As he absorbed the heckling and playful jeers of the New York Knicks’ crowd on January 13, 2025, Malik Beasley might’ve been short on supporters during his season’s second trip to Madison Square Garden. With a tightly-contested game on the line, though, he became acquainted with the only friend that truly mattered: a friendly rim. Once the arena’s hottest shooter following his 12-point opening quarter, Beasley prepares for a late-game encore, patiently watching his teammates use a screen-and-roll to unravel New York’s overly-helpful defense. Elevating his hands immediately upon finding himself unguarded, Beasley turns a catch-and-shoot opportunity into a lead-extending dagger, pushing the Detroit Pistons’ late-game lead to four. 30 seconds later, with Detroit requiring one final rebuttal, Beasley silences the Garden — seemingly a rite of passage for any great NBA shooter — with a near-identical triple, securing victory. Beasley became New York’s worst nightmare from the moment his shooting motion began, as he unleashed a 22-point performance (on 7-of-13 shooting), six 3-pointers, and a +10 plus-minus, all in just 18 minutes. · Jan 14, 2025