New York Knicks win back-to-back games against the Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors: Vibes are back

The New York Knicks won games on consecutive nights. They beat the Sacramento Kings 103-87, in a game that was more competitive than its final score suggests. Then they took down the Toronto Raptors 119-92, riding incredible second-half defense.

New York kicked off its double-header with a 103-87 drubbing of the Sacramento Kings. The Knicks played suffocating defense but kept letting the Kings back into the game through turnovers and lapses in guarding DeMar DeRozan. Midway through the fourth quarter, their defense kicked into another gear, and they finally took control.

The Knicks went to Toronto the next night and started flat. The players looked fatigued, and the ball stagnated. Deuce McBride and Mitchell Robinson sat out with injury management, but the bench still sparked the squad. New York made a big run in the third quarter, then continued to dominate in the fourth.

The key to these victories was defense. The Knicks put together long stretches of stops, leading to quick transitions and easy buckets. It’s a big step in the right direction.

Let’s look at the statement wins through player performances.

Vs. SAC: 28 PTS (9/17 FG, 4/8 3PT, 6/7 FT), 4 AST, 3 REB, 1 BLK, 2 TO in 35 mins

Vs. TOR: 13 PTS (5/13 FG, 0/3 3PT, 3/3 FT), 4 AST, 1 REB, 1 BLK, 4 TO in 30 mins

Sacramento seemed determined to keep Jalen Brunson out of the paint. They used bigger defenders like Precious Achiuwa, forcing Brunson swing the ball whenever he drove. But they also left the Captain to feast on jumpers.

Brunson nearly sat out against Toronto due to illness. Maybe that’s why his game wasn’t as sharp as usual. He turned the ball over and couldn’t get many easy looks. Luckily, he was able to lean on his teammates to pick him up.

Vs. SAC: 18 PTS (8/13 FG, 2/3 3PT), 5 AST, 3 REB, 1 STL, 1 TO in 38 mins

Vs. TOR: 30 PTS (12/15 FG, 4/6 3PT, 2/2 FT), 4 AST, 1 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO in 36 mins

Mikal Bridges started against the Kings with nine points in the first five minutes, then faded out until midway through the third quarter. Once he got going again, Mikal provided the extra scoring punch New York needed to take over the game.

Bridges couldn’t miss against Toronto. His jumper was hot, and he hunted for it, taking his aggression up a notch. Mikal’s playmaking shone on both nights, flashing an additional dimension he brings at the top of his game. These are his best two efforts in weeks.

Vs. SAC: 15 PTS (5/7 FG, 3/4 3PT, 2/2 FT), 2 REB, 2 STL, 7 TO in 32 mins

Vs. TOR: 26 PTS (11/18 FG, 2/6 3PT, 2/3 FT), 5 AST, 3 REB, 6 STL, 2 BLK in 34 mins

OG Anunoby had a rare mess of a game against Sacramento. He fell over more than he made shots, turning the ball over in every possible way. But the defensive ace made his jumpers and finished a key dunk down the stretch. So, his messy game was forgiven by the end.

Anunoby played a two-way gem against the Raptors. His defense completely disrupted the Raptors attempts to get inside, meanwhile, his offense came on dunk after dunk..

Vs. SAC: 7 PTS (2/6 FG, 0/2 3PT, 3/3 FT), 4 AST, 9 REB, 3 STL, 4 TO in 31 mins

Vs. TOR: 22 PTS (7/11 FG, 4/7 3PT, 4/6 FT), 6 AST, 5 REB, 2 STL, 2 TO in 35 mins

OG Anunoby wasn’t the only player to struggle with the Kings’ defense. Josh Hart had an unusually turnover-prone performance, and couldn’t get anything going offensively either.

But like Anunoby, Hart bounced back with a vengeance against the Raptors. He got more opportunities to attack in transition, which made his playmaking pop. Hart’s jumper was falling as well, which gave him a scoring edge.

Vs. SAC: 17 PTS (5/15 FG, 3/8 3PT, 4/4 FT), 4 AST, 11 REB, 2 TO in 27 mins

Vs. TOR: 8 PTS (3/11 FG, 0/2 3PT, 2/2 FT), 2 AST, 22 REB, 1 BLK, 2 TO in 35 mins

It wasn’t Karl-Anthony Towns’ night, as he couldn’t get anything going at the basket, even when he tried to post up smaller players like Russell Westbrook. Towns hit threes and made nice passes to keep his game from being a disaster. But his offensive woes, combined with defensive shortcomings, meant he got benched to close the game.

Offense only got tougher for Towns in Toronto. But KAT made up for it by dominating the glass. He grabbed 16 rebounds in the first half and finished the night with 22. Even his efforts on defense felt inspired.

Vs. SAC: 7 PTS (3/5 FG, 1/2 FT), 13 REB, 2 STL in 27 mins

Vs. TOR: DNP

I can’t overstate Mitchell Robinson’s importance to the victory over Sacramento. The complexion of the game changed whenever he entered and menaced the boards. Mitch also drove the team’s defensive success, providing catalytic rim protection.

As is typical on back-to-backs, Robinson sat out the second game.

I was skeptical before, but these two wins give me confidence that the turnaround is real. The Knicks have played beautiful defense throughout their win streak. They’ll always have scoring, but getting stops makes them impossible to keep up with.

Mikal Bridges’ post-game interview was candid; he owned up to his recent struggles. I think that’s a great sign that this locker room has maturity and accountability. This team is truly back on track.

We’ll see if the streak can continue against the Blazers next. See you then, Knicks’ fam!