The famous rotated roof of the garden caused a leak as rain hit the roof Sunday night, causing a 14-minute delay.
And for a blatantly characteristic segment of the second half, the Knicks defense also produced a leak. After climbing 18 points early in the third quarter, the Knicks couldn’t do anything well, as the Raptors added a 40-15 run, gaining a five-point lead in the middle of the fourth quarter.
But this is the new Knicks, in a new era. Before they could suffocate the game, they got up late and survived a brutal, ugly 102-96 decision over Toronto to break a streak of nine defeats against the Raptors.
“We found a way to the end,” Tom Thibodeau said. “I like that we have the mental toughness to make our way and get it out in the end. But I think we are able to play better than today.”
More importantly, the Knicks probably sealed a spot in the play-in tournament. They played six games against the Raptors, who are in 11th place. The top ten teams will qualify for the play-in or for the playoff spot.
The Knicks could not have made it worse offensively in the second half, at a joint time, missing 15 of 17 shots, dropped by the Toronto area. There was no teamwork or flow.
“There’s a tendency to go through it (we have guys who want to do the best for the team), but you have to do it collectively and not get out of it on your own,” Thibodeau said. “If you go too far from one to the other, it will hurt you.”
But when you play enough defense, as the Knicks have done all season, you can win any competition. The Lakers could find out Monday when they make their solo visit.
The Nerlens Noel Center recorded four blocks. Reggie Bullock got three steals. RJ Barrett hit in another big 3 and Julius Randle threw free clutches in the final seconds to get the Knicks back to .500.
This should have been a lot easier, but the Knicks haven’t been created easily. Barrett said he was still “excited” about the victory, anyway.
“What I’ve learned, being in the NBA,” Barrett said, “is that it’s a long game. Anything can happen.”
The first possession of the night in Toronto was turned off by Bullock, who intercepted a pass and planned an inn. The last possession of the first quarter ended with Bullock’s double team, Pascal Siakam, who started the ball and went to look for another position.
The first quarter ended with the Knicks 24, Raptors 16. Toronto was no longer in Cleveland. The night before, the Raptors had amassed 47 points in the first quarter.
Welcome to the defense field of Tom Thibodeau.
At halftime, the Knicks led 56-42. The Raptors shot up 31 percent. The Knicks were making a statement, though it got a little muddy from the rain in the second half.
Sunday was the third anniversary of the Thibodeau Timberwolves breaking a 14-year playoff drought.
Ironically, Wolves debutant and No. 1 overall pick Anthony Edwards probably wouldn’t mind playing Thibodeau judging by his comments Friday about the Knicks defense.
Edwards, the rookie of the year favorite, was asked how the Wolves can become a better defensive team.
Unsolicited, he seemed a sage quoting the Knicks of Thibodeau, flooding them with praise. Defensive stats show the most important progression, but it’s more meaningful to hear Edwards, without preconceived bias, praising the Knicks the way he did.
“If you put in the effort, you’ll get a great defense,” Edwards said. “If you look at New York night and night, they don’t have big defenders. Whatever your defensive game plan is, it’s fantastic. They play a great team defense at all times. I love watching them play on defense. I think they are the best defensive team in the league. They play a lot. They take you out of your things and put pressure on you. “
Even during the Knicks ’recent 1-5 slide, no one failed in their defense. In those five losses, the Knicks allowed just 102 points per game.
Thibodeau may never win one of these NBA Coach of the Month awards, but it’s not as if March winner Nate McMillan of Burning Atlanta was referring to “Saturday Night Live.” as was Thibodeau this weekend. To be fair, members of the SNL cast have been accessories in the celebrity line over the years, but it wasn’t a return.
During a parody rap song called “Weird Little Flute,” Kid Cudi and Pete Davidson said, “Learning can be hard … So I practice hard like Thibodeau … And the only time I’m very tall … is when I play my piccolo. “
What Snyder, from Utah, won’t get this love from SNL soon.
“He pushes me every day,” Knicks rookie Obi Toppin said before the game. “He challenges me every day to be better, not just offensively, but definitely defensively.”
It would be shocking for the Knicks to collapse now and stay out of the play-in tournament and finish in 11th place.
Because their style is based on defense (they allow you to get the league’s minimum points at 104.5 per game), it’s not a club prone to a massive slip.
There were big worries about his offensive ability in the second half and Alec Burks ’late turnover with a two-point lead could have been blatant if it weren’t for Siakam’s next dribble. A little luck. Lots of defense.
Thibodeau seemed to be agitated for much of the evening, but he smiled when he spoke of the delay in the rain.
“I thought it was baseball,” he said.