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[New York Knicks]

Knicks Bulletin: ‘We knew it was going to be a tough, grind-it-out game’

Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images

New York escapes Portland alive, thanks to the Man of the Minute.

The Knicks escaped another trap game by a hair on Wednesday, beating the Portland Trail Blazers 114-113 in OT thanks to a Mikal Bridges three.

Coincidentally or not, the evening started with the same player calling out Tom Thibodaus’ coaching tendencies, and with Thibs firing back denying he had any discussion with Bridges about it. Crisis avoided—for now.

Here’s what Thibs and a few other Knickerbockers said before and after yesterday’s game.

MIKAL BRIDGES, ARE YOU SERIOUS!!?

33 POINTS AND THE GAME-WINNING TREY pic.twitter.com/7iubWATP1Q

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 13, 2025​

Tom Thibodeau​

On Portland’s stubbornness in a near-upset against the Knicks:

“Dynamic speed.

“[Anfernee] Simons, [Deni] Avdija, [Shaedon] Sharpe on the perimeter. [Toumani] Camara is a load to deal with, one of the most underrated players in the league. [Donovan] Clingan, elite rim protector. Great offensive rebounder. Great impact when he’s in the game.

“So this team has played really hard and really well. Versatile guys that can play multiple positions. We got to make sure we’re taking care of the ball.”

On whether he discussed Bridges’ minutes with him:

“For one, we never had a conversation about it. The facts are the facts. When you look at our team, and the way it works, Jalen (Brunson) plays 35 minutes, and I think he’s 20th or 21st in average minutes played. (Karl-Anthony Towns), who is a primary scorer, plays less than Jalen. He’s like 25th in the league in average minutes. Your wings play more, right? They’re matched up with primary scorers. The way it works, if Jayson Tatum is in the game or Jaylen Brown is in the game, OG (Anunoby) will be in the game and Mikal will be in the game. When those guys go out, (our) guys go out. When they come back, (our guys) come back. We try to keep them matched up. If you look at the league, all those guys are playing 36, 37 minutes — whether it’s Durant, Tatum, Brown. The wings are going to play more. They are primary wings defenders. That’s the way it works. And then sometimes you’re caught in matchups. The Lakers are big wings, so sometimes you deal with that.”

On why criticism of his minutes allocation persists:

“You guys follow the team. You should know what the matchups are and how it works. Oftentimes, you have people that look at it (who don’t understand).”

On Bridges’ minutes in recent games:

“Are they playing a little bit more than I would like? Yeah, probably 35 or 36 (minutes) is where you — that’s where Mikal is. If you look at the last 10 games, he’s playing 35 minutes a game, and four of those games (went to) overtime. So, that’s the reality.”

Mike Breen: "41 minutes tonight. You feeling OK?"

Mikal Bridges: "(Catching breath) I feel great"

Our heavy-breathing hero pic.twitter.com/9aNYttwEhC

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) March 13, 2025​

Mikal Bridges​

On his game-winning shot against the Blazers:

“Yeah, just happy to win, pretty much.”

On the physical toll of playing heavy minutes:

“Sometimes it’s not fun on the body. But you want that as a coach, and I also talked to him a little bit knowing that we’ve got a good enough team where our bench guys can come in, and we don’t need to play 48 (minutes). We’ve got a lot of good guys on this team that can take away minutes, which helps the defense, helps the offense, helps tired bodies being out there and giving up all these points. It helps just keeping fresh bodies out there.”

On his conversation with Tom Thibodeau about playing time:

“Yeah, no, he’s not really, he’s not arguing about it. Sometimes I think he just gets in his ways and he gets locked in and he just wants to keep the guy out there. Sometimes you have to tell him like, Landry (Shamet) for example or somebody, keep them out there, they’re playing well.”

On adjusting to the Knicks’ system and finding his role:

“I think there’s a lot more [I can still show]. I think — that goes in within it a lot. Things that are systematic or our schemes offensively and stuff — just trying to find the right situations. And trying to make the right read every time I get a chance.”

On managing his body through a long season:

“I think it’s something you never really get used to. Your body is going to feel how it is every year. But I’ve been a part of it for a while, knowing how to take care of my body through those situations and just trying to do as much as I can.”

Never seen something like this pic.twitter.com/9ALBVHf4Fq

— Teg (@IQfor3) March 13, 2025​

Josh Hart​

On his brainfart and sweating the win on Wednesday:

“We knew it was going to be tough. We knew they weren’t going to give up, even after I think we were up six with like 1:10, which we should have sealed the game and closed it out, but we didn’t.

“But we knew it was going to be a tough grind it out game.”

Karl Anthony-Towns​

On Mikal Bridges’ game-winning three:

“He hit the shot. He’s the man of the hour, for sure. Got the ball and was confident.

“I think what was better about the shot is he just missed one and had the confidence to get it again and shoot it again. And to take a tougher shot. So shout out to him.”

Second straight game of Shamet making this absolutely ludicrous cut. IDC who it's on this shit needs to be fixed. This team is allergic to staying spaced out.pic.twitter.com/iZPejbTGoO

— Frank Barrett (@FrankBarrett119) March 13, 2025​

Landry Shamet​

On bypassing surgery before the season:

“Yeah, knock on wood. I’m in a good spot. I attacked the rehab, took it very seriously. Frankly, that’s not much of a thought I have. I feel good, I’m in a good spot.”

On facing an opening to take on a larger role with Jalen Brunson out:

“You have to be prepared for all scenarios, especially if you’re thinking about the postseason.

