Julius Randle got fined $15,000 by the NBA, then tried to score 15,000 points on the lowly Wizards.
Randle took out any lasting referee frustrations on Washington Tuesday at the Garden as he poured in 37 points, making 7 of 10 from 3-point range as the Knicks blew out the Wizards, 131-113. Randle’s seven 3s tied a career-high.
The All-Star power forward, who was punished for his inflammatory remarks about the refereeing in a loss to Philadelphia on Sunday, is the chief reason the Knicks are 22-22, already surpassing last season’s win total when they finished 21-45.
“The statement [he made] was the win was the most important thing,’’ Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “He’s done that a number of times for us. To bounce back after a tough loss, and the way we lost the game, that’s what leaders do.’’
Randle, who hasn’t missed a game this season, shot 13 of 24 from the field as the Knicks won a wire-to-wire blowout, leading by as many as 31 points.
He drained three straight 3-pointers in the third quarter. He tried for a fourth straight, a contested long one, that didn’t come close and was seen smiling after the proverbial heat check.
“You’re right, I did have a heat check,’’ Randle said. “I was going to pull from half [court] at one point. That’s how good I was feeling. So yeah, I had it rolling.’’
Randle’s Zoom call was a far cry from Sunday night’s drama when he took one question, blamed the referees for the loss, using a profanity that caught the attention of league disciplinarian Kiki VanDeWeghe.
“No, I didn’t need motivation,’’ Randle said. “My motivation is just to win games and do my part for this team. So I didn’t need any extra motivation.’’
All season long, Randle’s 3-point marksmanship has been one of the stunners, going from 29 percent last season to 42 percent now.
“No, I’m not surprised,’’ Randle said. “I’m just confident because I put the work in. I know how hard I worked this summer on trying to improve as a shooter. Honestly, I’m not really surprised.’’
Thibodeau said that sort of percentage jump in perimeter shooting is rarely seen in the NBA.
“I’ve seen players improve the shooting piece,’’ Thibodeau said. “If guys are diligent, they usually improve one level. You can go from maybe a below-average to average. I don’t know if you can become great, he’s borderline on that now. Adding that 3 really changed things, not only for him but for our team. I think having a stretch 4 is a necessity in today’s game.”
The Knicks face the Wizards at the Garden again on Thursday. With another win, the Knicks will have schooled Las Vegas, which had their Over/Under for wins at 22.5.
RJ Barrett, who muscled his way for 21 points to continue a stellar sophomore year, doesn’t want to get too cocky just because they’ve already surpassed last season.
“We got a long way to go,’’ Barrett said. “I love winning. Winning is fun. But we have a long way to go.’’
Nobody took last season’s 21-45 record harder than Randle, after being their prime free-agent signing in 2020 and underachieving.
“It feels a lot different,’’ Randle said. “This overall group, our preparation, how we approach games, our confidence, everything is just a lot different. Guys are rolling with it. We’re having fun doing it. We’re winning games’’
Randle had 35 points midway through the third quarter, hitting 3-pointers over all of Washington’s youngsters, including rookie Israeli lottery pick Deni Avidja and Rui Hachimuru.
Center Mitchell Robinson, in his second game back following hand surgery, scored 16 points with 12 rebounds and three blocks. Alec Burks added 20, Immanuel Quickley 16.
Meanwhile, Elfrid Payton returned from a four-game absence with a hamstring strain and started at point guard, logging 21 effective minutes (seven points, four assists, three steals).
Thibodeau kept Randle in for half of the fourth quarter instead of rolling with rookie Obi Toppin, the Knicks’ lottery pick who is in a major slump. Toppin played just eight minutes, was scoreless for the fourth straight game and lost out on late fourth-quarter garbage time to Kevin Knox.
Randle offered Toppin consoling words on the bench late in the contest. Because that’s what leaders do.
“I’m just trying to instill confidence in him,’’ Randle said. “As a rookie it’s tough to learn the game, the ins and outs.”
