tough night for both teams, with points hard to come by in half court sets. The Chicago Bulls shot 45 percent from the field while the New York Knicks were limited to 38 percent from the field.
David Fizdale’s Knicks couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn on Monday night, looking like a team that was tired offensively rather than a team that had extra legs for the second night of a back-to-back.
While unable to make shots with consistency, the New York Knicks weren’t devoid of energy in other places as they saw contributions on the glass and on the defensive end that helped them stay in this game despite shooting well under 40 percent throughout.
Enes Kanter had a huge night off the bench as he recorded 23 points and 24 rebounds off the bench for New York, becoming the first player in the shot clock era to accomplish that feat as a reserve.
With Tim Hardaway Jr. out for the Knicks, upstart rookie guard Allonzo Trier would get his first start.
Having sparked the Knicks last Friday in a win over Dallas with 23 points, the young guard would struggle with his shot early but would come on late.
Trier tied the game at 102-102 with a 3-pointer with 49.1 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
New York had several opportunities to win this game having the ball in their hands with a chance to take the lead, but failing to do so in incriminating fashion.
The Knicks defensive intensity was not lacking, despite failing to get a handle of the Bulls sensational 23-year-old guard.
That is the bright spot for the New York Knicks on the night, that in spite of a porous shooting night and playing the second of a back-to-back, the team didn’t quit out there.
One point of questioning is the late game decision making of David Fizdale, who ran isolation plays for Allonzo Trier, who finished with 21 points on just 33 percent shooting, in the winding moments in the fourth quarter and the first overtime period.
Trier had been cold throughout the night with his shot. Surely, Enes Kanter was a better option in the low post play to score against the Bulls on the inside, but he failed to get going offensively with few touches in the overtime periods.
There was also the inbounds turnover by Mudiay in the first overtime period with under five seconds to play and a the missed tip-in by Mario Hezonja at the end of regulation.
Those plays only added to New York’s woes as they know they let a win slip through their finger tips on Monday night.
The New York Knicks will look to erase the sting of their latest loss when they face the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on Wednesday night.
What are your takeaways from tonight’s Knicks game? Leave your comments below!