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New York Knicks: Who stepped up against New Orleans Pelicans on Dec. 30?

By Maxwell Ogden

NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 30: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks goes to the basket against the New Orleans Pelicans on December 30, 2017 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 30: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks goes to the basket against the New Orleans Pelicans on December 30, 2017 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – DECEMBER 30: Jarrett Jack #55 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against the New Orleans Pelicans on December 30, 2017 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – DECEMBER 30: Jarrett Jack #55 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against the New Orleans Pelicans on December 30, 2017 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Jarrett Jack

Frank Ntilikina outplayed Jarrett Jack for three quarters, but the fourth was a display of why it’s irrational to pit two teammates against one another. The New York Knicks needed someone to take over as a playmaker, and Jack filled that role and then some.

Jack found his teammates at the most opportune of moments, and even buried what proved to be one of the biggest shots of the night for New York.

In 24 minutes of court time, Jack picked up 15 points, seven assists, four rebounds, and one steal. He shot 5-of-13 from the field, 1-of-2 from beyond the arc, and went a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line—and every one of those shots mattered.

A plus-minus of minus-1 implies that he was a negative, but there’s no hyperbole in the statement that Jack’s contributions saved New York from disaster.

Jack recorded four assists in the final 6:40 of the fourth quarter alone, including three in the final 2:45. If that weren’t enough, he scored nine of his 15 points in the fourth quarter, including a desperately needed three-point field goal, and the game-winning free throws.

With New York down 99-91 with less than three minutes on the clock, it was Jack who took over and helped the Knicks potentially save their season.

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