It was a historic Wednesday evening for the New York Knicks as they notched a postseason win for the first time since dinosaurs roamed the planet. The Knicks blasted the Atlanta Hawks, 101-92 to even up their first round skirmish in the NBA Playoffs.
Knicks main man Julius Randle put up a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds in a grind-it-out victory. The team has been buoyed by the boisterous crowd at Madison Square Garden. Now that the Knicks are hitting the road against the Hawks, Randle remained confident that they can get things done.
“You guys pushed us through the whole game. We tied up the series. We gotta go on the road and take care of business and try come back here and finish it off.”
Randle is not messing around.
Article Continues Below“It’s amazing. … You guys pushed us through the whole game. We gotta go on the road and take care of business.”
— Julius Randle on the Game 2 crowd | 📺: @MSGNetworks pic.twitter.com/SWA1VX7UeO
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 27, 2021
It took eight long years for the Knicks to notch another win in the NBA Playoffs, and it couldn't come at a better time, doing it at home in front of diehard fans, who have been thirsting, clamoring, pleading, for a winning season.
The team had a decent 16-20 road record in the regular season and Randle and company will have to be ready for a Hawks crowd that's eager to fire back, especially with the way Trae Young was treated in Big Apple. It will be a hostile environment for sure but it seems the Knicks have been battling adversity throughout the season.
Unlike Knicks fans, Julius Randle has always been a little reserved. But if his recent remarks are any indication, he's even more fired up now. Game 3 is on Friday.