Julius Randle became an All-Star last week. He became a winner in Detroit on Sunday.
After six previous seasons as part of losing teams, Randle set the Knicks to a winning record – which was achieved on Sunday with a 109-90 series from the Pistons in Little Caesars Arena.
The Knicks moved to 18-17 and finished fourth in the composite Eastern Conference. This is the latest they have had more than 0.500 in a season since the 2012-13 54-win campaign.
The Knicks led 11 at halftime and Randle knocked out the Pistons’ lights with a brilliant third quarter of 12 points. Randle finished with 25 points on 10 of 17 shots, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals when his breakout season roared one night after dominating the Pacers All-Star Domantas Sabonis.
“I think it’s the nature of the league,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. ‘Sometimes the schedule is in your favor, sometimes it’s against. The challenge is to be ready whenever you have to go. So back to back, travel, you come in late, the ball goes up, let’s get ready to roll. Just looking for a way to get it done. This is what we did. ”
And Randle – best of all – did not miss a game and played in all 35 big minutes.
The Knicks have two more games before the All-Star halftime – Tuesday in San Antonio and the Pistons Thursday in a rematch. It is safe to say that they have a good chance of entering their week-long holiday with a winning record.
Randle got help in time from RJ Barrett, who intertwined his second power play game with 20 points (7 of 11). Last season, Randle and Barrett had little chemistry. That all changed in this remarkable first season under coach Tom Thibodeau.
Randle has already made more three-pointers than he had last season, Sunday 3 of 5. He now has 66 on the season after 35 games. Randle registered just 64 last season in a pandemic-shortened 64-game campaign.
The Knicks have moved to 6-2 since starting center Mitchell Robinson broke his hand in Washington.
Barrett scored 12 points in the first half. He drilled two three-pointers and took the muscle for all sorts of runners with the muscle.
After Barrett scored 24 points against Indiana on Saturday, he was a solid 5 of 7 off the field at halftime as the Knicks took a 48-37 lead at halftime.
The Knicks had the lead, despite shooting just 36.7 percent from the field. It was an ugly first half – personified by the dirty defense of center Nerlens Noel.
Noel, the last Knicks pivot, was an animal in the lane for defense. He carved three blocks, including one spectacular stop at the edge on a ride through Saddiq Bey, the rookie lottery.
Noel ends the evening with eight points, 11 rebounds, three steals to go along with three blocks.
The Knicks are devastated in the middle. Robinson is out with a broken hand until possibly the end of March and backup Taj Gibson could miss time with a sprained ankle suffered on Saturday. This forced Noel to a big role and he entered it with grace and gravel. He is fifth in the NBA in blocks per game at nearly 2.0.
Former Knicks point guard Dennis Smith Jr., who started for Detroit, drilled an early three-point native. He was in the half 1 for 6 when the Pistons shot just 30.8 percent, but also had a nice block. Smith finished with seven points and four assists.