The Knicks have a possibility in entrance of them — a golden stretch of favorable matchups they should capitalize on in the event that they need to solidify their playoff positioning.
Heading into Saturday night’s matchup towards the New Orleans Pelicans, the Knicks had received 12 of their final 16 video games. Their subsequent six contests current an opportunity to maintain the momentum rolling, beginning with a battered Pelicans squad lacking each Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.
New Orleans holds extra losses than any workforce within the NBA, and the Knicks dominated them by 33 factors on Dec. 1 — the identical sport the place Mikal Bridges snapped out of his early-season droop with a 31-point explosion.
But it surely’s not simply the Pelicans. The Knicks are gazing a stretch of video games that includes groups with dropping information. They’ve the possibility to pad their win whole earlier than the schedule takes a brutal flip in January.
For now, the Knicks are taking it one sport at a time. Nevertheless, a peek forward on the gauntlet awaiting them within the New Yr would possibly present the additional motivation to deal with enterprise throughout the vacation season.
DEC. 21: NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (5-23)
The Pelicans are decimated by accidents, using a five-game dropping streak, and have dropped 20 of their final 22 video games. With out Williamson and Ingram, they’ve leaned closely on C.J. McCollum and offseason acquisition Dejounte Murray.
At 5-23, the Pelicans’ season is successfully over, making this a must-win for the Knicks.
DEC. 23: TORONTO RAPTORS (7-21)
The Raptors personal the second-worst report within the Jap Convention and enter Sunday’s matchup towards Houston on a six-game dropping streak, probably extending to seven earlier than dealing with the Knicks.
Toronto may even be taking part in the second leg of a back-to-back. The Knicks edged them out in an emotional sport earlier this month, 113-108, marking OG Anunoby’s first sport again at Scotiabank Enviornment since his commerce to New York.
Nevertheless, Scottie Barnes performed simply 23 minutes in that sport earlier than an harm sidelined him for 10 days. Immanuel Quickley can also be unlikely to play on account of an elbow harm, and whereas R.J. Barrett has been battling an sickness, he would possibly go well with up for a “flu game” at Madison Sq. Backyard.
CHRISTMAS DAY: SAN ANTONIO SPURS (14-13)
This can be a sneaky entice sport. The Spurs are not the basement dwellers they as soon as had been. Including Chris Paul has stabilized their younger roster, and Victor Wembanyama continues to show heads.
The Knicks will host the 7-4 phenom on Christmas Day. Wemby struggled in his first sport at MSG, scoring simply 14 factors on 4-of-14 capturing. Nevertheless, he bounced again with a 40-point additional time efficiency towards the Knicks in San Antonio.
This time, the Knicks have to be able to include him and keep away from a vacation letdown.
DEC. 27: ORLANDO MAGIC (17-12)
The Magic are a troublesome, bodily workforce below head coach Jamahl Mosley. Nevertheless, with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner sidelined on account of indirect accidents, Orlando’s offense has struggled.
The Knicks dealt with them simply on Dec. 3 with a 121-106 victory and will find a way to take action once more. Nonetheless, the physicality of this sport may take a toll — particularly with a back-to-back looming.
DEC. 28 & 30: WASHINGTON WIZARDS (4-21)
The Knicks face the Wizards twice in three days, with the primary sport approaching the second leg of a back-to-back.
Washington, regardless of a gifted roster on paper, has been a catastrophe all season. The Kyle Kuzma-Jordan Poole pairing has not labored, and the Wizards personal the league’s worst report.
These video games are prime alternatives for the Knicks to rack up two simple wins.
JAN. 1, 2025: UTAH JAZZ (6-20)
The Jazz embarrassed the Knicks on Nov. 23 with a 121-106 victory in Utah. Since then, Utah has gone simply 2-8, sinking to the underside of the Western Convention.
The Knicks needs to be wanting to avenge that loss of their remaining “easy” sport earlier than the schedule turns into a nightmare in January.
A LOOK DOWN THE ROAD
As soon as the calendar flips to January, the Knicks’ schedule transforms from manageable to cruel. After wrapping up their six-game stretch with a house matchup towards the Jazz on New Yr’s Day, they’ll face one of many league’s hardest gauntlets.
It begins with a visit to Oklahoma Metropolis to face the Thunder, the West’s prime workforce and a championship contender led by MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Knicks will see the Thunder once more simply 9 days later in Isaiah Hartenstein’s return to The Backyard, and proper after, they may host Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, adopted by the surging Detroit Pistons.
From there, the street doesn’t get any simpler.
The Knicks journey to Philadelphia for a showdown with the 76ers, then host the Timberwolves for Julius Randle’s first sport again at MSG because the blockbuster commerce. Two nights later, they’ll face the Atlanta Hawks, who’ve confirmed to be a thorn in New York’s facet this season.
And that’s only the start.
The Knicks then embark on a brutal stretch towards among the NBA’s elite groups. They’ll see the Sacramento Kings, who now function De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, and DeMar DeRozan. They’ll face the Memphis Grizzlies with a wholesome Ja Morant, the Denver Nuggets with reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, and the Lakers with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
The challenges proceed with video games towards the Rockets, Celtics (twice), Pacers, Cavaliers, Warmth, and 76ers.
This murderous row of opponents underscores the urgency for the Knicks to maximise their present window of alternative.
Wins towards struggling groups just like the Wizards, Raptors, and Pelicans are essential to constructing momentum and a cushion within the standings earlier than the season’s true exams start.
Come January, the Knicks received’t have the luxurious of sunshine nights. Each win they safe now pays dividends when the grind intensifies.
