SAN ANTONIO — It was a week ago that Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau made a drastic lineup change, sending Kemba Walker to the bench. With the move not bringing the desired result, instead bringing on a three-game losing streak and an embarrassing performance Saturday at home against Denver, Thibodeau reached for another change.
This time, pulling Mitchell Robinson from the starting lineup and inserting Nerlens Noel, may not have provided the planned response as Noel did little in the start. But it seemed to send a jolt of electricity into Robinson off the bench and paired with a hot shooting night from RJ Barrett the Knicks had all that they needed to snap the losing streak.