When the Knicks announced that Elfrid Payton would miss Thursday night’s game against the Sacramento Kings, it became clear that the other point guards on the team would have to step up, especially being paired with De’Aaron Fox.
It was just hard to predict that everyone would be up to the challenge.
The Knicks had their best offensive play of the season, losing 140 to the Kings behind strong performances from Derrick Rose, who started in place of Payton, Immanuel Quickley and – surprisingly – Frank Ntilikina, who made his first court appearance. from 29 December.
The trio worked through their spells on the pitch, with Rose starting things off by making a perfect 6 of 6 off the gate and finishing the game with 18 points and six assists.
“My confidence has always been there, even if I’m not the same player,” Rose said at the Knicks shootaround on Friday. “I’m good, I feel I’ve worked on my game, after all my injuries, and it’s just about showing it and adapting.”