Last week, Knicks coach David Fizdale called it a learning opportunity when he put all three of his rookies in the game in New Orleans and saw the game slip away.
This time, as the game against the Pelicans at Madison Square Garden went down to the wire, lottery pick Kevin Knox was on the bench. Second-round pick Mitchell Robinson had fouled out in nine minutes of action. But undrafted rookie Allonzo Trier was on the floor, this time not for a lesson but to try to carry the Knicks across the finish line.
Trier combined with Emmanuel Mudiay to provide the scoring punch needed on this night, as the pair totaled 52 points to lead the Knicks to a 114-109 win over the Pelicans.