Tom Thibodeau often praises his Knicks’ roster for its versatility, with the ability to run their attack through All-Star power forward Julius Randle and veteran guard Alec Burks as needed.
Such a necessity has never felt more immediate for the Knicks this season than Thursday night, when those two players ahead of them secured a nail-biting 94-93 victory over Orlando with their best three-point guards – Elfrid Payton, Derrick Rose and rookie. Immanuel Quickley – all unavailable.
After suffering crushing road losses to the Nets and the 76ers in their last possession earlier this week, Reggie Bullock sealed victory for the understaffed Knicks with a streak of Evan Fournier in the closing seconds.
“Really important, we needed a win in a bad way and we knew we couldn’t leave without a win today, especially on our home field,” said Randle, whose second triple-double in six days and the third of the season a career. -high 17 assists. ‘So I’m proud of us for how we did it. We won the game in defense, as we have done all year.
“I am proud of our team. We had to win and that’s what we did. “
Randle also registered 18 points on 8-for-20 shots and grabbed 10 rebounds when the Knicks climbed back to .500 at 21-21, which is in line with last year’s total (21-45). He became the first Knick to record at least three triple-doubles in a single season since Micheal Ray Richardson placed seven in 1981-82.
“We talked about that from the beginning when I told you about his leadership. It was a night when he didn’t shoot the ball great, but he played great, ”said Thibodeau. “He has done several things for us. The 17 assists say it all, right there. He made everyone around him better and we had to find a way to win. “
Burks got into the starting lineup, scoring 21 points with 10 rebounds, while Frank Ntilikina also started and finished with 13 points.
Bullock, usually a starter, also downed six 3-pointers for 20 points in 36 minutes off the bench for the Knicks, who will again meet the 76ers in first place at the Garden on Sunday.
“It’s all about the fight, and that’s a big part of this competition,” said Thibodeau. “That’s what I love about these guys. … We are starting to see the results of all the preparations and extra work that people are doing. “
The sliding magic (nine consecutive losses) got Fournier (23 points) and Aaron Gordon (17) back from injuries, but they were also skinny on the point guard – playing without Markelle Fultz (knee), Michael-Carter Williams (illness) and rookie Cole Anthony (ribs).
The Knicks had no Payton (hamstring) or Rose (health and safety protocols), as did the continued absence of Mitchell Robinson (hand) start center. Quickley was added to that injury list on Thursday-evening, when he sustained an ankle problem against the 76ers on Tuesday.
“That’s it, we have more than enough to win with, and we have guys who can play multiple positions,” said Thibodeau. “If you are called, go out and play well.”
The Knicks led by a whopping 16 points in the third, before a 19-2 Magic run gave them a 75-74 lead, barely a minute in the last quarter. The Knicks regained the lead on Ntilikina’s corner 3-pointer with 3:49 across, and Randle sunk two jumpers as part of a 10-0 rise for a 92-87 lead with less than two minutes to play.
The Magic won a late jump ball after tying Bullock, and they had a chance to win the game in their last possession. But Bullock intercepted Fournier’s attempt with 5.9 seconds to go.
“Coach always talks about ‘next man up’, and everyone who was deployed tonight had an effect on the game,” said Bullock. “It was absolutely important for us to close this one.
“We had two hard-fought games our last two defeats, so we definitely had to pick these up and start building while we’re back home for a [four-game] stretch out and have a win. “