The Knicks earned their ninth straight win in a 120-103 victory over the Raptors at Madison Square Garden on Saturday — tying for the franchise's second-longest streak of the last 25 years.
It's also New York's longest streak since the 2012-13 season, when a 13-game streak helped the team to its most recent NBA playoff berth. The 2-seed Knicks beat the 7-seed Celtics in six games in the first round before losing to the 3-seed Pacers in six in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
If the season ended Saturday, New York would earn the No. 4 seed in the East and take on the 5-seed Hawks in the opening round before facing, presumably, the 1-seed Nets in the conference semis.
But with 11 games remaining in the regular season, the Knicks have ample opportunity not only to contend for a higher seed, but also match their longest streak of the last quarter-century (their 13-game win streak in 2013). Following that, the Knicks could then exceed their prior record of 15 wins (set from March 1 through April 2 in 1994) and the franchise record for longest win streak (18 games from Oct. 24 through Nov. 28 in 1969).
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Julius Randle has been a massive part of the Knicks' streak. The seventh-year player and first-time NBA All-Star had 31 points and 10 rebounds Saturday following a 40-point, 11-rebound game against the Hawks on Wednesday. According to ESPN Stats & Info, that makes him the first Knick with consecutive 30-10 games since Carmelo Anthony in 2013. That's not bad company at all.
The Knicks have won 9 in a row, tied for their 2nd-longest streak in the last 25 years.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 24, 2021
They're 7 games over .500 for the 1st time since 2012-13 (their last playoff app)
Julius Randle had 31 & 10 - he's the first Knick with back-to-back 30-10 games since Carmelo Anthony in 2013 pic.twitter.com/EKbOhbCG2a
Randle has been in double digits in at least one metric among points, rebounds or assists in the Knicks' last five games:
The Knicks keep it going and improve their win streak to 9 GAMES 🚨
— Overtime (@overtime) April 24, 2021
Julius Randle’s last 5 games:
Mavs: 44 PTS | 10 REB | 7 AST
Pelicans: 33 PTS | 5 REB | 10 AST
Hornets: 16 PTS | 10 REB | 7 AST
Hawks: 40 PTS | 11 REB | 6 AST
Raptors: 31 PTS | 10 REB | 5/7 3PT pic.twitter.com/vc8MnOn5hF
Randle wasn't the only Knick to play well Saturday: Second-year player RJ Barrett (25 points, 12 rebounds) and Derrick Rose (29 points) also contributed significantly.
