One win separates the Knicks from a enterprise journey to Las Vegas.
The in-season match now often called the NBA Cup resumes Wednesday evening at Madison Sq. Backyard, the place the Knicks are set to host the Atlanta Hawks in a single-elimination “knockout round” sport.
A victory would ship the Knicks to the match’s semifinal spherical in Sin Metropolis, the place the NBA Cup remaining can also be set to happen.
The stakes are little increased for NBA Cup video games, which — apart from remaining — additionally depend towards a group’s regular-season file. The group that wins the match will get a trophy, whereas its gamers every win $514,970.
“It would mean a lot for us to get there and do all that,” Jalen Brunson stated final week. “You have guys on the team who may be on one-year contracts or two-ways or whatever, and you get to go out there and try to win for them.”
The NBA launched the in-season match final yr in an effort to raise curiosity and competitors through the common season’s first half. The match splits the NBA’s 30 groups into six teams, and every group performs the others in its group as soon as apiece through the opening spherical.
The Knicks went 4-0 in group play – beating the Philadelphia 76ers, Nets, Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic – to win Japanese Convention Group A and advance to the knockout stage.
The Hawks went 3-1 in group play to win Japanese Convention Group C.
Wednesday’s win-and-advance affair features as a rematch of the Knicks and Hawks’ first-round bout within the 2021 NBA playoffs, throughout which Trae Younger emerged as a Madison Sq. Backyard villain by main Atlanta to a sequence victory.
Nobody within the Knicks’ present core — together with Brunson, Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Cities – had been on that 2021 group.
Atlanta (13-12) enters Wednesday as one of many NBA’s hottest groups, having gained six in a row earlier than Sunday’s 141-111 loss in Denver.
The Hawks stay among the many NBA’s highest-scoring groups at 117.1 factors per sport, regardless of a comparatively down season for Younger, who’s averaging 20.9 factors per sport and taking pictures simply 38.5% from the sector.
Serving to to beat Younger’s uneven begin — and the offseason departure of Dejounte Murray — have been career-best seasons by Jalen Johnson, who’s averaging 19.8 factors per sport, and fellow ahead De’Andre Hunter, who’s averaging 19.3.
Atlanta is, nevertheless, among the many NBA’s worst defensive groups, which ought to imply loads of scoring alternatives for the Knicks (15-9), who’re a tick forward of the Hawks offensively at 117.8 factors per sport.
“NBA Cup, win or go home. It’s like a playoff game,” Cities stated final week after the Knicks beat the Magic, 121-106, to advance to the knockout spherical.
“We’re competitors. This is a high-level-competition moment. The game means a little more.”
In final yr’s inaugural match, the Knicks additionally superior to the knockout spherical, solely to be eradicated by the Milwaukee Bucks. The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Indiana Pacers within the 2023 remaining.
A win Wednesday would make the Knicks one of many remaining 4 groups within the match. The NBA Cup semifinal video games are scheduled to happen Saturday at Vegas’ T-Cellular Area. The ultimate can even be held there subsequent Tuesday.
“I think it’s going to continue to grow, too,” Brunson stated final week of the NBA Cup. “It’s still early, but I think as it picks up traction it’s going to be great for a long time. Obviously, if you’re able to be a part of it and move on, it’s a plus.”
