Knicks dominate from start to finish to beat Pelicans on night franchise honors ‘73 NBA champs
73 points to honor ‘73.
On a night the Knicks celebrated their last championship on its 50th anniversary, the current squad put on an offensive clinic in the first half of a 128-106 beatdown Saturday of the Pelicans.
Their 73 points at the break was four short of a franchise record, setting the stage for the halftime ceremony honoring that 1973 squad.
Of course, it’s a different game than 50 years ago with the introduction and emphasis on the three-point shot. The Knicks took full advantage Saturday with 19 treys — tying a season-high — including a combined nine from Julius Randle and RJ Barrett.
Red Holzman would be proud.
“That’s pretty cool,” Randle said of the dominating first half. “Especially at home we want to get off to good starts. We did that today and sustained it.”
The surging Knicks (35-27) won their fifth straight and moved a half-game below the Nets for fifth in the East. They got solid output from Randle (28 points, seven rebounds, five assists), Barrett (25 points, seven assists) and Mitchell Robinson (11 points, 13 rebounds).
The highlight was in the fourth quarter off a steal from Immanuel Quickley, who threw it off the backboard for Randle’s soaring dunk.
New York’s early onslaught included 16 first-quarter points from Randle, who picked up where he left off from his career-high 46 points the night prior in Washington D.C.
The Knicks led by 23 in the second quarter and never looked back. Garbage time was so long that Derrick Rose, at the urging of the chanting crowd, checked in for the first time since 2022.
He provided some entertainment and drama for the final two minutes but couldn’t give the fans a bucket after missing his four attempts.
“D-Rose, that’s a legend,” Randle said. “That’s a legend and he’s not playing. Obviously, he’s still got some juice and he can still play. But that’s not his role on this team. I would argue that he’s having just as much if not more of an impact vocally as a leader for us. He’s constantly talking to me, giving me advice. His impact is huge. I love to see him out on the floor.”
The Pelicans were playing without Zion Williamson, who has been out since Jan. 2 with a hamstring injury. Despite Williamson’s prodigious talent, the injuries and inactivity have been the unfortunate story of his career as a frequent member of the DNP list.
The Pelicans (30-31) have struggled without their All-Star and entered Saturday as losers of 13 of their last 17 games. They were lazy defensively and Brandon Ingram was overmatched by Randle.
Maybe it won’t be another 50 years until the next Knicks championship.
“Everybody kinda had a great game, so that was really good,” Barrett said.
STYLING AND PROFILING
The loudest ovation during the 1973 celebration went to Clyde Frazier.
As it should be.
Then the Knicks legend stepped to the mic and gave a rousing speech about beating Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain.
It was the highlight of a ceremony that included appearances from most of the living members of the championship squad, including Earl Monroe and Bill Bradley. Willis Reed couldn’t travel and provided a message over the Jumbotron. The notable absence was Phil Jackson, who, according to a source, was invited.
Jackson left the franchise on a sour note after a disappointing run as team president from 2014 to 2017. He was announced Saturday in absence to a mix of boos and cheers.
Curiously and unnecessarily, the Knicks used a large chunk of the ceremony to honor more recent players, most of whom work for the organization, like John Starks, Latrell Sprewell and Allan Houston.
BROOKLYN’S FINEST
Jose Alvarado had one heckuva week.
After winning MVP of the Rising Stars Challenge, the Pelicans point guard came home to NYC to have his jersey retired at Christ the King in Brooklyn, the first male player to ever have his number in the rafters for the famed basketball program.
“That jersey retirement is legendary,” Alvarado told the Daily News. “Nobody can wear that number anymore. It’s crazy because that number is special in that school and for me to get the last dance with it is pretty amazing.”
Christ the King was also home to Lamar Odom, Jayson Williams, Speedy Claxton and Khalid Reeves. Its female alumni are even more impressive with Sue Bird, Chamique Holdsclaw and Tina Charles.
Alvarado is an underdog story in the NBA as an undrafted player on a two-way contract who grinded his way to a consistent role. His breakout game was last season for the Pelicans at MSG.
“I went out there and I said, ‘I’m at the Garden and I’m going to play in front of my people,’” Alvarado said.
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