Knicks 121, Wizards 105
Q. 20 turnovers is obviously not what you want to see. Do you think that was the big momentum shift tonight, or was it something else?
KYLE KUZMA: Yeah, turnovers is huge. First half not really making shots, and same thing defensively. This is really kind of the third game of not really scoring over 100 and allowing over 120.
Q. What makes Julius Randle so hard to guard apart from his size?
KYLE KUZMA: He does a great job of just using his body, understands how to get to the line in fouls, and he attacks every possession.
Q. You mentioned the offense the last few games. What have been some common issues that have been different from the rest of the year for you guys?
KYLE KUZMA: I mean, we've been turning the ball over, playing a little different. Haven't been hitting shots, haven't been playing with pace. Fast break has been a little different. Today it was cool for segments because we got stops and we got out, but...
Q. You made a strong push in the third quarter but then they were able to regain the momentum. Why do you think they were able to do that?
KYLE KUZMA: Not hitting shots. Tibs plays his guys a lot during the game, so you noticed a lot in that second unit. Julius Randle was in still, Hartenstein was playing, Brunson was in. They played a lot of their first unit versus second unit, too. That's what Tibs does. He plays his guys a lot, so...
Q. Did their aggressiveness and assertiveness kind of overwhelm the team in the first half?
KYLE KUZMA: Yeah, in the second quarter I think it did for sure. I think the first eight, nine minutes of the game, it was okay, it was whatever. Then it kind of just broke free a little bit.
Q. When you look at the Knicks having one of the league's better defenses, I know some of that is personnel, some of that is kind of their scheme, what is it they do well that you feel like you can replicate for the rest of the season?
KYLE KUZMA: I mean, we try to do what they do. They just got the personnel to do it.
Q. Then in that third quarter when things start cooking, what was the key to that?
KYLE KUZMA: For us? We got stops. We played zone, made them get more stagnant. Then we got out, got some transition looks. We're at our best when we play with pace, and a few times we get stops, we get out and go.
Q. When you talk about getting stops at the beginning of the third quarter, defense to offense, is that a mentality switch? Was it a scheme thing? I know you mentioned going zone a little bit. Do you think that played a role in it?
KYLE KUZMA: Yeah, the zone. I think the zone played a role in it. I think we got a little bit more physical, got in, cracked back on some rebounding on Hartenstein, and we got out and ran.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports