ATLANTA — The Knicks returned to State Farm Arena to face the Hawks for the first time in nearly six months after Atlanta spoiled their season in a one-sided playoff series that sent the Knicks into the offseason with an idea about improving their roster.
But the Knicks might have arrived Saturday with more questions than they left with in June. At that time it was a simple thought to add offensive firepower to a team desperately in need of it. But now, while the Hawks brought a seven-game winning streak into the meeting, surging up the standings, the Knicks landed in Atlanta banged up and maybe more confused about their direction than they were when last season ended.
Trae Young took them apart just as he had in the playoffs, pouring in 33 points. Julius Randle, after being shut down by the Hawks in the playoffs, struggled through an eight-point effort after a scoreless first half. But the bench again provided the energy, carrying the Knicks to a surprising 99-90 win.
It certainly wasn’t a complete picture for these teams — the Knicks played without Derrick Rose, Kemba Walker, Taj Gibson and Nerlens Noel, while Atlanta was without DeAndre Hunter and lost Cam Reddish and Bogdan Bogdanovic to injuries in the first half. But the Knicks will take a win over the Hawks in any form.
Alec Burks stepped into the starting lineup for the first time this season and responded by leading the Knicks with 23 points, and Evan Fournier added 20. Randle, taunted from start to finish by the Atlanta fans, shot just 3 for 14. Obi Toppin added 13 off the bench and along with rookies Jericho Sims and Quentin Grimes provided an energy shot when the Knicks needed it most.
Even in victory there were troublesome signs. Walker had to take the night off for rest even with Rose sidelined and the team in need. Randle fell victim to the same nightmares that the Hawks caused him in the postseason, missing his first seven attempts before finally grabbing a rebound off an RJ Barrett miss and scoring with 8:08 left in the third quarter for his first points of the game.
Still, the Knicks managed to withstand the onslaught, something they couldn’t do in the playoffs. Young hit a wall in the second half and no one was able to pick up the offense for Atlanta this time.
The Knicks entered Saturday night just a half game behind the Hawks in the Eastern Conference standings, but with far more question marks. Atlanta coach Nate McMillan acknowledged that the success of the Hawks in the playoffs, limiting Randle and forcing Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau to turn to Rose as his most reliable offensive option, might have precipitated the Knicks roster moves.
"Yeah, with Fournier and Walker, adding guys like that to your roster, and their ability to score, put the ball in the basket," McMillan said. "[Immanuel] Quickley played really good basketball for them last year, doing the same thing this year. You have Rose, you have a number of guys on that roster that are capable of doing that. Again, last year we did a good job on Randle but it was those other guys we had to contain and make sure that they didn’t get off as well. They have even more firepower this year with the addition of Walker."
The Knicks managed to build a 10-point lead in the second quarter with the youthful energy of the bench unit carrying them. But when Randle came back on the floor the lead was whittled to one at the half as Young went on one of his flurries, hitting a pair of long 3-pointers and then blowing past Randle. The Knicks led 51-50 at the intermission, but Young started the third quarter the way he ended the first half, hitting a long 3 and then feeding Clint Capela for a pair of dunks and a 57-51 lead.
But out of a timeout the Knicks began to push back and Burks poured in 15 points in the third quarter. With Burks providing the firepower to match Young the Knicks took an 85-74 lead into the fourth quarter.
