Julius Randle became All-Star last week. He became the winner on Sunday in Detroit.
After six previous seasons as part of losing teams, Randle led the Knicks to a winning record – reached Sunday with a 109-90 Piston rout at Little Caesars Arena.
The Knicks moved to 18-17 and finished fourth in the Eastern Conference. It is the most recent .500 passed in a season since the 54-13 campaign in 2012-13.
The Knicks led by 11 at the break and Randle hit the Pistons’ lights with a brilliant 12-point quarter. Randle finished with 25 points on 10 of 17 shots, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals, while his starting season screamed in one night after dominating All-Star Domantas Sabonis of the Pacers.
“I think that’s the nature of the league,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “Sometimes the program is in your favor, other times it’s against it. The challenge is to be prepared whenever you have to go. So, back to back, travel, arrive late, the ball goes up, let’s get ready to run. Just find a way to do it. This is what I have done. ”
And Randle – best of all – didn’t miss a game, playing big minutes in all 35.
The Knicks have two more games before the All-Star break – in San Antonio on Tuesday and hosting the Pistons in a rematch on Thursday. It is safe to say that they have an excellent chance to slip into their week-long vacation with a winning record.
Randle received timely help from RJ Barrett, who weaved his second straight game with 20 points (7 of 11). Last season, Randle and Barrett had little chemistry. All this has changed in this remarkable first season under coach Tom Thibodeau.
Randle has already made more triples than last season, going 3 to 5 on Sunday. He now has 66 in the season after 35 games. Randle recorded just 64 last season in a 64-game campaign shortened by the pandemic.
The Knicks have moved 6-2 since starting center Mitchell Robinson broke his hand in Washington.
Barrett collected 12 points in the first half. He drilled two three-point shots and fired a pistol at the circle with all sorts of runners.
After scoring 24 points on Saturday against Indiana, Barrett was a solid 5 of 7 on the field in the half as the Knicks took a 48-37 lead at the break.
Knicks had that advantage, despite the fact that he shot only 36.7% of the field. It was an ugly first half – personified by the serious defense of the Nerlens Noel center.
Noel, the last Knicks pivot standing, was a beast on the defensive line. He scored three blocks, including a spectacular stop at the rim on a drive from the debutant lottery Saddiq Bey.
Noel finished the night with eight points, 11 rebounds, three steals to go along with three blocks.
Knicks are devastated in the center. Robinson is out by the end of March with a broken hand, and the Taj Gibson reserve could waste time with a sprained ankle suffered on Saturday. He forced Noel to play a huge role and entered it with grace and weight. He is fifth in the NBA in blocks per game, at nearly 2.0.
Former goalie Dennis Smith Jr., starting with Detroit, drilled an early 3-pointer. It was 1 for 6 in the half, when the Pistons fired only 30.8 percent, but they also had a nice block. Smith finished with seven points and four assists.