Knicks forward Julius Randle puts up a shot over Atlanta Hawks forward De'Andre Hunter during the second half of an NBA game Saturday in Atlanta. Credit: AP/Butch Dill
ATLANTA — Julius Randle absorbed the taunts of the crowd, but this time it was where it belonged, in the hostile environment of State Farm Arena. So when he responded, with his play — and his thumb — it was exactly what the Knicks needed.
Randle lit a fire for a Knicks squad that was fading, a 17-point lead down to three in the fourth quarter, and with a 24-point, nine-assist effort, led the Knicks to a 117-108 win over the struggling Atlanta Hawks.