New York Knicks: Who stepped up during 120-107 win over Phoenix Suns?
Michael Beasley
Michael Beasley struggled to get it going for much of the game against the Phoenix Suns. During a key stretch of the third and early fourth quarters, however, Beasley took over and temporarily saved the Knicks from a potential collapse.
On the strength of his resurgent scoring performance, Beasley has made his first appearance on the list of players who stepped up.
Michael Beasley had 10 points in a little over 90 seconds to help the Knicks increase their lead to 15 with 11 minutes to play.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) November 4, 2017
Beasley started slow, but ultimately finished with 11 points and four rebounds on 5-of-7 shooting from the field. With his back against the wall and the threat of being benched for another poor performance looming, he legitimately took over in a crucial moment.
With the Suns beginning to swing the momentum, Beasley scored nine points in a span one minute and 35 seconds, thus giving the Knicks a 16-point lead.
It was a brief run, but Beasley’s situational scoring ability is his greatest appeal as a player. His ability to step up and get a quick bucket when his teammates are struggling could prove invaluable for a young team in search of its identity.
With New York still somewhat undecided on its perimeter rotations, Beasley could carve out a consistent role with more performances like this.