Knicks happy to end road trip with a win vs. Thunder, and happy to return home
Knicks center Jericho Sims dunks over Thunder forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, right, in the second half of an NBA game Monday in Oklahoma City. Credit: AP/Sue Ogrocki
OKLAHOMA CITY — When it was finally over — the win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, the five-game, seven-night trip — there were questions about the game and what the Knicks had accomplished, but mostly what RJ Barrett wanted was to just get home.
“We want to go home,” he said. “But no, like I said, it was a great win to end the trip. We really stayed together through this whole entire trip, so to end it off with a win like this, was good, but we gotta get home.”
The Knicks made it through what appeared at the start could have been a death march, winning three of the five games and returning home with a .500 record and, at least for a day, fewer questions about what’s next for the team.
The trip did take the pressure off of some of the questions that they had carried with them like oversized luggage as they departed. The criticism — self-imposed — of a lack of effort and intensity before the trip that had head coach Tom Thibodeau absorbing blame were answered on this trip, as the Knicks shook off fatigue and sickness and in this last stop played with intensity from start to finish.
And other problems were resolved, too, even as others cropped up. Quentin Grimes finally was healthy and providing the defensive ability that Thibodeau had dreamed of when he projected a starting job for him. Cam Reddish, Derrick Rose and Mitchell Robinson all were banged up, but that gave a chance for Immanuel Quickley and Jericho Sims to shine.
“It’s easy to have that mindset ready to go home,” Jalen Brunson said. “But we were hungry. Happy to come out with a win. It’s very encouraging. We’ve just got to build on it.”
“The thing is it’s like the games keep coming,” Thibodeau said. “We knew it would be a challenge and sometimes going on the road is good for you. We figured each game individually, went step by step. We know we have a lot of work to do. We have to continue to improve. This gives us a chance to get home, another day of recovery and we can get back to work. You have to be ready for the next one. That’s the challenge of the league, the competition that you face every night. Hopefully, we can build upon this and keep moving forward.”
It’s easy to point out the positives from Monday’s win in Oklahoma City — particularly coming at the end of this trip and just eight days after the Knicks had been humiliated at Madison Square Garden by the Thunder. Brunson took over the game in the second half. Barrett found his energy and offensive form. Grimes solidified the perimeter defense and Quickley provided an offensive spark.
Maybe the best thing that they did was play to the end of the trip and then mimic their coach in wanting more.
“Five games in seven nights is always tough, but I just liked the way we came out energy-wise,” Quickley said. “The start of the game was really good. We knew they were going to come out heavy in the third quarter, and we were good there. So I feel like overall, it was a pretty good road trip. Could’ve been a little better, but I like what we did.
“Obviously, we wanted the two other wins but came up short. But yeah, look at the glass half-full instead of half-empty for sure. The way guys stepped up, Deuce [McBride] coming in and giving us big minutes, QG, going from not playing for a bit and starting and giving us great minutes, I feel like everybody contributed. That’s what we needed.”
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
