Big props to Mario Hezonja tonight for not only scoring 18 points (which is a good amount for him), but for accepting the task of guarding Giannis Antetokounmpo and not getting as obliterated as one would think he would. He couldn’t really stop him, because no one really can, but he did what he could under adverse circumstances.
Isn’t Lance Thomas the designated Giannis-stopper on the Knicks? Why not put him out there? Oh yeah, because he’s horrible on offense even as legions of Knicks fans descend upon me and try to tell me that he’s actually pretty good.
Hezonja was part of the reason the Knicks came all the way back from almost 20 down, but he also had some late misses that really hurt their chances. So, as usual, a bit of good and a bit of bad with him. That’s how it’s always been, but at least tonight he got to play big minutes unlike last game. If the Knicks are going to lose, at least Hezonja lets them do it in style, and by style I mean “with Euros seeing the court because that’s all my viewership cares about”.