The Knicks battled back in the fourth quarter and defeated the Kings 103-101, giving them consecutive wins for the first time this season. >> Box Score

Five things to know from Friday's game

1) The Knicks struggled form the floor on the offensive end and struggled to defend the three-point shot for most of Friday night. Entering the fourth quarter, the Kings held an 80-72 lead, having controlled most of the action. In the fourth, though, the Knicks fought back, thanks in part to Damyean Dotson, who knocked down a pair of threes to help bring the Knicks within two points at 85-83.

With 5:22 to go, Marcus Morris hit a jumper and was fouled, tying the game at 93-93. On the next possession, Elfrid Payton hit a floater to give the Knicks their first lead since 2-0. Thanks to a 12-2 run, the Knicks led by four with a minute and a half to play. Ultimately, the Knicks held on for the win, outscoring the Kings 30-21 in the fourth.

2) Buddy Hield was a problem for the Knicks right from the opening tip. While the Knicks struggled from the floor in the first, scoring just 20 points, Hield alone had 14 of the Kings' 32 first-quarter points, shooting 6-of-7 from the floor. By halftime, Hield was up to 22 points, shooting a blistering 9-for-10 from the floor. Through three, Hield had 27 points, helping the Kings to an eight point lead into the final frame. To the Knicks' credit, though, they kept Hield in check in the fourth, and he finished the game with 34 points.

3) Mitchell Robinson played big for the Knicks off the bench, providing 14 points and nine rebounds. Five of those rebounds came on the offensive glass, helping to keep possessions alive and clean up missed shots. Starting center Taj Gibson had just four points, but he did have seven rebounds and a pair of blocks.

4) Julius Randle took charge of the Knicks' offense in the first half. With the rest of the team struggling around him, Randle poured in 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting in the first 24 minutes. Randle finished the game with 26 points, nine rebounds, and four assists.

5) Marcus Morris entered the game coming off a season-high 36 points in the overtime win against the Warriors, but he came out of the gates very slowly. Morris was just 1-for-6 in the first half and didn't hit his first three-pointer until early in the third. He ended up shooting just 4-of-12 on the night, ending with 10 points, but he had a huge put-back in the fourth to help secure the win.

Highlights

.@J30_RANDLE muscles his way through 💪 pic.twitter.com/nKREDWHWta
- NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 14, 2019

Julius ➡Taj ➡ Easy two pic.twitter.com/ceHjDnIWqg
- NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 14, 2019

When nobody guards Mitch ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ pic.twitter.com/fDvN14fhvm
- NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 14, 2019

The bank is open for @J30_RANDLE 💰 pic.twitter.com/iFCCR3bpXk
- NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 14, 2019

The big fella picking up where he left off pic.twitter.com/rzK1wkAlmP
- NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 14, 2019

What's next

The Knicks will be back on the floor Sunday night in Denver for a road matchup with the Nuggets at 8:00PM, the final game of this West Coast swing. The Knicks then return home on Tuesday against the Hawks.

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