A week after returning to the New York Knicks’ rotation, Kemba Walker unwrapped a triple-double on Christmas Day. Walker wasn’t the Knicks’ best player in Saturday’s 101-87 win over the Atlanta Hawks — that honor is unquestionably Julius Randle’s — but, given the circumstances, his 10 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds in 40 minutes added up to the biggest story.
Walker recorded the seventh Christmas triple-double in NBA history and first for a Knick. (This was New York’s 54th Christmas game, a league high.) He didn’t shoot particularly well (3 for 12 overall, 2 for 9 from deep) but, outside of Randle, did the lion’s share of the playmaking, with Derrick Rose recovering from ankle surgery, Immanuel Quickley reconditioning after a stint in the health and safety protocols and Miles McBride still in protocols.
The Hawks, meanwhile, were anything but merry. Shorthanded without Trae Young and Kevin Huerter, among other players in protocols, they shot 33 for 87 from the field. Delon Wright and John Collins scored 20 points apiece, but starters Bogdan Bogdanovic, Cam Reddish and Clint Capela scored a combined 24 points on 8-for-34 shooting.