The box score will show Friday night’s contest as a 120-96 defeat for the New York Knicks, just another blowout in a season that hasn’t lacked for blowouts. Years from now, however, NBA historians will look back upon this game as the birth of Mario Hezonja: Point Guard Extraordinaire.
Pressed into service with no fewer than four New York point guards injured, Hezonja lit up Houston for 16 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists. That’s right, folks: the first triple-double for a Knick since the immortal Jarrett Jack. In a related note, this franchise hasn’t had many decent point guard lately.