The New York Knicks couldn't complete a second straight comeback from a second-half, double-digit deficit Sunday night. But the echoes of the Knicks' comeback win Friday night will still be reverberating Tuesday.
New York attempts to clinch a wild card to the knockout round of the NBA's in-season tournament when it hosts the Charlotte Hornets in the East Group B finale for both teams.
Each squad was off Monday after losing Sunday. Devin Booker drained the tie-breaking 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left to lift the visiting Phoenix Suns to a 116-113 win over the Knicks while the Hornets fell to the host Orlando Magic 130-117.
But the Knicks' 100-98 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night ensures both New York and the Hornets will take the court Tuesday still officially in contention for an Eastern Conference berth, albeit only marginally so in Charlotte's case.
The Knicks' comeback from a 21-point third-quarter deficit improved them to 2-1 in Group B play and kept the Heat (2-1) from eliminating both New York and Charlotte (1-2).
Among the 10 teams in the Eastern Conference that have neither clinched a berth in the knockout round nor been eliminated from contention, only the Group B-leading Milwaukee Bucks and Group C-leading Magic have a better point differential than the Knicks' plus-18.
The Hornets are at minus-30, the worst point differential of any NBA team still in the running.
https://www.nba.com/game/cha-vs-nyk-0022300057
Quickley is a young, scrappy guard who many around the league believe could break out if he were handed a starting role. Include him with Evan Fournier’s expensive salary, maybe throw in a first-round pick or two, and the Knicks could bring back an impact player to help them at another position. After all, they’re already loaded with guards under 6 foot 6.
Of course, Quickley and Brunson destroying defenses together would have to change the calculus.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau often closes games with those two together, sliding a defensive-minded perimeter player next to them. Sometimes, it’s starting shooting guard Quentin Grimes. Other times, it’s feisty reserve Josh Hart. On Sunday, it was RJ Barrett, who had to stick with Booker for the final five minutes of the evening.
The challenge with Brunson and Quickley comes on the defensive end. Both are heady team defenders, but size turns into a problem against larger backcourts that can shoot over or muscle either guard. But sometimes, a decision becomes so obvious that basketball theory can’t force a team out of it.
Quickley, who is averaging fewer minutes so far this season than he did in 2022-23 when he finished second in NBA Sixth Man of the Year voting, was the catalyst for the Knicks’ 21-point comeback Friday against the Miami Heat. He wrecked fellow reserves and then closed the win alongside Brunson. Two days later, he energized the group again.
The evidence to support more Quickley-Brunson minutes is mounting. The Knicks are outscoring opponents by 5.5 points per 100 possessions so far this season when the duo is on the court. That number was even more jarring last season: plus-12.1 per 100.
Quickley is critical against defenses that go all out to keep the basketball away from Brunson. For example, the Heat full-court pressure Brunson. They send double-teams his way. The Knicks benefit from placing their second-best creator next to him, as was on display Friday. If Brunson can’t make a play, that’s fine; Quickley can take care of it. He can get the Knicks into their offense as Brunson frees himself off the ball. Or he can run an action on the second side. Or he can set a pick for Brunson to create an open shot or dart downhill with an advantage. Lately, he’s receiving more opportunities.
RIP mags