Mitchell who?
Nerlens Noel did a fine approach to injured Knicks center Mitchell Robinson. Immanuel Quickley made fellow Kentucky Wildcat John Wall even prouder, hitting his first six shots and hitting big 3-pointers in the second half as the Rockets rallied.
Quickley finished with a spectacular 22 points, tapping seven of nine shots – four of six of 3. Julius Randle was Julius Randle.
Derrick Rose, who played for his former Knicks coach / current Rockets assistant Jeff Hornacek, was excited for a third game in a row adding 16 more points.
The Knicks played their most flawless first half of the season in the first game without Robinson, ending with a stunning 121-99 defeat to the Rockets at a Garden for fans to enjoy in 10 days.
The triumph ended a great Valentine’s Day weekend with back-to-back bursts from Washington and Houston that brought the Knicks closer to .500 at 13-15 – seventh in the conference. Basketball New York is starting to fall in love with the scrappy Knicks, especially Quickley.
It ruined Wall’s first game in the Garden since December 3, 2018, while he was with the Wizards. Yes, it has been so long.
The newest member of the Rockets is delighted to be back and delighted to welcome a new point guard from Kentucky. Wall blinded himself with 26 points in defeat.
“He’s someone I respect,” Wall said before the game about Quickley. “I am very happy that he has the opportunity. I’m glad he’s showing people he’s more than just a shooter. That’s a lot of what people thought. The way he runs the point guard position has been good. It will be good to go against him. “
Wall, who played in Kentucky in 2009-10, still keeps a close eye on John Calipari’s schedule. And the old Wizard has had the chance to get to know Knicks rookie point guard, who hails from Baltimore and played two seasons for Kentucky.
Even after Saturday’s loss, Wall provided some more encouragement for Quickley.
“He told me I had a good season, he told me to keep working,” said Quickley. “And just stick with it. It’s a long season, but it gets better every day.”
Wall visited Kentucky in rehab last season, where he caught the Wildcats’ game against Florida. Quickley scored a career-high 26 points with Wall watching and they made a video together. This time he got 22 points.
“It was cool,” said Quickley after his big second half performance. ‘We’re bleeding blue. He has been part of my development. He gave me words of encouragement. Good to see him on the ground. ”
Quickley even admitted to the Lexington Herald-Leader that he was interested in the Wildcats because of Wall.
“Obviously everyone knows John Wall,” said Quickley in 2016. “He can get on and off the track in three, four dribbles. And he gets everyone involved. That’s just one of John Calipari’s many point guards. I’ve seen. “
Wall is particularly proud of Quickley.
“I’ve seen him play in Baltimore before,” Wall said before facing the Knicks. “I talked to him before he went to Kentucky. We made a little video together when I saw them play last year. “
Quickley has come off the bench for the Knicks in the first 28 games and his career has been given another shock with the arrival of Rose. Social media was concerned that Rose would negatively impact Quickley’s minutes. On the contrary.
Coach Tom Thibodeau has turned Rose and Quickley into a backcourt tandem off the bench, and it’s been a smash.
‘I learn a lot of things [from him], ” Said Quickley. “I don’t want to give it away because I will be bringing a lot of things with me throughout my career. So basically just his energy. He’s a dog, alpha dog, he’s a leader. It’s great to have someone like that in my corner. ”
The first two quarters of Saturday were a masterpiece, as the Knicks built a 63-47 lead. They scored whenever they wanted. They didn’t make their first turn in half until after 57 seconds, when Randle tried to find Noel and sent him off the track.
Randle was definitely looking for their new starting center, Noel, now that Robinson could be out for six weeks with a broken hand.
Robinson looked from the second row of the couch in a white shirt and a white cast on his right hand – probably facing surgery.
Wall, did not play last season and had his 2018/19 season interrupted by a heel injury for a torn Achilles. Quickley had a great mentor in Wall, and now the torch has passed to Rose.
“It’s his ability to get the best out of everyone around him,” Thibodeau said of Rose.
“They are a team that plays hard,” said Wall during the game. “You know how Thibs plays [his teams]Julius [Randle] plays well, and D-Rose just went there and we all know what he’s about. They are a good emerging team. ”
The Knicks proved it on Saturday.