It’s always cool when NBA players admit to being motivated by the team or players they’re up against. Via the NY Daily News:
Julius Randle showed why he was an All-Star selection over Domantas Sabonis.
In a head-to-head physical battle between the two powerful forwards, Randle won the box score and the game, 110-107, pushing the Knicks (17-17) to .500 for the first time since January.
Randle finished with 28 points and 10 boards in 42 minutes, fighting Sabonis on the block and in the paint.
Randle acknowledged he was motivated by the matchup.
“Sometimes there are just individual matchups that you take — not personal or nothing, like you don’t like the other guy, just personal from a competitive standpoint,” Randle said. “So it was that.”
The Knicks are outperforming expectations this season and are now tied with the Raptors for the East’s 4th best record. They’re the most fun-to-watch Knicks squad in recent memory. And they’re doing it with defense: the team ranks 3rd best in the league.
