Even in loss, Ntilikina and Porzingis look like winning combo

In a vacuum, easing Knicks rookie Frank "Frankie Smokes" Ntilikina into his role as the lead ball-handler in America's largest media market might make sense. But it's the fact he logged just 60 minutes alongside Kristaps Porzingis prior to Monday's loss to the Cavaliers that's a little shocking.

Given the alternatives, it's hard to rationalize Ntilikina's limited exposure to the Unicorn. The Knicks' two most-used five-man lineups before the Cavs game both featured one of the two veteran point guards - Jarrett Jack or Ramon Sessions - with Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr., Enes Kanter, and Courtney Lee.

Not Frankie Smokes.

It was time to let Porzingis and the No. 8 pick in the 2017 draft develop some chemistry when it counted: under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden, with the best player of his generation in town.

Related: Porzingis, Ntilikina, and a Knicks future to believe in

Ntilikina and Porzingis played three stretches together Monday for a total of 16 minutes - 21.1 percent of all floor time they've shared to date.

• A 22-8 run from the start of the second quarter, until Porzingis subbed out with 1:21 remaining in the half.
• The first 37 seconds of the fourth quarter. Neither team scored.
• For the game's final 5:36, in which the Knicks were outscored 14-24.

The Knicks, and especially Hardaway Jr., were unable to quell the red-hot hand of Kyle Korver, who scored 19 in the fourth quarter alone, but the Ntilikina-Porzingis duo continued to impress overall. New York went 36-32 with the pair on the court, with a 22.6 net rating per 100 possessions. Against a Cavs team with Finals aspirations, that's an encouraging consolation prize.

Ntilikina never backed down from the daunting challenge of keeping future Hall of Famers LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in check. Instead of being rattled by an early-game dustup with James, Ntilikina seemed to double down on his effort to disrupt the point of attack.

His length was crucial to the Knicks' big second-quarter run, as he leveraged his reported 7-foot-1 wingspan into a nearly impenetrable shield at times, intercepting passes and poking dribbles loose. By the half, the Frenchman had accrued six steals - the most by a Knicks rookie since Mark Jackson in 1987.

If Ntilikina can induce just a slight hesitation from his matchup on defense, it will afford Porzingis more time to leverage his own length into help defense, helping bail out weaker defenders like Kanter and Hardaway Jr.

Ntilkina's offense is still a work in progress. He finished with seven points and two assists, and he's shooting just 23.8 percent on 3-pointers. He wouldn't be the first teenager to take a few years to find his shot in the fast-paced NBA, but he's certainly been one of the most impactful at his age in recent memory.

It will all take time, but the seeds are planted.

Hopefully, the Knicks' brain trust will reward Ntilikina for his strong showing Monday, looking past the disappointment of a 20-point lead frittered away. The more opportunity he and Porzingis have to grow together, the sooner the Garden's glory will be restored.