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The New York Knicks defeated the Washington Wizards on Saturday night by a score of 117-99. Without All-Star power forward Julius Randle, who was ruled out for personal reasons, the Knicks introduced Obi Toppin as their main PF. Toppin recorded 13 points, eight rebounds and had two blocked shots. He shot over 50% from the field and had two of six three-point attempts.
With another stellar preseason performance under their belt, the Knicks will face the Detroit Pistons at MSG in their final game before the start of the regular season.
Two notable Knicks players in the win over Washington:
1.) Derrick Rose
Veteran PG Derrick Rose played in just 19 minutes in the win over Washington, but had 15 points, 8.0 assists and four rebounds during that span. He shot 4 of 7 from the field and connected on his three attempts from beyond the arc. He too and 4-4 from the free throw line.
Rose started her 2021-2022 campaign on a positive note, and despite being offered the starting position to Kemba Walker, Rose plans to lead the second unit, where he can make an impact while helping some of the younger ones develop. .
Sadly, Derrick injured his left foot towards the end of the game, remaining seated for most of the 4th quarter. He spoke with coaches on the bench before heading to the locker room early to try and resolve the issue. Given that concern, I wouldn’t expect to see Rose in the final preseason game as the Knicks gear up for an October 20 opener against the Boston Celtics.
2.) Jericho Sims
Texas rookie center Jericho Sims looked brilliant in the win. While he certainly needs to work on his defensive spacing and positioning, he has recorded a record 13 rebounds in 26 minutes. Ten of the rebounds were defensive and three offensive, taking advantage of a few setback jams, registering seven points in the evening. He also had three interceptions, leading the team in the category.
Sims is already impressive as a rookie, and with Mitchell Robinson and Nerlens Noel struggling with individual injuries, I wouldn’t be surprised to see The Sims start the season on the active roster. The plan is for Jericho to continue to grow with the G-League squad, as he signed a two-way contract with the squad as the 58th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
It is clear that Sims is 100% playing and can fill the role of a vault well, but he still has a lot to learn, and spending time at a lower level where he can continue to grow and gain minutes could be very. beneficial. If any injuries occur during the season, the Sims will be the first to gain an opportunity.
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