The unsung heroes who helped fuel the Knicks improbable NBA Finals run
For the Knicks stars, their season-defining moments blend together.Some stand out more than the rest, but they’re not anomalies.
A run to the NBA Finals wouldn’t be possible without Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart stringing moments together — game after game after game — and anchoring the Knicks.But throughout the regular season, a 53-29 campaign that featured an NBA Cup title, each member of the Knicks supporting cast took a turn in the spotlight.These are the hidden moments — the contributions that could’ve been the difference in seeding and momentum and that illustrate how every member of the roster truly contributed to an Eastern Conference championship.
With the Knicks set to appear in their first Finals since 1999, The Post dives into those underlying gems.In what has been a roller-coaster season for Shamet, as he went from injured to out of the rotation to hitting one of the biggest shots in franchise history in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, this was one of his first highs.With the Knicks missing Brunson (sprained ankle) and without Anunoby (strained hamstring) for the final three-plus quarters, Shamet went off for a career-best 36 points on 12-for-19 shooting against the Heat — including 6-for-12 from beyond the arc and an outrageous 30 points in the second half.
He was also serenaded by Knicks fans chanting his name.It was just a November win for the Knicks, a 140-132 victory, but it allowed them to avoid an 0-2 start in NBA Cup group play and eventually helped them advance.Five nights after Shamet played hero against the Heat, he delivered in the clutch against the Mavericks, hitting two 3s across the final 1:03 to turn a two-point deficit into a three-point lead.He started in place of an injured Anunoby and finished with nine points on 3-for-6 shooting.
Dallas still had a chance to tie or take the lead in the final seconds, but Shamet drew an offensive foul on Brandon Williams — who...