New York Knicks: Who Stepped Up Against The Indiana Pacers?

Kristaps Porzingis

Carmelo Anthony carried the New York Knicks back into what was shaping up to be a blowout. In the fourth quarter, however, it was Kristaps Porzingis who stepped up with a number of massive shots to lead an explosive 14-2 run.

Despite struggling for most of the game leading up to his clutch heroics, Porzingis showed no fear when his number was called in the decisive minutes.

Porzingis scored 10 of his 21 points during the fourth quarter, which is reason enough to be on this list. He added eight rebounds, one assist, and three blocks while shooting 7-of-15 from the field, 4-of-7 from 3-point range, and 3-of-4 from the free throw line.

If he hadn’t proven to be clutch before, then Porzingis firmly established how lethal he can be in the fourth quarter during this performance.

Porzingis’ ability to shoot is intriguing, but it’s how calm and cool he is under pressure that makes him special. Even on a night where he’d struggled to find the bottom of the net, he had no trouble taking and making big shots when the outcome was in the balance.

Whether you love or hate the rest of what Phil Jackson has done as team president, we should all be thankful that he brought Porzingis to New York when everyone told him not to.