As NBA games continue ahead of the highly anticipated March Madness, the New York Knicks failed to impress fans in recent games.
The Knicks traveled west to face the Los Angeles Lakers on March 7. Throughout the first three quarters, the Knicks controlled much of the game, taking an 84-76 lead into the fourth quarter. Of course, in typical Knicks fashion, that lead didn’t last.
The Lakers responded with urgency, hitting big-time shots and chipping at the Knicks’ lead, they eventually reclaimed the advantage for the first time since the second quarter, bringing the score to 99-96.
The Knicks refused to back down. With clutch heroics from Jalen Brunson, the game tied at 99-99. With 9.1 seconds left and possession, the Knicks had a chance to win but failed to get a shot off, bringing the game into overtime.
Luka Dončić and the Lakers drew first blood in overtime and never looked back. Brunson would continue his valiant effort, but disaster struck when he rolled his ankle with 1:24 left. Displaying incredible strength, he remained in the game to sink two free throws before heading to the locker room. Without him, the Knicks offense crumbled in overtime and the Lakers secured their eighth straight victory, 113-109.
The loss dropped the Knicks to 0-9 against the top two teams in each conference, a troubling trend as they push toward the playoffs.
When asked about missing Brunson, Josh Hart responded, “Now we have to step up…Keep it afloat until he comes back, be aggressive, go out there and compete.”
The question remained whether the Knicks would be able to stay “afloat” in their first game without Brunson against the Los Angeles Clippers the following day.
Josh Hart backed up his words with a strong performance, finishing with 14 points, a career-high of 20 rebounds and vocal leadership. Mikal Bridges, expected to shoulder more of the offensive load, stepped up as well, posting 22 points and 5 assists on an efficient 8-12 shooting. It was a strong showing for the two Nova Knicks, but in the end it wasn’t enough.
Much like in overtime against the Lakers, the Knicks’ offense struggled to find a rhythm. Without their superstar, the Knicks shot a dismal 9-33 from beyond the arc, 27.3%, looking stagnant. On the other end, their defense was a step slow contesting the Clippers’ three-point shooting. When you can’t score or defend, winning becomes an uphill battle. The Knicks fell 105-95, leaving Los Angeles without a win.
With Brunson sidelined for at least two weeks, the Knicks are in trouble. The new 65-game minimum rule puts Brunson’s award eligibility at risk, jeopardizing his lead for Clutch Player of the Year and his chances of making the All-NBA team.
With the Knicks facing a tough stretch ahead, only time will tell if they can weather this storm and maintain their playoff push.
