PHILADELPHIA — Knicks coach David Fizdale said this retooling season is dedicated now to “small victories,” such as Kevin Knox posting a double-double.
Knox came close Wednesday at Wells Fargo Center as the prized lottery pick struck for 21 points on 8-of-17 shooting with six rebounds for his sixth straight game of 15 or more points. He’s the first Knicks rookie to accomplish that streak since Mark Jackson in 1986-87.
The outcome of the game? Well, the last time the Knicks were here 2 ¹/₂ weeks ago, they got their heads handed back to them in a 28-point, wire-to-wire slaughter.
Wednesday was a little more civilized. The Knicks moved within three points midway through the third quarter, but still wound up losing by 22, 131-109 to the Sixers.
Their defense still a mess, the Knicks allowed a 69-point first half and suffered their eighth defeat in nine tries to fall to 9-24.
But in this uniquely bizarro season, where the won-loss record has become an afterthought, Fizdale saw at least more fight than the last time his team faced the electric Sixers (21-12) on Nov. 28.
“We hung around,’’ Fizdale said. “We are pests. But when you miss your open shots and they are knocking every single one of them down, because they are a great shooting team, and they move the ball so well, that’s how the game broke open. But we put forth the effort.”
Usually a team allowing 131 points and 53.4 percent shooting isn’t putting in the effort, but again this is a season where up is down and down is up.
The Knicks got Tim Hardaway Jr. back after a one-game absence. He looked surprisingly limber after it was revealed he has had plantar fasciitis for the last three weeks. Hardaway pumped in 27 points on 7-of-16 shooting, draining three 3-pointers.
Hardaway, who missed the Knicks’ ugly 128-110 loss to Phoenix on Monday, said he knows this is a lingering heel ailment that doesn’t always go away without extended rest.
“Last year at this time, I sat two months [with a stress fracture] and I don’t want it to happen again,” Hardaway said. “But I also have to be smart. I needed a little bit of time off. I really don’t know how they are going to manage it.”
The Knicks’ attack wasn’t the issue. There was just no stopping the breakneck Sixers. There was no stopping superstar center Joel Embiid, who finished with 24 points. No stopping runaway point guard Ben Simmons from posting a triple-double (13 points, 10 assists, 11 rebounds), pushing the pace as Philly scored 18 fast-break points.
Jimmy Butler added 20 points and three steals, including a nifty pickpocket of Hardaway for a fast-break layup.
But at least there was Knox, who had ups and downs but mostly ups. Knox executed one beautiful coast-to-coast layup, threw down an alley-oop pass from Hardaway and drilled 3-of-6 3-pointers.
“It’s feeling more comfortable knocking down shots,’’ said Knox, who got off to a troubling start to his rookie season. “Me playing more inside-out. My mindset is changing a lot. Early in season, I was settling for a lot of 3s but now my first focus is getting to the basket and free-throw line.’’
That’s what Knox tried the first half on his night’s blooper, driving viciously to the basket but blowing an uncontested right-handed dunk.
He got some ribbing.
“I wanted that one,’’ Knox said. “Slipped out of my hands at the last second. People on the bench said I closed my eyes. I didn’t close my eyes. Just slipped out of my hands.’’
The Knicks made it interesting for a bit, charging back in the third quarter to within 76-73. A four-point possession ensued when Enes Kanter (15 points) scored on a hook, got fouled by Embiid and Simmons picked up a technical. Kanter made the free throw, Hardaway the technical, making it 76-70. Hardaway drilled a corner 3 to cut it to 76-73 with 7:50 left in the third. Sixers coach Brett Brown called time and Philly responded with a 7-0 run and ran away with it.
“We were in good position and then all hell broke loose,’’ Hardaway said.