Knicks Takeaways from Wednesday's 128-104 loss to the Jazz, including a winless road trip

Knicks' offense struggled with two missing starters

1/9/2020, 4:22 AM
undefinedRussell Isabella
undefinedRussell Isabella

The Knicks dropped their fourth straight game on Wednesday, falling to the Utah Jazz 128-104 in Salt Lake City. >> Box Score

Five things to know from Wednesday's game

1) The Knicks' starting lineup had a different look on Wednesday. With both Julius Randle (personal reasons) and Marcus Morris (sore neck) not playing, Reggie Bullock and Bobby Portis were inserted into the starting five. The new group didn't get off to the best start, as the Jazz jumped out to a nine-point lead with four and a half minutes left in the first quarter. Utah maintained a 10-point lead after one, but they continued to shoot the lights out in the second quarter, finishing with a 65 percent clip as a team from the floor and a 72-53 lead at the break.

The Jazz controlled the second half, and while the Knicks' second unit made a late run in the fourth quarter, this game was all Utah, as the Knicks dropped their fourth straight game. The Knicks return home on Friday following an 0-4 road trip out west.

 

2) Earlier on Wednesday, Portis was fined $25,000 by the NBA for his Flagrant 2 foul he committed against Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in Tuesday's loss. Portis picked up another hard foul against the Jazz late in the third quarter, though this time it was a Flagrant 1 foul, meaning he was not ejected. Portis finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

3) Frank Ntilikina came off the bench strong to start the game. The backup guard scored seven points in his first three minutes during a first quarter run. He finished with 16 points, four rebounds, and three assists, leading the team in scoring. 

4) Playing without their two leading scorers in Morris and Randle, the Knicks offense was lifeless. Aside from Ntilikina and Portis, Elfrid Payton scored 13 points, while Wayne Ellington and Damyean Dotson had 11 points off the bench. 

5) The Jazz were led on the offensive end by Bojan Bogdanovic, who finished with 20 points. Meanwhile, New York native Donovan Mitchell finished with 16 points, and former Knick Emmanuel Mudiay had a very strong night with 20 points off the bench, playing 25 minutes. 

Highlights

What's next

The Knicks' west coast swing has come to a close. Up next, the Knicks return home and will take on the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night at the Garden for a 7:15PM tip.

Popular in the Community