New York Knicks: Who stepped up in overtime win against Bucks?
The New York Knicks toppled the Milwaukee Bucks in overtime, 136-134. Who stepped up in this upset victory?
The New York Knicks entered Saturday’s game against the NBA’s top scoring team, the Milwaukee Bucks. Led by Giannis Antentokoumpo, it was always set as an uphill battle to make it close and break a two-game losing streak.
Well, after 53 minutes of basketball, the Knicks delivered one of their best shooting performances of the year to counter Antetokoumpo’s 33 points, 19 rebounds and seven assists. They shot 20-for-34 from three-point range and had four players score 20 points, and even that was just enough.
This pushed the Knicks to 8-16, with a day off before their next game. They still sit near the bottom of the Eastern Conference, but not without some flashes of hope throughout this 24-game run.
However, in this win over one of the conference’s top teams, who stepped up and led the way?
Damyean Dotson
Stat Line: 21 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 7-for-9 shooting and 5-for-5 on three-pointers
Damyean Dotson recently became the latest player to break out after a prolonged bench-stretch. Head coach David Fizdale sat him for four games, before a return 17-point return against the Detroit Pistons and 16 versus the Philadelphia 76ers.
Well, Saturday’s game continued not only that, but became Dotson’s season-high in points.
In 33 minutes, including overtime action, the second-year pro had 21 points on 7-for-9 shooting. He also went a perfect 5-for-5 on three-pointers.
For now, it established Dotson’s role in the rotation, much like Trey Burke in November. There are minutes at the two and three for the former, especially with Frank Ntilikina in the coaching staff’s doghouse.
It can change on a dime, of course, as seen with the season’s first six weeks, but Dotson has stepped up when necessary. He did so after a two-game absence to open this campaign and repeated the impressive performances in the latest benching.
Will it mean a return to the starting lineup? Probably not, as the current unit has won four of the last six games. Though if Dotson maintains success, it at least keeps him in the conversation down the line.