New York Knicks Takeaways From Victory Over Philadelphia 76ers

Nov 29, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks power forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) drives the ball against Houston Rockets power forward Terrence Jones (6) during the third quarter of the game at Madison Square Garden. The Rockets won 116-111. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Player Of The Game: Kristaps Porzingis

The 76ers saw first hand tonight what they could have had in Kristaps Porzingis had they selected him 3rd overall in the 2015 NBA Draft. Instead, he fell to the Knicks and they are now reaping the benefits of what looks to be the best rookie in this class, at least thus far.

Porzingis had a strong game against the 76ers, recording his ninth double-double of the season. He scored a team-high 17 points with 10 rebounds, as the 76ers had no answer for him. He had two highlight plays, a double-clutch jumper and driving dunk from the top of the key that got the crowd going.

He also got them going on the defensive end, where he once again made his presence felt. Porzingis played well against anyone he was defending, as his size was a big problem to get around. He finished the game with four blocks, as the players he defended most, Nerlens Noel and Jerami Grant, shot 3-of-11 and 2-of-10 from the field; he had a big hand in that success, or lack thereof.

Porzingis continues to be a force for the Knicks on both ends of the court, as he is much further along in his development than people imagined. The Knicks are happy that he is, as he is helping them win games already despite being the youngest player on the court more often than not.

Next: Matchup Of The Game Recap