OKLAHOMA CITY — Guess the Knicks aren’t better off without Julius Randle entering the new year.
The Knicks’ three-game winning streak was snapped when fan-favorite Obi Toppin did not prove to be the Knicks’ lord and savior entering a new year as rebuilding Oklahoma City took them out on New Year’s Eve, 95-80, at Paycom Center.
Toppin had a rudimentary night in his first NBA start, replacing the COVID-stricken Randle. He was held to five points in 27 minutes, going 1-for-4 and missing three free throws.
Point guard Miles McBride also made his first NBA start when Kemba Walker (sore knee) was a late scratch, and that didn’t help matters. All told, the Knicks shot 37 percent overall and a hideous 8-for-41 from 3-point range.
“Without Kemba and Julius out, it was a little different,’’ RJ Barrett said. “But the guys played hard. It’s different not having Julius there. You tend to rely on him [for] 20 [points] and 10 [rebounds] every night. We’re going to have to make up for that.’’
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau admitted Toppin didn’t have the same impact as when he’s roaring on the second unit with pace.
“The second unit, those guys play well together,’’ Thibodeau said. “The big part of it is him running the floor. When you have Alec [Burks], Derrick [Rose] and Quickley throwing the ball ahead and getting those easy buckets, it gets you into a rhythm and easy scores. It’s his first game starting, You have to be ready to go. That intensity, you can’t ease into the game. You [have] got to go.’’
The Knicks couldn’t contain OKC’s lone standout, explosive former Kentucky combo guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who racked up 23 points.
“I know I have to be prepared for any situation, and with everything going on, I have to be prepared to step in,’’ said Toppin, who missed his lone 3-point attempt. “Jules went down. I’ve been working this whole year and summer for an opportunity like this.’’
Toppin said this was the first time this quintet had been together — even in practice.
Evan Fournier had a poor night, scoring just three points (1-for-8) and didn’t play in the fourth quarter.
Fournier also had a little exchange with head coach Tom Thibodeau. After his pass was stolen by Gilgeous-Alexander for an OKC fast-break hoop, Thibodeau barked “What you doing?’’
Fournier yelled back: “He was open.’’
Barrett, a powerhouse to the basket all night, was the lone Knick who entered the new year in style, scoring 24 points.
After the Knicks got to within three late in the third quarter, OKC ran off seven straight points. It started when OKC’s Aleksej Pokusevski drained a 3-pointer after guard Ty Jerome grabbed an offensive rebound to jack the lead to six. Thibodeau swung his arm in anger, yelling “C’mon!’’ Afterward, Thibodeau called it the turning-point play.
OKC has a bunch of COVID-19 players out, as well as head coach Mark Daigneault, but the Knicks were more depleted overall now that Randle is out. Not having their top two point guards in Walker and Derrick Rose (ankle surgery) didn’t help.
And now they have a new concern for 2022 as Walker did something in warm-ups to aggravate his arthritic left knee and the team held him out. Thibodeau said the point guard felt something weird at the beginning of warm-ups, and they halted it.
Walker did not appear on the bench during the game.
The salt to the wound came with 4:22 left in the third when Lu Dort, after missing his first nine shots, drained a corner 3 that gave the Thunder a 70-56 lead. Thibodeau signaled for timeout — his second stoppage of the quarter as the Dort 3 capped a 21-7 start to the second half.
The Knicks jumped to a 12-3 lead as they looked early for center Mitchell Robinson inside. He made his first three baskets, but then the Knicks went cold, and OKC point guard Gilgeous-Alexander got going.
OKC embarked on a 26-8 run and took a 32-24 lead early in the second quarter.
