Representative defense often is a staple of success in the NBA, and a distinct quality that should translate whether games are played at home or on the road.
As the Knicks have learned more than once already this season, however, it’s almost impossible to cover up for a poor shooting night at the other end.
Tom Thibodeau’s Knicks had locked back in at the defensive end in posting three straight wins to mostly negate the preceding five-game losing skid, but they slipped back under .500 for the season with a frustrating 103-94 loss Friday to the Kings in Sacramento, Calif.
Julius Randle posted 26 points with 15 rebounds despite constant double-teams, but the Knicks (8-9) couldn’t ultimately overcame a 5-for-22 shooting night from 3-point range or a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter, failing to build on Thursday’s defensively stout win at Golden State with a second straight win to open a four-game Western trip.
“From mid-first quarter, and second quarter I thought we played well. The third quarter started OK, but then we got stuck and obviously didn’t finish well,” Thibodeau said. “They were swarming and we obviously weren’t making shots. And when you’re not making shots, sometimes it gets tough. I did like the fight, but obviously we’d like to close it out better than we did.”
De’Aaron Fox netted 22 points, Harrison Barnes had 21 and impressive rookie point guard Tyrese Haliburton — the 12th overall pick in the 2020 draft, four picks after the Knicks grabbed Obi Toppin — contributed 16 points, four blocks and two steals in 31 minutes off the bench as the Kings halted their four-game losing skid.
The Knicks were just 3-for-18 from long range through three quarters and trailed 76-72 entering the final 12 minutes. A 3 by Glenn Robinson III and a jumper by Cory Joseph barely four minutes into the fourth boosted Sacramento’s lead to a game-high 12, 86-74.
A 3-pointer by Alec Burks and a converted three-point play by Randle keyed a 13-3 run and got the Knicks back within two with 4:30 remaining. But Haliburton’s 3 with 2:35 to go highlighted a 7-0 Sacramento run to replenish the lead to 96-87.
“We’re always going to do that. We’re always going to try to fight to the end, no matter what,” RJ Barrett said. “Most definitely, we haven’t done anything yet. I think we’re still trying to learn and figure out how to win and as a team bring it every night.”
Barrett finished with 21 points on 8-for-17 shooting one night after recording a career-high 28 against the Warriors, while Mitchell Robinson contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Knicks. Toppin had six in 12 minutes for the Knicks, whose trip continues Sunday night in Portland before concluding Tuesday in Utah.
The Knicks entered the game ranked first in the NBA in fewest points allowed (102.8 per game), while holding opponents to the lowest field-goal percentage (43.0 percent) and 3-point percentage (30.7 percent).
Luke Walton’s Kings, meanwhile, came in having allowed the most points in the league — 123.0 per game — over their first 15 games. But they recorded a season-high 14 blocked shots, also including six from center Richaun Holmes.
The Knicks’ intensity appeared to lull, however, after carrying a 54-49 lead into the third quarter. Barnes’ layup and Buddy Hield’s 3-pointer midway through the period helped the Kings regain the lead, 68-67, and carry a four-point cushion into the fourth.
“It wasn’t the usual high energy [in the third quarter],” Thibodeau said. “Sometimes when you’re in a back-to-back, you have to fight through those things. I did like the fight in the fourth quarter, but we didn’t close it out.”