Knicks turn in complete effort to beat Jazz after players-only meeting
SALT LAKE CITY — Maybe it was the team-wide dinner Monday night when accountability from each player for the Knicks’ recent struggles was emphasized. Possibly, it was coach Tom Thibodeau cutting down his rotation to nine players. It could’ve been just a team finding itself for one night in this early juncture of the season.
Whatever the reason, the Knicks picked a good time for a complete effort Tuesday night and pulled out an important early-season victory, responding to Sunday’s ugly loss to the Thunder in a big way. They notched arguably their best win of the season, an impressive 118-111 victory over the surprising Jazz at Vivint Arena to start a daunting five-game road trip out west on a positive note.
“I thought we were tied together,” Thibodeau said.
The dinner was called by Julius Randle, according to RJ Barrett, at what could be a seminal moment in the Knicks’ season. They had lost six of their previous nine games, with their defensive net rating falling to 24th in the league.
“Just trying to hold each other accountable,” Barrett said. “Trying to get this going because we want to win.”
Added Randle, who had 15 points: “I think we just had more of a sense of urgency. Come on the road you want to start the trip off right. Dinner was great obviously, but guys came in prepared today and ready to go. Got a great win.”
Jalen Brunson was brilliant in taking over the final period, finishing with 25 points (12 in that last quarter) and eight assists as the Jazz (10-6) lost at home for the first time in six tries. Cam Reddish continued his strong play with 19 points and Immanuel Quickley keyed a strong performance from the bench with 13 points and four steals.
The Knicks (7-7) trailed for the better part of the first three quarters, and had moments when they wobbled. But they didn’t fall, and Thibodeau’s team finished with a fury, dominating the fourth quarter behind Brunson. Perhaps most importantly, they did it with defense, clamping down when it mattered most after allowing a whopping 145 points just two days earlier.
“I think our energy throughout the game was pretty good. Defensively, we were much better coming from the [Thunder] game,” Quickley said. “The ball was moving and we just played together.”
The Knicks delivered the knockout punch, a 16-2 run early in the fourth quarter to build the first double-digit lead of the game. Quickley hit consecutive 3-pointers in the spurt, but it was really the Knicks’ defense that led the charge. They held the Jazz without a made field goal for 4:21, swarming to the ball and forcing contested shots deep into the shot clock.
Brunson then put it away, setting up a Barrett (18 points) layup, and then scoring on consecutive possessions to push the lead to 14 with 4:45 left. The Jazz never got closer than six the rest of the way.
Only nine Knicks played in the first half as Thibodeau cut Evan Fournier and Quentin Grimes from the rotation. It was a quality opening 24 minutes coming off the disaster against the Thunder. Whenever the Jazz looked like they were ready to go on a run, the Knicks responded.
The defense, particularly the help defense, was improved, the Knicks cutting off driving lanes and limiting open looks from beyond the arc. Jericho Sims was active at both ends of the floor, finishing with 11 points and 13 rebounds and a highlight reel alley-oop slam over rookie Walker Kessler. He fueled a 15-4 run in the second quarter that he capped with a three-point play.
He was one of many Knicks who contributed in a winning effort at both ends of the floor, from the starters to the shortened bench.
“We stuck together for four quarters,” Brunson said. “When they made a run, we just kind of looked at each other and said, ‘It’s time to tighten up.’ ”