The defensive momentum from the Celtics defeat continued into MLK Day when the Knicks knocked out the Magic in a 91-84 at Garden.
The Knicks couldn’t even shoot, not even free throws. Neither team hit 40 percent shooting and the Knicks all lost a 14-point lead before surviving. “I love to win – high score, medium score, low score,” said Tom Thibodeau. “I love the toughness we showed during the stretch.”
With RJ Barrett’s powerful performance (22 points, 10 rebounds, four assists) and increased defensive discipline, the Knicks recorded their first straight wins in three years with a Boston-Orlando exacta, even if they nearly squandered that.