Shamet’s clutch threes highlight Knicks’ comeback in preseason opener
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Brrr! We had chills as the Knicks took the floor today. Expectations are high for New York as they embark on a new campaign with only six players from last season’s opening night roster carried over. This summer, the team secured OG Anunoby and traded with the Nets and Timberwolves to acquire Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns, respectively, and those three joined Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart in today’s starting lineup. From the bench, Landry Shamet and Cam Payne also debuted in the orange and blue, while familiar faces Miles “Deuce” McBride and Jericho Sims were determined to prove their mettle, too.
It might have been just a preseason scrimmage against the Charlotte Hornets at the Spectrum Center, but today’s game certainly felt more meaningful than usual.
By halftime, the Knicks and Hornets were tied at 61. Neither team looking particularly sharp after the summer break. While the starters struggled early, the Knicks’ second unit, led by Deuce McBride’s 12 first-half points, kept the game competitive. After halftime, Charlotte opened the second half with a 10-0 run, but strong play from Shamet (four three-pointers, 16 points overall) cut the score to 90-87 by the end of the third. In the fourth, rookie Tyer Kolek dished and swished, making the most of his time and cooking Charlotte like barbecued chicken. Once they regained the lead, New York rode it to a 111-109 win—with a little help from OAKAAKUYOAK Duane Washington, Jr.
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For the Knicks, Deuce McBride and Landry Shamet led the scorers with 22 and 16 points, respectively, and Jericho Sims snatched up 10 rebounds. For the Hornets, LaMelo Ball recorded 18 points and Tre Mann added 15.
First Quarter
The Knicks were 30th in pace last season and demonstrated no discernible improvement today. After a slow start, Mikal Bridges scored their first points with a reverse layup, and New York briefly flashed its offensive potential with an 8-0 run. Karl-Anthony Towns, still adjusting to his new teammates, missed his first three-point attempt but knocked down the next one. Despite some early rust, watching KAT this season should be a treat.
Charlotte’s new skipper, Charles Lee, brings experience from his time with the Hawks, Bucks, and Celtics, while Thibs, fresh off an extension, was in his usual form, barking at the refs. Here’s his new starting center, scoring again:
By midway through the first quarter, the Knicks trailed 12-10, with LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller standing out for the Hornets. Thibs subbed in Payne, Shamet, Deuce McBride, Precious Achiuwa, and Jericho Sims, who helped close the gap. McBride led the second unit, contributing seven points, a steal, and an assist, as the Knicks trimmed the deficit to 35-29 by the end of the first.
In the second quarter, a 14-7 run gave New York a brief lead, with McBride scoring 12 points in 11 minutes. Shamet, Payne, and Achiuwa also shined, with Precious hitting from range.
The starters returned at the 6:30 mark and kept pace with the Hornets. By halftime, the score was tied at 61, with Brunson and McBride leading the Knicks with 12 points each, while the Hornets hit 46% from deep and grabbed 29 boards compared to the Knicks’ 29% shooting and 26 rebounds. Typical first preseason game fare.
Second Quarter
After intermission, the starters were done for the day, and Thibs went with Payne, Deuce, Shamet, Achiuwa, and Sims. Charlotte opened the half with a 10-0 run, dampening the Knicks’ second unit’s spark. Tre Mann and LaMelo continued to shine for the Hornets, while Deuce added a few points and Sims (now with even more musckles) showed solid defense.
When Shamet grabbed his second steal of the evening and swished his third triple, New York had cut their deficit to four points. Soon after, Landry converted his fourth from beyond the arc. He’s all but guaranteed to make the regular season roster.
With rookie point guard Kolek, Hart, and Brunson, the Knicks have three Big East Players of the Year. Kolek finally checked in with two minutes remaining in the third frame. His defense still needs polish, but his ability to dish will earn him minutes. His shot, too–his first three pointer helped to close out the quarter strong, with the Knicks down 90-87.
Jacob Toppin and Chuma Okeke joined the Bockers on the hardwood in the fourth. The offense moved smoothly under Kolek’s direction, connecting with Achiuwa to slice and dice the lane. A 7-2 run to start the final frame restored the Knicks advantage.
Midway through the fourth, Kolek hit his second triple and electrified the Charlotte crowd. Knicks fans travel! He netted a third three late in the clock, Cam Payne hit a Hail Mary, and New York found themselves up by two with 30 seconds left. Precious fouled Duane Washington, Jr (a former Knick included in the KAT trade) in three-point territory with 1.7 seconds remaining. To the delight of New York’s bench (none of whom wanted overtime), DWJ missed all three.
