Enes Kanter has had 20-rebound games in his career — he has a career best of 22. But rarely has he seemed more impactful than he was Sunday when he corralled 18 — seven offensive — in the Knicks’ thrilling 108-101 comeback victory over the Pacers.
“The edge that he provides on the boards, brings guys in there, he got a couple of big offensive rebounds late,” said coach Jeff Hornacek, noting how a front line of Kanter (6-foot-11) and Kristaps Porzingis (7-3) provide fits for opponents. “If he can put up 19 rebounds, it allows KP and some of these other guys to be on the outside. It gives us second-chance points, something we probably haven’t had in the past all that much.”
So naturally, Kanter’s postgame focus was all about … defense. When he wasn’t talking about fans quickly getting back to their seats after halftime snack breaks.
“We were down 13 [at halftime] we came into the locker room and the first thing on our mind was defense. We knew we could score. We talked that we had to come out and have a really special third quarter,” Kanter said.
Well, it was the start of something special. They ended the frame on a 7-0 run. Now the fourth quarter, when the Knicks outscored Indy 36-17 — that was special.
Kristaps Porzingis who had his seventh game of at least 30 points — in nine — has 272 points through those first nine games, the most ever by a Knick in that span. Bernard King in 1984-85 scored 264 through nine games.
Jarrett Jack has been called many things. But one of them always is a leader. Steph Curry in fact thanked him for his leadership during his first MVP acceptance speech.
But Jack, who has started at the point as the Knicks won five of six games and are 5-4, over .500 for the first time, showed leadership even before he got to the Warriors. And Nate McMillan, the coach of the Pacers, reminded folks of that. He saw the qualities in Jack when the guard was a rookie with the Trail Blazers in 2005-06.
“Absolutely. Jarrett came every day and was a professional. He practiced hard. He played hard. He has a great understanding of the game. So it doesn’t surprise me that he is leading this [Knicks] team. He’s back healthy,” McMillan said. “I think wherever he’s gone he’s been pretty successful and he’s helped the teams that he’s played for.”
And Jack, who scored eight points Sunday, saluted McMillan, noting, “He helped me with my demeanor when I came in the league.”
Hornacek was asked what he intends to do when the suspended Joakim Noah rejoins the team next Monday after missing 12 games for violating the NBA policy on banned supplements.
“I already consider him on the team,” Hornacek said when asked about “adding” Noah.
“That’s something that we’re going to have to figure out. How we’re playing, there might be nights when guys get in and other nights when they don’t. If we all accept that we’re a team and we’re trying to do this together, then everybody’s contribution is important whether you’re playing or not.Every guy on the bench, the hard work in practice that makes guys better. All of it is part of being a team so we’ll deal with it when it happens.”
The Knicks have had enough trouble finding time for Willy Hernangomez behind Kanter and backup Kyle O’Quinn.
– Additional reporting by Alex Squadron