Suns’ Miles Plumlee records several highlight-reel dunks vs. Knicks
Mar 29, 2014, 6:25 PM | Updated: Mar 30, 2014, 1:09 am
Miles Plumlee had arguably his best performance in about two months as the Phoenix Suns blew out the New York Knicks 112-88 Friday at US Airways Center.
Plumlee finished with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting. He also added three assists and a team-high 12 rebounds in 23 minutes, as the Suns dominated New York on the glass 56-37.
It was Plumlee’s first double-double since Jan. 27 in Philadelphia, and his 11th of the year. He was the first name out of Jeff Hornacek’s mouth after the game as the head coach praised his team’s effort on the boards.
“We’re a decent rebounding team, but when we out-rebound somebody big, we’re usually pretty good because we can get out and run on the fast breaks,” Hornacek said. “I think overall it was probably the best performance of the year.”
The second-year center, despite earning a spot in the Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star Weekend, struggled in February, only earning 21.9 minutes per game and averaging 5.7 points and 7.4 rebounds.
Plumlee’s numbers in March haven’t been any better, as he has only posted 6.2 points and 6.5 rebounds in 19.2 minutes — counting Friday’s game.
However, the 25-year-old big man looked like he was back in his early-season form Friday, as he had several athletic dunks off missed shots and lobs against New York.
Check out his reverse alley-oop finish from Eric Bledsoe and a left-handed putback off a Gerald Green miss in the videos below. The former was named the dunk of the night on NBA.com. Click here to watch his right-handed throwdown on a second quarter fast break. He also had a powerful two-handed putback off a P.J. Tucker miss in the fourth quarter, getting him into double-figures in points.
