The singing of “We Want Quickley” began in the late first quarter when Sacramento was preparing for an infrequent race.
With 2:44 left in the quarter, Immanuel Quickley joined the game and did not disappoint the second dizzying encounter of the garden of the season.
Provoking the Knicks with 18 points in the first half, Quickley led the offensive explosion in a 140-121 win over the fall of Sacramento as the popular rookie goalie came out of his recent fall.
Quickley finished with 25 points, getting all 12 free throws.
Along with Julius Randle, Quickley even heard “MV-P” songs on another merry night in front of 2,000 fans who seemed to be singing “De-fense” or something else all night long.
The Knicks’ 140 points were the highest of the season and only the second time they’ve put that together in a game they haven’t played in overtime since 1988. Although they faced the worst defensive team in the NBA, it was a great advantage for a club that has been the least productive team in the NBA offensively.
“I heard it on the bench,” Quickley said of the garden singing his name. “It was a little fun. I laughed under my mask so no one could see my expression. It was pretty cool to have everyone behind you and support you like that. I never try to get too high or low.
Randle, hearing the MVP sing a second straight game, mounted another pocket performance with 21 points and 14 rebounds. Alec Burks, accumulating it mainly in the rubbish of the fourth quarter, accumulated 24 maximum points in the season.
The Knicks buried 19 of 36 three-point ground.
“We were sharing the ball, moving the ball, trusting each other, making the extra pass,” Quickley said. “We’ve taken a big step with the offense.”
Derrick Rose made his first start of the season on guard due to Elfrid Payton’s hamstring injury and added 18 points as the Knicks moved to a game below .500 at 16-17. The Kings (12-20) lost the ninth in a row, but who argues?
“Everyone really enjoys hanging out and playing with each other, helping each other play, from top to bottom,” Randle said. “We are a very close-knit group.”
The Knicks racked up a 77-point first half, firing 65.9 percent and avoiding Kings ’charge afterwards.
They almost reached 80 in that initial half, but a disaster from Reggie Bullock, who stepped on the sideline, set aside the desperate three-pointer on the bell. However, the Knicks already had enough, with a 77-63 lead.
Rose started the game in style, going 5 for 5 in the first quarter and finished with 13 points in the first half. But annoyed and charged fans, with the Kings in an 11-0 run, started the Quickley singing.
When Quickley came in late in the first quarter, the Kentucky rookie started work and immediately nailed a triple. He took fouls, drained a float and amassed 18 points at 9:36. His spectacular free throw continued as he surpassed 95%.
“He’s really smart,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “He studies how they watch him. It’s a great free kick that we want as many as we can get. “
Quickley’s 3-on-22 drop in the previous three games was distanced. As reported for the first time by The Post, the NBA will not hold the Rising Stars Challenge for freshmen and sophomores, but will announce an honorary team. Quickley closed his place.
“It’s a long season,” Thibodeau said. “No player shoots well in 82 games. There are ups and downs. He has done very well. He is a great shooter, he has the ability to take fouls. Everyone has a lot of confidence in him. We know he has a lot of self-confidence. Start with the preparation. He’s a gym rat and a game student. “
In another slap in the face to Austin Rivers, Frank Ntilikina was put back into the rotation with Payton out. Ntilikina, due to a sprained knee, COVID-19 protocols and retired from rotation, had not played in any match since Dec. 29.
He didn’t look rusty and got seven points and had three steals at 11:35 p.m. he stole a ball from De’Aaron Fox to start a quick escape and fed Quickley with a triple.
The coach gave his players an extra tactical briefing during the break, and after that Quickley had solid organization.
“It’s always good to see them go down,” Quickley said. “Whenever I can get to the line it helps with the pace. It’s good to get the easiest ones down soon. “