Emanuel Quickley lifts the Knicks big off the bench

Coaches regularly say that the player who finishes the game can often be more important than the beginner. It was no more apparent than Tom’s coach Thibodo’s point-guard employment with Saturday’s 119-107 win in Oklahoma City.

With both Elfried Payton and Derrick Rose out of the lineup, Frank Nitilina made his second start of the season, but played just seven minutes (with zero points) after committing two early fouls.

Rookie Emanuel Quickley, playing despite being dubious for a game with a gadfly, finished with 21 points and four assists in a career-high-33 minutes off the bench. Alec Burke also earned a few minutes on the ball, finishing with 15 points in 27 minutes.

“I figured we needed everybody’s minutes tonight, too much,” Thibodo said after Nax improved to 20-19. “Going into the game, I didn’t know who we would have.

“So we mapped it with Frank and Quick and Alec. And I felt that Alec’s first time actually handling the ball was going on at this point. And I thought he did a great job or us too. What I like about everyone is the versatility of the group. It gives you lots of options. “

Emmanuel Quickly
Emmanuel Quickly
AP

Rose lost his fourth straight game, preventing the All-Star break due to the NBA’s health and safety protocol, although Nucks has not yet revealed whether he has tested positive for COVID-19.

Patton sat out with a strangulation, an injury that forced him to miss four games last month. Both he and Quickly participated in the pregame warm-up, but only the latter played.

“I think it’s over time. So he has to monitor it and he has to take care of all the things that he has to do. “I think it’s normal over the course of a season. We’ve got a great medical staff. He’s hardworking, taking care of his body. Just keep doing those things.”


Center Nerlens Noel and Taj Gibson recorded two points, eight rebounds and a blocked shot in a similar static lineup in about 24 minutes.

“Taj gave us a great time, Nerlens gave us rim protection,” Thibodo said. “We had a lot of people and we found a way to victory.”

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