Julius Randle bricked a large open layup to finish the Knicks’ successful streak

The New York Knicks have been one of many hottest groups within the NBA on this month. The Knicks had been 10-13 general after falling at house to the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 3, however then ran off seven straight wins to rise all the way in which to No. 6 within the Eastern Conference standings. There are so many the reason why the Knicks have been taking part in higher ball currently — the protection is improved, R.J. Barrett is scoring extra persistently and effectively, and Quentin Grimes has supplied a stout level of assault defender subsequent to Jalen Brunson within the backcourt — however a bounce-back season from Julius Randle is as massive of a motive as any.

Randle shockingly turned in an All-NBA season two years in the past as he pushed to the Knicks to the No. 4 seed within the East playoffs. Then Trae Young and the Hawks embarrassed New York, and each Randle and the Knicks fell aside the following season, in 2021-2022. Now Randle is once more taking part in like an All-Star and powering the Knicks again into playoff place, however a missed shot on the finish of Wednesday’s sport in opposition to the Toronto Raptors goes to hang-out him for a bit bit.

The Raptors beat the Knicks, 113-106, at Madison Square Garden to interrupt New York’s successful streak. The Knicks battled again within the fourth quarter to take the lead with simply over two minutes left, however this missed layup by Randle sealed the loss. Watch it right here:

How the heck did he miss this? Randle appeared to have the ball on the rim with nobody making an attempt to dam him, however he nonetheless bricked it.

Excuse the grainy screenshot right here, however c’mon:

Randle was in any other case superior all evening, ending with 30 factors, 13 rebounds, and 4 assists on 13-of-17 capturing.

The Knicks actually didn’t lose simply due to this miss, however scoring on this straightforward alternative would have saved them within the sport. The Raptors, who’ve been sinking in Dec., obtained an enormous efficiency from Pascal Siakam, who put up 52 factors on 17-of-25 capturing. Siakam put up legitimately among the finest video games the NBA has seen all season, and he obtained his workforce the win. Watch Siakam’s highlights from the evening right here:

The Knicks positive appear to be the sixth finest workforce within the East this 12 months, but when the standings get bunched up late, they are going to be excited about this sport and this miss by Randle.