NBA Top Five Performances, Feb. 25: Julius Randle’s 28 Points Led New York Knicks to Blowout Win

TOP PLAYER OF THE DAY:

The New York Knicks celebrated the 50th anniversary of their 1973 championship team. They channeled that winning mentality behind a solid performance from All-Star Julius Randle. Randle had 28 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the 128-106 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Randle was clowned on social media for being a participant in the 3-Point Shooting Contest. Since the All-Star break, he is shooting 50 percent from the arc.

The Knicks got their fifth consecutive win, putting them half a game behind the Brooklyn Nets for fifth place in the East. Knicks small forward R.J. Barrett said he is content with the team’s rank in the conference.

“You’re competing, so you always wanna know who’s who and what’s what,” Barrett said. “I think we’re in a solid spot right now.”

OTHERS:

- Pascal Siakam had 29 points against the Detroit Pistons to edge the Toronto Raptors closer to .500.

- Lauri Markkanen’s 27-point performance helped the Utah Jazz overcome a 14-point deficit against the San Antonio Spurs. The Jazz rallied and turned the game into a blowout, handing the Spurs their 16th loss in a row.

- Ja Morant had 23 points, seven rebounds and four assists in the Memphis Grizzlies’ blowout win over the conference-leading Denver Nuggets.

- Despite the loss to the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid had an MVP-level performance with 41 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks. Embiid nearly had the shot of the year but he did not get it off before the game clock expired.

Jayden Armant is a contributor to Inside the Heat. He is a student at Howard University. He can be reached at jayden.armant@bison.howard.edu or follow him on Twitter @jaydenarmant.

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