Knicks have no answers for Dejounte Murray, Hawks in ugly loss
The Garden rivalry with the Hawks in recent seasons mainly has been about one opposing player, with Trae Young forever cementing himself as a New York villain in a first-round elimination of the Knicks in 2021.
But it was Young’s dynamic new backcourt mate Dejounte Murray who destroyed the Knicks, as the Hawks stormed back from a 23-point first-half deficit and sent Tom Thibodeau’s sloppy team to its third straight defeat with a 112-99 victory Wednesday at the Garden.
“They played with a lot of energy after being down a decent amount. We just came out a little lackadaisical [in the second half],” Jalen Brunson said after the Knicks fell to 3-4 on the season. “As a point guard, as a leader, I’ve got to take credit for that. That’s just unacceptable on my part.
“We weren’t completely ready to play that second half, and that falls on me. I’ve got to come out of the gate pushing these guys, pushing myself, to be better.”
The oft-booed Young was held to 17 points on 7-for-22 shooting, but Murray — a 2021 All-Star obtained from the Spurs in the offseason — netted 23 of his game-high 36 in the first half as the Hawks improved to 5-3.
One game after offseason target Donovon Mitchell torched the Knicks for 38 Sunday in Cleveland, Murray — another difference-maker they failed to obtain in the offseason — also posted nine assists and six steals over an electrifying 38 minutes.
Asked afterward if he’d heard any summertime rumors involving himself and the Knicks, Murray smiled and simply replied, “Atlanta. Hawks.”
Brunson led the Knicks with 20 points, with RJ Barrett scoring 19 and Julius Randle finishing with 14. Second-year guard Quentin Grimes (foot soreness) was cleared to play for the first time this season, but he didn’t get off the bench until 4:48 remained in the fourth quarter, with Cam Reddish maintaining his spot for at least one more game on the second unit.
The Knicks led by as many as 13 during the first quarter, with Young missing 10 of 12 early attempts from the floor. He finished the quarter with five points and a minus-11 rating over the first 12 minutes.
Of course, the Garden fans began chanting “F–k Trae Young” during the Hawks’ five-game playoff elimination of the Knicks in 2021, and Young responded to the continued taunts by dropping 45 points in an Atlanta victory in his lone Manhattan appearance last season on March 22.
Obi Toppin scored 10 of his 12 points in the second quarter as the Knicks extended their led to 23 with seven minutes to go before halftime. But Young netted 10 in a 29-14 closeout run by the Hawks — with Murray pouring in 18 in the quarter — to shave the Knicks’ lead to 65-57 heading into intermission.
The Hawks then registered the first 10 points of the second half, taking the lead on Young’s transition layup three minutes into the third. On the Knicks’ next offensive possession, Young appeared to take a shot in the eye in a collision with Randle and temporarily came out of the game. His replacement, Aaron Holiday, buried another 3 to extend the Atlanta run.
The Knicks shot 5-for-19 overall in the third and clanked all nine of their 3-point attempts, while committing nine of their 16 turnovers, to trail 89-75 entering the final quarter.
“We got a big lead and then turned the ball over,” Thibodeau said. “They went zone, so the lane was packed. And so, we’re trying to lob over the back line. We can’t do that.”
Immanuel Quickley’s left-side 3-pointer drew the Knicks back within 10 with barely seven minutes to go in the fourth, but consecutive treys by De’Andre Hunter (21 points) and Murray pushed the Atlanta advantage back to 18 with 5:18 remaining.
“I think we got off to a great start obviously. Being up 23 at home you obviously expect to win the game, so it’s tough,” said Randle, who shot 4 of 12. “It’s disappointing but you gotta keep on going to the next one [Friday in Philadelphia].”
