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Knicks coach Mike Brown tweaked his starting lineup against the Celtics, going with the five that closed out the season-opening victory over the Cavaliers on Wednesday.
Instead of coming off the bench, Miles McBride was a starter, replacing big man Ariel Hukporti.
Karl-Anthony Towns, Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby were the other starters in the 105-95 victory at the Garden.
“Everybody on the floor shoots it at a pretty high level and [with] range,” Brown said. “Everybody on the floor can go make a play for themselves and their teammates. They all have to be guarded. And then defensively a lot of interchangeable parts, guys that are used to guarding the ball. They are quick, and all that. It gives your opponent a different look than a traditional big lineup.”
McBride had 10 points, four rebounds and four assists in 31 minutes.
Brown said he made the change because of the small Celtics lineup that featured four guards.
“I wasn’t sure how fair it would be for Ariel and for KAT to guard one of those guards to start the game,” Brown said. “We feel like we’re extremely versatile. We [can] play a lot of different ways.”
Brown expects Mitchell Robinson to accompany the team on the upcoming road trip.
The 7-foot-1 center sat out the first two games with left ankle management. He also didn’t play in the final two preseason games. The Knicks have continued to say they are simply managing Robinson’s workload and that he isn’t injured.
The Knicks are awarding a defensive player of the game this year.
Friday, it went to Jordan Clarkson. In his 16 minutes, the Knicks outscored the Celtics by 12.
“Jordan ended up being our defensive player of the game, because he sparked us defensively during that time. But it could have been anybody,” Brown said. “Tyler [Kolek] ended the game with four or five deflections, if not more. Josh [Hart], man, a monster, monster, monster. Now Josh could have easily got it as well. He guarded everybody.”
Anunoby left the game with cramps late in the fourth quarter and didn’t return. Brown said he could’ve played if needed.
