Midway through the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ lopsided win over the Warriors on Tuesday night, Julius Randle glanced over at his sideline. What he saw astonished him. Tom Thibodeau, New York’s hot-blooded coach, sitting down. “That was crazy,” said Randle. “Three years with Thibs, I’ve never seen that.”
Randle has seen this level of success before. Once, to be exact. The Knicks’ eight-game winning streak is the second Randle & Co. have experienced during the Thibodeau era, the most since a nine-game stretch in the coach’s fairy tale first season. Against the Warriors, New York won with diverse scoring (six players in double figures), solid defense and an efficient (42.5%) three-point assault. They attacked the offensive glass relentlessly (14) and got steady in-game leadership from the first steady in-game leader (Jalen Brunson) the team has had in decades.
“Everybody’s contributing,” said R.J. Barrett. “It’s fun to watch.”
