All the young players looked solid, the coaching change looks even better and apparently point guard Dennis Smith Jr. needed just three games off to contemplate.
On a giddy night at the Garden where the young guys shined, Smith sparked the Knicks late in the first quarter and Mike Miller’s club hammered the woebegone Hawks, 143-120, for their season’s most dominating performance.
It was the most points scored in regulation by the Knicks since 1980. After taking over at 4-18, Miller is now 3-3 since David Fizdale was fired 12 days ago.
The Knicks had six players finish in double figures, led by rookie RJ Barrett’s season-high 27 points and Mitchell Robinson’s season-high 22.