The New York Knicks fell to the Sacramento Kings in embarrassing fashion Sunday night, 113-92.
The New York Knicks were humiliated as the Garden crowd booed and the Kings rained down three-pointers on top of them and soundly defeated them, 113-92.
Both teams came into the game with 1-5 records. The Knicks were coming off the momentum of their Boston game and the Kings were coming off their,first win of the season against Utah, both on Friday night.
Unfortunately, the Kings continued with their momentum but the Knicks did not. At one point, the Kings had a 32 point lead as the Knicks continued with their same style of play: no perimeter defense, missed free throws and costly turnovers. Tonight, the Knicks were 20 of 31 from the free-throw line and 8 of 31 from three-point range.
Coach David Fizdale started Bobby Portis in place of Mitchell Robinson. His reasoning: to open the floor for Julius Randle.
However, it didn’t work.
Randle had 8 points on 4 of 13 shooting. Marcus Morris, Sr. had the hot hand to start the game and was high scorer for the team with 28 points. RJ Barrett started slow but ended with 22 points. Frank Ntilikina started again at point guard but got two quick fouls at the beginning of the first quarter and had to be taken out.
Fizdale’s rotations remain questionable. I understand that he is short two pure point guards, but his substitutions can leave you scratching your head. By the end of the third quarter, the Kings were winning 90-64 and the Garden crowd was booing their team. Allonzo Trier, who had previously sat on the sidelines watching his teammates struggle, finally appeared, too.
Three Stars
- Marcus Morris, Sr. had 28 points on 9 of 14 shooting, 3 of 4 from outside, 6 of 7 from the free-throw line, 6 rebounds and 1 block.
- De’Aaron Fox scored 24 points including 7 of 10 from the free-throw line.
- Buddy Hield was the star of the game with 22 points including 5 of 11 from three-point.
- RJ Barrett had 22 points, including 5 of 9 from the free-throw line and 5 rebounds.
- Mitchell Robinson had 10 points, 4 of 4 from the field, 2 of 3 from the free-throw line, and his usual 2 blocks.
- Allonzo Trier contributed 11 points, 3 of 9 from the field, 2 of 5 from three and 3 of 4 of his free throw.
- Ignas Brazdeikis made his Knicks debut and had 4 points.
- Dennis Smith, Jr. and Reggie Bullock are both still out.
- Elfrid Payton did not play due to a hamstring injury.
The New York Knicks travel to Detroit to take on the Pistons, Wed. Nov. 6.