The hangover after the Knicks deadline lasted only three-quarters before they woke up and rallied furiously in the fourth quarter for a 106-102 win over the Wizards at the Garden on Thursday.
After a terrible first half, RJ Barrett made the comeback with 24 points on a night when Julius Randle wasn’t himself.
And Alec Burks (27 points, 15 in the fourth), rookie Immanuel Quickley (16 points) and Taj Gibson all pitted and scored off the bench after the Knicks were down 60-45 at half time and 11 after three quarters.
The Knicks surpassed Washington 39-24 in the last period. Barrett’s biggest game came on a quick hiatus when he was tied by Bradley Beal, but still finished for a three-point game, after which he flexed his biceps. Barrett was only 7 of 22 that night, but scorched the Wizards for nine points in the fourth quarter.
Randle, who injured his thigh in the third quarter, reacted in the last two minutes, hitting two baseline jumpers to cover the comeback. Randle shot only 5 out of 16 for 13 points.
The Knicks were without their two best defenders in shooting guard Reggie Bullock and center Nerlens Noel. And they were also the first three quarters without their usual 1-2 attack in Randle and Barrett.
The Knicks were flatter than Kyrie Irving’s ground in the first half, but their second half ascent from a 17-point deficit brought them over .500 to 23-22.
Beaten by the Knicks by 18 points on Tuesday in a wire-to-wire blaze, the Wizards played out for revenge for the first three quarters, before being blown away in the final period.
After scorching Washington for 37 points on Tuesday, Randle missed 10 straight baskets at one point in this one, but still found a way to help late in the final period despite hobbling.
Ahead of the game, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau was asked about Eastern playoff contenders, Miami, Chicago and Boston who were making major upgrades to the transaction deadline while his team had nothing to say.
“I love our team,” said Thibodeau. “You watch what others do. That’s your job. We’ve done what’s best for us. That’s what we’re doing.”
Two hours later, Thibodeau looked more than frustrated when his club was 17 points behind in the first half. And then there was redemption.