PHILADELPHIA — Miles McBride checked into the game with 4:31 left in the first quarter. By the end of the period, he tied a career high with four 3-pointers.
It was a memorable one for the backup point guard, who finally joined the rotation after Immanuel Quickley was sent to the Raptors in the recent OG Anunoby trade.
“I think it was just a matter of time,” McBride said after the Knicks' surprisingly dominant 128-92 victory over the 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. “I feel like the more opportunities I get, the better I continue to play and the more shots I make.”
McBride made a big contribution to the victory. He scored 12 points on a 14-4 run that turned a six-point deficit into a four-point lead at the end of the first quarter. The Knicks never trailed again with a one-sided victory.
“We were excited on the bench,” Jalen Brunson said.
It was a key performance for McBride, who is still trying to carve out a role for himself in his third season with the Knicks.
For now, the defensive-minded guard is part of coach Tom Thibodeau's rotation, but the Knicks are expected to add a scoring guard to their second unit before the Feb. 8 trade deadline.
“I think it's a great opportunity for me just to be able to get into the rotation and really show what I'm capable of,” said McBride, who recently signed a three-year, $13 million extension.
McBride's 15 points were a season high and the first time he scored in double digits this year.
In fact, he had scored 42 points all season before entering the game.
Most importantly, the Knicks outscored the 76ers by 20 points in the 14 minutes McBride was on the floor, and the entire bench performed well after a shaky effort against the Bulls.
Josh Hart was active on both ends of the court, scoring 10 points, 15 rebounds and six steals, while Quentin Grimes had 18 points and eight rebounds.
“I feel like we all stepped up,” Hart said. “Second unit, we played great the last two games, so we all came in, brought great energy, were able to get stops, played fast and kind of got some momentum. I think I was able to do it.”
