PORTLAND, Ore. — The Knicks have received strong production from their bench all season, especially from Sixth Man of the Yr candidate Immanuel Quickley and the acquisition last month of Josh Hart.
Miles “Deuce” McBride also made one other major impact again Tuesday night, scoring a career-best 18 points on 6-for-8 shooting, including 4 made 3-pointers, in 25 minutes within the Knicks’ 123-107 win over the Trail Blazers to conclude a four-game West Coast road trip.
“Truthfully, I knew I needed to step up,” McBride said after Tuesday’s game. “End of a road trip, I felt like we got here out flat and I just desired to be a spark, give energy and do what I can.”
McBride had been was dropped from the rotation upon Hart’s arrival on Feb. 8 from the Blazers, but he has appeared up to now six games with Jalen Brunson missing all but two quarters over that stretch with a bruised left foot that has required using a protective walking boot.
McBride also made contributions at each ends in Sunday’s win over the Lakers to assist halt a three-game slide, with a breakaway dunk and two key 3-pointers for eight points with three steals in 17 minutes.
“It’s huge. … But truthfully, if I didn’t rating a degree and we win, I’d still be pleased. Just with the ability to impact the sport nonetheless I can all the time is the primary thing,” McBride said. “I believe the second unit knows that after we get in, our job is just take a look at the rating, understand what we’ve got to do as a unit and move the needle. And I believe we got here in and did that.”
On Sunday, Tom Thibodeau had called the team’s recent bench play “phenomenal.”
McBride also recurrently has drawn praise from his head coach for staying ready despite the uncertainty over his place within the rotation.
“It’s huge, and it’s not only hitting the shots however the defense, the hustle plays,” Thibodeau said. “While you make hustle plays like that, that does nothing but unite and encourage the team. You see a man hustle and hastily, he’s got a steal; we’ve got a straightforward bucket. That’s the way you win.”
Brunson sat for the third straight game and for the fifth time in six for the Knicks.
Jerami Grant (quad contusion) didn’t play for the Blazers.
Isaiah Hartenstein had zero points and double-digit rebounds (10) for the second straight game.