Knicks sophomores Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley had a splendid outing against the Magic, helping New York seal their blowout victory.
The New York Knicks blew out the Magic in Orlando on Friday night, giving them a 2-0 record in the early season. It could not have been done without the contributions of Knicks sophomores Immanuel Quickley and Obi Toppin.
Toppin and Quickley combined to score 29 points, including six three-pointers, as New York set a new franchise record in triples both made and attempted. Second-year Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau’s newfound emphasis on the long ball has certainly been fulfilled through two regular-season games, with Quickley unafraid to launch from deep on a whim.
Quickley scored 16 points on 10 shots, going 4-for-8 from three and adding three assists in the 121-96 win. Quickley and Rose have cemented a solid backup backcourt for the Knicks, tagging in for former Celtics guards Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier.
Meanwhile, Toppin gets the honor of backing up last year’s Most Improved Player in All-Star power forward Julius Randle, who nearly had another triple-double with 21 points, 10, rebounds, and seven assists on Friday night. Toppin, again, turned into a sprinting gazelle once he sniffed a fast-break opportunity against the Magic. He finished with 13 points, shooting 50% from three and chipping in a pair of steals and a block.
After scoring 14 points on Opening Night for the Knicks, it’s fair to wonder how far Toppin can go, especially in his role behind Randle. However, with Nerlens Noel and Taj Gibson not playing, Toppin has been sharing the court with Randle for a few minutes here and there (rookie big man Jericho Sims hasn’t seen huge minutes quite yet). The Brooklyn native and former Dayton Flyer has assisted his standing with the organization with stretch 5 potential alongside Randle, making him an invaluable member of Thibs’ squad.
The Knicks rematch with the Magic at home on Sunday evening.
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