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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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CHARLOTTE, NC – DECEMBER 18: Joakim Noah #13 of the New York Knicks looks on during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on December 18, 2017 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC – DECEMBER 18: Joakim Noah #13 of the New York Knicks looks on during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on December 18, 2017 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Joakim Noah

Joakim Noah played a grand total of 13 minutes against the New Orleans Pelicans, but that was more than enough time to impact the game. Noah made his mark on the game on both ends of the floor, primarily down the stretch.

Noah has taken his fair share of criticism, but in the biggest game of the 2017-18 season thus far, he stepped up to help lead the New York Knicks to victory.

Noah finished the win over New Orleans with four points, four rebounds, one offensive board, and a steal in his 13 minutes of action. He shot 2-of-3 from the field, had a plus-minus of plus-1, and brought the physicality on both ends of the floor.

More importantly: Noah scored all four of his points during the final six minutes and 40 seconds of the fourth quarter, including one of the biggest makes of the game.

When DeMarcus Cousins extended the Pelicans’ lead to 99-91 with less than three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, it appeared as though the game was over. With momentum swinging, however, it was Noah who slammed a shot home to restore the Knicks’ confidence.

With his veteran ability to be ready to go from no playing time to crunch-time minutes in relief of Kyle O’Quinn, Noah earned a spot on this list.

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