Within the third quarter of his new crew’s most full victory of the season, Karl-Anthony Cities went flying into the Knicks bench to avoid wasting a unfastened ball off a miss by Nuggets famous person Nikola Jokic.
Cities received up rapidly and made it down the court docket in time to finish a layup, two of his 30 factors — together with 15 rebounds — within the Knicks’ blowout win Monday.
That efficiency needed to alleviate considerations for these nervous that Cities had been listed as questionable on the damage report and a game-time determination resulting from a contused left calf.
It even brought on Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau to deadpan afterward that the four-time All-Star large man “should have [done] more.”
“For sure. He ain’t wrong. He ain’t wrong,” Cities, who bounced again from a poor recreation in Saturday’s loss to the Jazz, stated with a smile. “We’re going to look at the tape and we’re going to search out methods I may be higher. You’re by no means glad. Particularly me. I’m by no means glad.
“I always want to be at my best for my teammates, be the best for the city and for this organization. There’s always room for improvement, every single way, no matter what, every single game. I’m excited to come out of here with a win and excited to find ways to get better.”
On an evening when OG Anunoby scored a career-high 40 factors and Jalen Brunson recorded a career-best 17 assists — as a part of the Knicks tying their franchise mark of 45 — Cities additionally was used as the first defender used towards Jokic.
The 7-footer helped maintain the three-time MVP effectively beneath his triple-double averages, ending with 22 factors, seven boards and 7 assists in 32 minutes.
“KAT gave us a presence inside,” Thibodeau stated. “The factor is, look, that is the NBA. In case you’re a professional athlete you’re going to be nicked up. In case you can go, go. In case you’re injured, sit.
“That’s really that simple. My thing is being mentally tough when you’re facing adversity is probably the most important thing in life, regardless of what you’re doing. Get out there, get the job done. That’s the bottom line. I like that part of him.”
Cities additionally not too long ago surpassed 1,000 made 3-pointers in his 10-year profession with the Timberwolves and the Knicks to turn out to be the 18th participant in NBA historical past with not less than 13,000 factors, 6,000 rebounds and 1,000 or extra connections from lengthy distance.
The New Jersey product is averaging 28.8 factors, 13.1 boards, 3.4 assists and a couple of.8 3s whereas taking pictures 55.4 p.c general and 45.6 p.c from past the arc over his final 13 appearances getting into Wednesday’s street recreation towards the Mavericks.
The final Knick to file not less than 28 and 13 with a taking pictures proportion of not less than .550 over any 13-game stretch was Patrick Ewing within the 1989-90 marketing campaign.
Monday’s recreation additionally represented the primary time within the Knicks’ 79-year historical past through which one participant scored not less than 40 factors (Anunoby), one other had not less than 20 factors and 10 assists (Brunson) and a 3rd had not less than 30 factors and 15 rebounds (Cities).
“OG was incredible. Nothing else needs to be said,” Cities stated. “That’s the only word that describes it. He was incredible. He was at another level and it was a great day to be on that level. Showed up not only defensively like he always does, but offensively he showed why he’s so coveted by us.”
