CHARLOTTE, NC – Knicks point guard Kemba Walker was feeling his bum and turning back the clock in the first half of Friday night at his old pitches.
The Charlotte franchise leader in scoring was raining 3-pointers, and for the first time this season, he easily hit the edge.
However, his most daring game came when he fired from Hornets central defender Mason Plumley in the first half. Walker grabbed the chrome and put it down. While the ball was bouncing, quarterback Mitchell Robinson was right there to throw the ball. Show how much Walker feels at home.
Walker scored 20 first-half points in 17 minutes, shooting 7 for 12, before the night turned south. He only scored six points in the second half and never regained that electricity, finishing 26 points, shooting 9 for 19 from the field (4 for 9 from a 3-point ground). He also had 2 spins and was the worst team minus 23.
“I was just taking what the game gave me,” Walker said of his early hot hand. “I was open about my shots. And they were dropping early.”
Walker blasted out of the gate, making two straight 3-pointer throws and sinking a float in the opening two minutes. Walker scored 11 points in his first 4:22 after not hitting double digits in the past four games.
Walker scored 20 points in the first half after scoring 19 in his last four games combined.
And it was all in vain when he entered the interview room, barely recognizable, wearing a black mask and a low purple hat.
The Knicks entered the night struggling to defend the three-point streak, having succumbed to the most in the NBA.
Coach Tom Thibodeau said he felt they had improved in this division, although the Hornets began drying them up in the second half with a 2-17 lead in the first half. Charlotte finished 10 to 26 (27.8 percent).
Thibodeau previously said he’s more interested in the field’s overall target ratio since Knicks’ scheme is paint wrap.
Center Mitchell Robinson seemed to hurt his ankle in the first half and didn’t seem to get through the throttle fully.
Robinson reattached his ankle during the match as he left for the locker room. Tibodo was only told he was good to come back, and Mitchell played 23 minutes (11 points, six rebounds, one block).
LaMelo Ball, the 2021 rookie point guard, didn’t shoot well (4 for 13), but he made 12 points with nine assists and five steals.
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