Daily Knicks
Fansided

New York Knicks find first win behind Bobby Portis’ huge night

By Teresa Powe

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 28: Bobby Portis #1 of the New York Knicks brings the ball up court against Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls in the first half at Madison Square Garden on October 28, 2019 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 28: Bobby Portis #1 of the New York Knicks brings the ball up court against Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls in the first half at Madison Square Garden on October 28, 2019 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The New York Knicks found their first win of the 2019-20 NBA season on Monday night, defeating the Chicago Bulls at home.

The New York Knicks, led by Bobby Portis, ended the game with a 15-0 run in the last 2:53 to defeat the Chicago Bulls, 105-98, for their first win of the season. Portis, who led both teams in scoring with 28, had 18 of those points in the second half and hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 1:47 left in the game.

The Knicks may have won but the game started just where Saturday night’s game ended. Turnovers, missed free throws and no defense on the perimeter had the Knicks trailing by as many as 18 points in the first quarter and again in the first minutes of the third. The Chicago defense had the Knicks tied up as they ended the first quarter, with five turnovers and the score at 33-15. It, again, looked as though the Knicks just couldn’t and wouldn’t find their way to a win.

By the end of the first half, with the score 52-42, the frustration was apparent on the faces of the players, Julius Randle in particular. He bogged his team down with turnovers, as he struggled in the paint. The Knicks did not hold the perimeter, either, as the Bulls’ Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen and Thaddeus Young seemed to connect from the outside at will. The team as a whole missed 12 of 32 from the free-throw line.

More from Knicks News

Although the Bulls had pulled ahead by 18 in the third quarter, they only had an eight-point lead going into the fourth. After the Knicks tied the game the Bulls went on a 10-2 run, but Portis was just not having it. He dogged his former team every minute he was on the court and the Knicks took the final lead with his three-pointer, 100-98.

Three Stars

  1. First and foremost, Bobby Portis. The Knicks definitely owe this win to Portis who scored 28 points on 10 of 14 shooting, perfect 4 of 4 from outside, 4 of 5 from the free-throw line, 11 rebounds, two blocks, and two assists.
  2. RJ Barrett scored 19 points in 40 minutes on 7 of 15 field goals, 5 of 11 from the free-throw line with 15 rebounds, five assists, and one block.
  3. Frank Ntilikina did not score but Coach Fizdale, in his post-game interview said that Ntilikina “set the tone defensively and got us organized.” With the Knicks in disarray for three of the four quarters and unable to get the lead, the Frenchman was desperately what they needed defensively.
  • Julius Randle was a hero tonight because he did not play hero ball. In the second half instead of pushing his way into the paint and causing more turnovers, he passed the ball. In 32 minutes he contributed 13 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists. Unfortunately, he also contributed eight turnovers and four personal fouls.
  • Kevin Knox II in 16 minutes had 14 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists.
  • Mitchell Robinson who started the game at center, had 10 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks.
  • Marcus Morris, Sr. had a quiet night with just 10 points, five rebounds and one block.
  • Elfrid Payton started the game at point guard but left with a sore right hamstring.
  • Dennis Smith, Jr. did not play due to the death of his stepmother. The team does not know when he will return.
  • Damyean Dotson, Allonzo Trier, and Ignas Brazdeikis did not play due to coach’s decision.
  • RJ Barrett is setting team and league records. He is third in most points scored (62) by a Knick in his first three games of the season behind Bill Cartwright (84) and Patrick Ewing (63); and he is the second player in NBA history with 60 points, 15 rebounds and five three-pointers in the first three games of the season, behind only Kevin Durant.

Next. 25 greatest players in NYK history. dark

The New York Knicks head back on the road to face the Orlando Magic on Wed. Oct. 30, at 7:00 p.m. ET.

Home/Knicks News