NY Knicks: Ranking each game of the 9 game winning streak
By James Ryder
#3 NY Knicks vs Atlanta Hawks – 137-127 in OT – April 21st
A quick footnote: Anyone who degraded this win for the Knicks because Trae Young missed one quarter can kindly kick rocks. I didn’t see anyone complaining before the game started that New York was without Alec Burks or Mitchell Robinson, and Nerlens Noel played the fourth quarter hurt, but I digress.
Even without Young in the end of the game, this was still an incredible thriller and a ridiculously impressive streak saving win New York completed for their 9th and final win in a row.
This win gave the New York Knicks sole possession of the 4th seed out East, and naturally gave Knicks fans another reason to go wild.
Just got this from my boy who was at the garden LETS GO FAM pic.twitter.com/02d9AKwIPw
— KEST (@AdamKester_) April 22, 2021
The way the game played out was that of a recurring theme during this win streak, the theme being shut sh- down! The Knicks trailed 97-90 after three quarters but stormed back. Immanuel Quickley and Derrick Rose were once again clicking in crunch time off of the bench, each pouring in 20 points.
Julius Randle was also clutch. As with every matchup this season vs ATL, Randle couldn’t be contained. He barreled through John Collins going to the basket for a layup that put the Knicks up three with 8 seconds remaining. However, Bogdan Bogdanovich hit a corner three off an inbound pass to force overtime.
In OT, several Knicks scored, but it was RJ Barrett and Quickley who hit back-to-back threes to bury the Hawks.
Player of the game: Julius Randle – 40 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists