Julius Randle hurt Atlanta on Monday night and makes his way to Atlanta on March 7, the next date of the All-Star Game.
Randle recorded 44 points for the Knicks, setting a career high of 7 triples, while the Knicks won the third day in a row Monday, 123-112, against the Hawks in the fanless garden.
Randle amassed his third game of 30 points or more by expanding his All-Star campaign and ending a timid point in his career (established with New Orleans).
Randle hit a runner who was left with 3:30 left and then his seventh with 3 points to lead the lead to 112-107 and repel Hawks’ comeback effort. Randle made 7 of 13 out of 3 and was 14 out of 22 overall. It was a career with 28% 3-point shooter that entered the season.
Appearing on ESPN’s The Michael Kay Show before the game, Randle said an All-Star berth would mean “a lot, man. It’s definitely a goal I set myself to achieve when I got to Knicks. It would be an amazing honor and it would mean a lot to me and my family. But I try to keep the team first. ”
All-Star fan voting ends Tuesday.
“The most important thing is its impact on earnings,” Thibodeau said. “We hope he will be recognized.”
The Knicks moved 14-15 under their first-year coach Tom Thibodeau and won five of the seven games. After 29 games last season, the Knicks were 7-22.
“[Thibodeau’s] attention to detail is incredible, “said Randle, who had nine rebounds and five assists.” We get into games as prepared as every game is a playoff game. How good he is. He certainly changes. “He has brought everyone to justice. We are all enjoying this process.”
One of the least productive 3-point shooting teams in the NBA, the Knicks hit a maximum of 17 points in 3 seasons. RJ Barrett added 21 points and made two triples in the fourth quarter.
The Knicks buried the Hawks in the first quarter, 39-28, but gave it all back – especially from the free throw line. They woke up six in the third trimester.
Randle collected 17 points in the first quarter, when he passed 7 of 8 – 3 of 4 in the 3-point range, continuing his remarkable season. Marking 39 points in that opening quarter, the Knicks recorded 68.2 percent – not too shabby for an offense ranked last in the league in points.