The New York Knicks were victorious in their 2018 Summer League opener. Who stepped for the orange and blue against the Atlanta Hawks?
The New York Knicks returned to the court on Saturday, July 7 against the Atlanta Hawks. Playing at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Knicks had a spotlight on them as a team with an uncommon number of main roster players in the Summer League rotation.
Behind a balanced offensive attack and tenacious defense, New York began the 2018 Summer League with a 91-89 win over the Hawks.
That’s the epitome of getting off to an excellent start.
The Knicks were without two of the most important players on the Summer League roster: Isaiah Hicks and Luke Kornet. Hicks recently signed a two-way contract with New York for a second consecutive season, while Kornet inked a one-year deal himself.
Despite being without two players who could receive considerably opportunities at the highest level in 2018-19, the Knicks emerged victorious.
New York shot just 41.8 percent from the field and 25.0 percent from beyond the arc. It also held Atlanta to just 38.1 percent shooting from the field and 30.0 percent shooting from beyond the arc, and forced 16 turnovers.
The question is: Who stepped up for the New York Knicks during a Summer League opener that’s quickly garnering praise from the masses?