This time final yr, the stakes had been completely different — and so had been the outcomes.
The Knicks had traded for Karl-Anthony Cities and Mikal Bridges the previous summer season, a sequence of strikes signaling New York’s newfound “singular focus” on bringing a championship to Madison Sq. Backyard for the primary time in over 50 years, and on the week of final season’s early-February NBA Commerce Deadline, the Knicks hosted the Los Angeles Lakers in a matchup the Lakers ran away with following OG Anunoby’s in-game hamstring harm.
The Lakers would go on to commerce Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic simply moments after leaving Madison Sq. Backyard with a victory. A yr later, the shoe is on the opposite foot.
Now, it’s the Knicks who may very nicely be positioned to tug off the deal of the century — if not an organizational lifetime — no matter their 112-100 victory over the Lakers on Sunday. It’s the Knicks who need to show between now and the Feb. 5 NBA Commerce Deadline {that a} seismic transfer for Giannis Antetokounmpo would do extra hurt than good for the championship odds of a staff that believes it has bounced again from the doldrums of 9 losses in 11 video games.
To date, so good. Message obtained, loud and clear. The Knicks have now received six video games in a row. They’ve tied their longest profitable streak of the season (it was seven video games for those who depend the NBA Cup Last towards the San Antonio Spurs, a recreation the league doesn’t credit score towards season stats or the official win-loss column). They usually’re again to shifting the ball and taking part in selflessly on the offensive finish.
Mike Brown credited the Knicks’ improved play to having extra observe time because the schedule has lightened.
“We’ve had a chance to practice a little bit. But we made changes a little earlier, we’ve gotten a little better with the changes. Guys have been communicating more, but they’re able to do that because they feel a little bit more comfortable with what we’re doing,” he mentioned forward of tipoff. “Defensively, we made some changes. Offensively too. And, uh, you know. I think because we’ve had a chance to work at it a little bit, the guys have had a chance to get- be involved with it a little bit, the confidence is great. That’s growing as well.”
For the second time in New York’s final three video games, Jalen Brunson (12 factors, 4-of-15 taking pictures) had a poor taking pictures night time from the sphere, but for the third recreation in a row, it didn’t matter. For the third recreation in a row, Josh Hart and OG Anunoby scored 20 or extra factors apiece.
Anunoby (25 factors, 9-of-15 taking pictures) and Hart (20 factors, 8-of-11 taking pictures) mixed for 45 factors on 26 shot makes an attempt, and the Knicks received one other 23 factors and 6 3s off the bench from Landry Shamet as Miles McBride missed his third consecutive recreation with ankle soreness. Anunoby put the ultimate nail within the Lakers’ coffin when he secured an offensive rebound with three minutes left within the fourth and scored on a putback dunk in visitors to increase New York’s result in 12.
In the meantime, an improved Knicks protection soured what could possibly be the ultimate look on the World’s Most Well-known Area in LeBron James’ storied, first-ballot Corridor of Fame-worthy NBA profession. Followers lined exterior The Backyard a number of hours forward of tipoff to look at James exit the staff bus. They cheered and chanted his identify throughout pregame warmups and introductions and cheered more durable throughout his moments on Sunday, together with a blast from the previous in a two-handed alley-oop end on a feed from Marcus Good.
However the Lakers had been with out star ahead Austin Reaves, and after a 33-point opening interval, Los Angeles was unable to maintain its scoring punch. James completed with 22 factors, 6 assists and 5 rebounds, and Luka Doncic added 30 factors, 15 rebounds and eight assists on 10-of-23 taking pictures, however no different Lakers gamers scored greater than 13 factors.
The Knicks, who entered Sunday’s matchup with the NBA’s top-ranked protection over their final 5 video games, strengthened their place within the win over the Lakers. They’ve held 5 of their final six opponents to 100 or fewer factors.
The going is ready to get powerful from right here, however Sunday night time was a superb signal. The Knicks’ five-game profitable streak got here towards opponents with a mixed 100-122 document. With Denver, Detroit and Boston as three of New York’s subsequent 4 video games, the Knicks will see precisely the place they stand.
