BBNBA: Julius Randle's near triple-double helps Knicks to comeback win

Two-time All-Star, Julius Randle, is not slowing down his cyclone of a season anytime soon. The southpaw bruiser has been a Big Apple monster all season and on Sunday, he put up another King Kong-like performance against the Philadelphia 76ers on ESPN.

The Knicks trailed most of the game, but thanks to a run in the fourth quarter, Randle and company pulled away and snatched the win, 108-97. Randle finished the game with a near triple-double that included 24 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. It’s great to see Randle return to peak form after a relative slump last season.

Usually the sixth man, Immanuel Quickley got the start for the Knicks and scored five points in 28 minutes of play.

For Philly, Tyrese Maxey once again came off the bench, a role head coach Doc Rivers has slotted him into since coming back from injury. Maxey did not have his best game, finishing with just 12 points and a loss to his former Kentucky backcourt running mate.

Monk and Lyles try to fill Fox’s shoes but come up short

De’Aaron Fox, who unfortunately will not be joining Randle in the All-Star game, sat out Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans for personal reasons and the team sorely missed him. Without their lead guard, the Kings fell to the Pelicans 104-136 despite Trey Lyles and Malik Monk‘s best efforts to keep it close.

Lyles had 12 points, two boards, and two assists in 15 minutes of action. Meanwhile, Monk had 16 points, four rebounds, three assists, and a steal in an elevated role.

Monk also provided the highlight of the night with a ridiculous breakaway dunk that nearly gave the entire Smoothie King Center brain freeze.

Cold.

Malik Monk bringing it WAAAAAY back for the transition throwdown 💥@SacramentoKings and Pelicans in Q2 on the NBA App!
➡️ https://t.co/0rrSPxOHD0 pic.twitter.com/z5n9xrKkBg

— NBA (@NBA) February 6, 2023

Other BBNBA Notes

• PJ Washington, who may need to have his luggage packed just in case he gets traded before the NBA trade deadline, had a well-rounded game on Sunday with 12 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block. However, the Hornets lost to the Magic 113-119.
• Isaiah Jackson chipped in two points, a rebound, and an assist in his eight minutes off the bench in the Pacers’ loss to the Cavaliers.

2/5/2023 Statistics

Player	Score	PTS	FG (3PT)	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	MIN	+/-
Julius Randle (NYK)	108-97 W vs. PHI	24	8-19 (1-8)	9	7	0	0	3	34	-6
Malik Monk (SAC)	104-136 L vs. NOP	16	7-13 (0-4)	4	3	1	0	2	24	-1
Trey Lyles (SAC)	104-136 L vs. NOP	12	2-4 (2-3)	2	2	0	0	2	15	+9
Tyrese Maxey (PHI)	97-108 L vs. NYK	12	4-8 (0-1)	1	0	0	0	0	24	-23
PJ Washington (CHA)	113-119 L vs. ORL	12	5-10 (2-6)	4	2	1	2	1	33	+5
Immanuel Quickley (NYK)	108-97 W vs. PHI	5	2-8 (0-3)	3	3	1	1	0	28	-19
Isaiah Jackson (IND)	103-122 L vs. CLE	2	1-2 (0-1)	1	1	0	0	1	8	-3
De’Aaron Fox (SAC)	104-136 L vs. NOP	DNP – Personal
Jamal Murray (DEN)	98-128 L vs. MIN	DNP – Inj Mgmt
Nick Richards (CHA)	113-119 L vs. ORL	DNP – CD
Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN)	128-98 W vs. DEN	DNP – Calf

Tonight in the NBA

7:00: Celtics @ Pistons (Noel, Knox, Diallo)
7:00: Cavaliers @ Wizards
7:30 (NBA TV): Clippers (Wall: out, Boston) @ Nets
8:00: Spurs (Johnson: questionable) @ Bulls
8:00: Kings (Fox, Monk, Lyles) @ Rockets (TyTy Washington)
9:00: Mavericks @ Jazz (Vanderbilt: questionable)
10:00: Thunder (Gilgeous-Alexander) @ Warriors
10:00 (NBA TV): Bucks @ Trail Blazers (Sharpe)