Thumbnail: Gamba The Bard (@GambatheBard on X)
The New York Knicks lost games in consecutive nights, starting with a loss to the Hawks 111-99, followed by a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers 130-119. In both instances, the Knicks’ inability to get stops hampered their chances of coming back.
The Knicks faced Atlanta shorthanded, with signs of fatigue in their return from the road. They didn’t have Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns, or Mitchell Robinson. Atlanta played physical basketball, scoring more in the paint and forcing more turnovers than New York. Meanwhile, New York shot 9/42 from three, only outscoring Atlanta in the fourth quarter with runs that were too little, too late.
KAT and Robinson returned for the game against Philadelphia, but the Knicks looked sluggish nonetheless. The Sixers shot 47% from three, taking advantage of New York’s poor closeouts. The big men didn’t plug the interior defense either. So, the Knicks chased another comeback that wouldn’t manifest.
The schedule hasn’t been kind to the Knicks, but that’s no excuse for their poor defense. Let’s explore the back-to-back through each player’s impact.
