The Knicks’ post-trade hangover lasted just three quarters before waking up and gathered fiercely in the fourth quarter for a 106-102 victory over the Garden Wizards on Thursday.
After a horrible first half, RJ Barrett came back with 24 points in one night, Julius Randle was not himself.
Alec Burks (27 points, 15 in the fourth), rookie Immanuel Quickley (16 points) and Taj Gibson also provided weight and scored from the bench after the Knicks went 60-45 at the break and 11 after three quarters.
The Knicks have beaten Washington 39-24 recently. Barrett’s biggest play came in a quick break when he was tied with Bradley Beal, but he still finished a three-point game, after which he flexed his biceps. Barrett was only 7 of 22 at night, but burned the Wizards by nine points in the fourth quarter.
Randle, who injured his thigh in the third quarter, responded in the final two minutes to hit two base jumpers to limit his return. Randle shot just 5 of 16 for 13 points.
The Knicks were left without their best defenders in guard Reggie Bullock and Nerlens Noel in the center. And they were also without the usual 1-2 punch on offense in Randle and Barrett in the first three quarters.
The Knicks were flatter than Kyrie Irving’s Land in the first half, but their second-half growth from a 17-point deficit moved them over 0.500 to 23-22.
The Wizards were beaten by 18 points in a wire blast by the Knicks on Tuesday and played the first three quarters bent on revenge before being blitz lately.
After leaving Washington with 37 points on Tuesday, Randle missed 10 consecutive baskets in one period, but still found a way to help at the end of the final period, despite being hindered.
Before the game, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau was asked about the playoffs in the eastern playoffs, Miami, Chicago and Boston making big updates on the trading deadline, while his team did nothing to talk about. .
“I like our team,” Thibodeau said. “Watch what others do. That’s your job. We did what was best for us. That’s what we care about. “
Two hours later, Thibodeau seemed beyond frustrated, with his club falling 17 points in the first half. And then he was redeemed.