Knicks miss Quentin Grimes and fall to Raptors as winning streak ends at eight
Knicks guards Jalen Brunson and Immanuel Quickley look on in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
The old proverb, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” might seem fitting in the holiday season, but usually for lost loved ones. For Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau it came in the form of Quentin Grimes and a sprained right ankle.
While he uttered his usual, “Next man up,” when asked about playing without Grimes Wednesday, the Knicks were missing something. And Grimes, whose ascension into the starting lineup has coincided with the team’s turnaround was as good an explanation as any.
The Knicks fought, but saw their eight-game win streak come to an end as they fell to the Toronto Raptors, 113-106, at Madison Square Garden.
The next man up was Immanuel Quickley, who started quietly, but delivered big shot after big shot, finishing with 20 points. The Knicks got 30 points and 13 rebounds from Julius Randle and 30 points from RJ Barrett. But it wasn’t enough to make up for the defensive failings and the uncharacteristic sloppy play with 16 turnovers. And it certainly wasn’t enough to make up for the inability to stop Pascal Siakam, who scored a career-high 52 points, converting 17 of 25 from the field and 16 of 18 from the free-throw line, joining the list of players who have come under the bright lights of the Garden and flourished.
“It’s cool, obviously,” Siakam said. “Obviously, I’m not a super basketball historian. I didn’t start basketball till late and I’m learning about these things. But I know how special this building is. And I think that for me the more important thing is my team needed every bucket to get a win.”
For the Knicks it was a hard-fought loss, but still a loss after eight straight wins.
“I still think even though we lost tonight — we tip our hats to them, they came in, they were hungry, they played very well — we played a great game, really good job of fighting the whole way through and making it a tough game,” Barrett said. “At the end of the day I still think we’re playing really good basketball, playing really well both ends of the court. We need to just keep that up. Kind of took a step back tonight losing this game, but just regroup, refocus, come back stronger.”
Grimes was ruled out shortly before game time with the ankle injury suffered in Tuesday’s win over Golden State. That left Thibodeau to search for a replacement and he responded by giving Quickley his first start of the season.
“I think Quick stepped in a did a great job today,” Randle said. “So obviously we would love to have Grimes]. He brings a lot to us. He brings size, obviously shooting, toughness, but Quick did an amazing job today.”
Down seven midway through the fourth quarter they fought back with Randle and Barrett doing much of the work. Randle brought them within one by grabbing a defensive rebound, leading the break and putting in a tough follow of a missed three by Barrett. Barrett gave the Knicks a 102-101 lead with 3:18 to play with an emphatic drive and dunk.
Siakam put Toronto in front with a pair of free throws off of a third chance as the Knicks just couldn’t keep the Raptors off the offensive glass. And when Barrett was stopped in the paint the Raptors again beat the Knicks to the loose ball and Fred VanVleet buried a three for a 106-102 Toronto lead with 1:35 remaining.
Quickley, who provided much of the offensive spark, had a three blocked by Malachi Flynn and the Knicks never got within four in the final minute.
The player who has carried the Knicks through much of their success of late, Jalen Brunson, struggled, shooting just 3-for-14 from the field and his 12 assists were countered by his turning the ball over five times.
“Just given the way I played, I feel terrible,” Brunson said. “It’s unacceptable on my part. Five turnovers, just way too much. Shots I make with ease, not going in the basket.”
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
