The Knicks turned the ball over 21 times but still found a way to beat the Wizards 107-100 on Saturday night. >> Box Score

Five things to know from Saturday's game

1) The Knicks came out of the opening gates playing very sloppy basketball, turning the ball over four times in the first two minutes of the game. But after Washington jumped out to a five-point lead, the Knicks began to find their groove. Julius Randle led the way as the Knicks went on a 17-0 run during the late stages of the first quarter, pushing their lead to 33- 23 after one. The Knicks fell back into their bad ways in the second, though, and a 17-3 Wizards' run put Washington back on top. But a couple of threes from Kevin Knox and RJ Barrett gave the Knicks a 59-58 lead at the break.

In the second half, the Knicks appeared to right the ship, with Randle continuing to lead the way. Despite a 7-0 Wizards run to end the quarter, the Knicks entered the fourth with an 86-78 lead. Turnovers continued to plague the Knicks in the fourth, allowing the Wizards to regain the lead 90-89 with under nine minutes to play. The teams went back and forth during the home stretch, but Randle made sure the Knicks wouldn't let this one slip away, as the Knicks held on for the win.

2) Coming off of back-to-back performances of 35 and 33 points, Randle was once again the focal point of the Knicks offense. In the first half, Randle did a little bit of everything with 12 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. It was more of the same in the second half, as Randle finished with 30 points and 16 rebounds. He became the first Knick since Tim Hardaway Jr. last November to record three straight 30-point games.

3) Barrett shot just 2-of-10 from the floor his last time out against Brooklyn, but he seemed to play much more confidently against the Wizards, at least early on. He finished the first half with 11 points, including a pair of three-pointers. The second half was a different story for Barrett, who struggled to find his shot, but he did his third three-pointer late in the game to help extend the Knicks' lead. He finished with 14 points on 5-of-13 shooting.

4) Bobby Portis led the Knicks in scoring in the first half with 15 points in just 11 minutes. Playing against one of his former teams, Portis shot 7-for-9 from the floor in the first half, helping the Knicks regain the lead at the break. Portis had a quiet second half, but he finished with 17 points in 20 minutes of the bench.

5) The Wizards have been injury-riddled this season, and they entered Saturday's game without their top four leading scorers: Bradley Beal, Davis Bertans, Rui Hachimura, and Thomas Bryant. Isaiah Thomas and Jordan McRae led the way for the Wizards with 20 points each, but it wasn't enough to come away with a win.

Highlights

Confirmed: Julius Randle is still 🔥

(via @nyknicks) pic.twitter.com/UGFN7JlJOl
- Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) December 29, 2019

Marcus Morris sees everything 👀

(via @nyknicks) pic.twitter.com/8NqH2puKHl
- Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) December 29, 2019

Pretty Eurostep and-one from RJ 🇨

(via @nyknicks) pic.twitter.com/CVhGfd8B5Z
- Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) December 29, 2019

Never underestimate the BP revenge game

(via @nyknicks) pic.twitter.com/ZpSQkSWM2d
- Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) December 29, 2019

Elfrid ➡ Randle

Can the Knicks pull away?

(via @nyknicks) pic.twitter.com/2809TDfty2
- Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) December 29, 2019

What's next

The Knicks will have a few days off before returning to Madison Square Garden to host Carmelo Anthony and the Portland Trail Blazers on New Year's Day. Tip-off is set for 7:30 PM.

Popular in the Community