BOSTON — There's one staff Evan Fournier has confirmed he can rating in opposition to — the Celtics.
However the French capturing guard, in his first rocky season with the Knicks, can’t catch a break. As an alternative of constructing upon his career-high 41-point efficiency from the Knicks’ last-second win over the Celtics on Thursday, Fournier missed the rematch Saturday, a 99-75 loss, with a bruised thigh, because the Knicks tallied their lowest level whole of the season.
“He was undoubtedly missed, particularly after the sport he had final time,’’ RJ Barrett stated.
Fournier has scored a minimum of 32 factors in every of the Knicks’ three matchups with the Celtics to date this season, however he was in a zone past the stratosphere Thursday on the Backyard. He went 10-for-14 on 3-pointers to tie J.R. Smith’s franchise document.
Although he’s been up and down this season, it was simply the second recreation Fournier, who proven extra sturdiness than up to now, has missed this season. He has had shoulder woes and a latest ankle harm, however performed via them.
The wonderful a part of Fournier’s 41-point recreation is it got here two days after he was held scoreless Tuesday versus the Pacers. Regardless of his inconsistency, Fournier nonetheless is averaging 13.5 factors and capturing 38.1 p.c from 3-point vary to spark an offense that's twenty first within the league in factors per 100 possessions.
The narrative that the Knicks’ protection has suffered due to Fournier misses the purpose that the offense could be useless with out him.
“The protection has just about been there,’’ Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau stated earlier than the sport Saturday. “It’s the offense that has been inconsistent.’’
The beginning lineup has been in flux since late November, when Thibodeau demoted Kemba Walker for Alec Burks at level guard. Saturday, Thibodeau determined to start out Immanuel Quickley with Burks within the backcourt.
When the Knicks overcame a 25-point deficit to win Thursday, it was the franchise’s largest comeback victory since March 14, 2004 at Milwaukee, a recreation wherein they trailed by 26. That was the one time up to now 25 years they'd rallied from 25 or extra factors. The Knicks had been 1-229 when trailing by 25 factors in a recreation, per Forbes.
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