Mar 9, 2023; Sacramento, California, USA; New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) and Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (10) fight for position under the basket during the first quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Knicks Twitter reacts to disastrous start against commanding Kings
On the heels of a disappointing game against the Hornets, the New York Knicks were back on national television to kick off a four-game road trip out West. New York’s first stop was Sacramento, a team that has surprisingly climbed up to No. 2 in the Western Conference.
After beating the Kings earlier this season at MSG, Sacramento came out with a vengeance. Domantas Sabonis dominated down low against Mitchell Robinson in the first half and went into halftime with 13 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Malik Monk was scorching hot off the bench and posted 17 points, three rebounds, and four assists in the first half.
Meanwhile, except Jalen Brunson (19 points) and Josh Hart (7 points and 8 rebounds), not much went right for the Knicks in the first half. Julius Randle shot 2-of-9 from the floor and looked lost on both ends of the floor.
With New York down by 13 at the half, 69-53, the Knicks are going to have to start the second half on a completely different note if they want to start their trip with a win.
Knicks Twitter reacts to discouraging late-night start against Kings
Like the Knicks, the Kings’ fan base hasn’t experienced much success in recent years. While it’s been fun to see Sacramento shock the rest of the league this season like New York, it hasn’t been fun to watch the Kings embarrass the Knicks on national television.
Emphasis on the ‘hoping it can’t get much worse’ part. Leave it to the Knicks to come back and win a game like this, but the outcome is looking quite bleak at the moment.
Yep. Like Immanuel Quickley, Malik Monk is also in the conversation to win the Sixth Man of the Year award and he’s making a good case for himself against New York.
Maybe it’s fatigue or maybe it’s simply just not Julius Randle’s night, but in order for the Knicks to come back and win this game, it’s going to need to turn into either Randle or Quickley’s night.
As if watching how New York played in the first half wasn’t enough, the team was dealt another tough blow with the news that Brunson wouldn’t be returning to the game due to the sore left foot that kept him out of the Knicks’ previous two games.
New York is going to need a miracle if the team is going to leave Golden 1 Center with a win.