“So when you lose a vital piece, how do you find solutions and figure things out? And I think that’s the opportunity in this situation we have right now.

“Obviously he’s an amazing player, and we rely on him heavily to take care of us in a lot of ways. So this is a good opportunity to try to find wins and figure things out without the guy who is facilitating our offense.

“I think all of us collectively are gearing up for this last stretch. There’s been a heightened sense of urgency from all of us to get going. So kind of knowing what we have coming down the stretch, getting some things cleaned up and just trying do whatever—all of us do what’s asked of us to put us in a good situation.”

On the narrative about the reserves not playing enough and not liking it:

“We don’t really take into that account. Deuce [McBride] might get five 3s up one night, he might get two up one night. I might get two up, I might get zero.

“Things change, so we got to be OK with that, and we all are. I think that should be more of an identity conversation than the other stuff.”

Celebration in 4K pic.twitter.com/q87KmEKFD1

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) March 13, 2025​

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...-it-was-going-to-be-a-tough-grind-it-out-game

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks 114, Trail Blazers 113 (OT): “FIIIIINALLY THE MIKAL THEY TRADED FOR”

Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images

In an ugly game, New York escapes Portland with a win on a last-second Bridges bomb.

The Moda Center in Portland shook with cheers of “Let’s go Knicks!” but the encouragement couldn’t keep tonight’s game between the New York Knicks (42-23) and the Trail Blazers (28-39) from reaching overtime. If you’re keeping track, that makes seven OT games for New York this season. In a contest with an NBA season-high 42 lead changes, 38 combined turnovers (23 by Portland), and some of the worst officiating of the year, it took heroics from a Villanova alum to secure a thrilling win as time expired. Captain Clutch? Nope—Mikal Bridges!

Quoth SagaciousNLoquacious: “FIIIIINALLY THE MIKAL THEY TRADED FOR! Dat Boi Cold. WHOOOOOO!!” My sentiments, exactly. Bridges made news before the game, suggesting that the coach should play the bench more. Tonight, we were grateful he was the guy on the court in the clutch.

Did they deserve to win? Probably not. New York were clobbered on the glass 52-38 and did everything they could to blow this game, but they never quit. Bridges finished with 33 points on 13-of-21 shooting in his 41 minutes, and no shot was bigger than his buzzer-beater three over Portland’s rookie center Donovan Clingan.

OG Anunoby added 23 points and seven rebounds while shooting 8-of-20 in his 43 minutes. Karl-Anthony Towns had 21 points, and Josh Hart secured an 11-11 double-double.

For Portland, Deni Avdija logged a 27-point, 15-rebound double-double, and almost made it a triple-double with seven turnovers. Their most important player tonight, though, was Scoot Henderson, who scored 30 points off the bench and nearly single-handedly stole the win from the Knicks. Here’s how it went down.

First Half​

On Monday against Sacramento, the Knicks shot 55% from downtown. Tonight was less enjoyable. They missed their first five three-point attempts and eight of their first nine shots overall. Luckily, the Blazers’ aim was equally inept. The home team finished the quarter 7-of-20 from the field.

The score inched back and forth throughout the frame, with neither team gaining much ground until the Knicks pulled ahead by five with two minutes left. The Blazers were dominating the Knicks on the glass, 16-10, but thanks to their poor shooting and seven turnovers, New York carried a 26-21 lead into the second period.

.@mikal_bridges with the float show pic.twitter.com/eNsnVHVNDv

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 13, 2025​

In the second quarter, Portland continued crashing the glass and beating the Knicks to loose balls. However, they had no answer for Karl-Anthony Towns in the paint, as he repeatedly challenged rookie Donovan Clingan at the rim with success. With the rest of the Knicks struggling, Towns accounted for nearly the entirety of New York’s offense. Chauncey Billups, a confounding coach, let KAT roast the rookie (Clingan had three fouls in 11 minutes) while Robert Williams III and Duop Reath languished on the bench. No complaints here—Chauncey’s follies benefited our heroes.

GROWN MAN SLAM FOR @karltowns pic.twitter.com/wnghm0Q9kb

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 13, 2025​

When Reath did play, he logged three blocks and provided much better defense on Towns. Portland crept back into the lead, but Mikal Bridges came to the rescue, scoring eight in the latter half of the quarter and helping New York secure a 48-46 advantage at intermission.

mikal makin' plays pic.twitter.com/gijEUp1jmZ

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 13, 2025​

Through the first half, both teams shot around 41% from the field. New York hit a paltry 3-of-13 from deep, while Portland made 8-of-23. The home team had won the battle on the glass, 25-18, but had already committed 14 turnovers. In a shovey, elbow-heavy game, only 14 fouls had been called. For the Knicks, KAT led with 11 points, while for Portland, Deni Avdija had 14 points and 11 boards. If you stayed up to watch this slop, I sympathize.

Second Half​

New York started the third 16-10, aided by Anfernee Simons’ atrocious shooting and yet more turnovers. The Knicks led 64-56 when Portland began a comeback, thanks to back-to-back Mikal Bridges fouls. Both teams missed shots and coughed up the ball. Reath’s three, Avdija’s layup, and Shaedon Sharpe’s jumper cut the deficit to one. After a timeout, a Landry Shamet turnover resulted in a Portland go-ahead bucket. Sharpe and McBride traded treys, and the teams were tied at 77 by the buzzer.

Here’s Scoot Henderson causing havoc.

SCOOT SPLASH.
SCOOT STEAL.
SCOOT SLAM.

What a sequence for Scoot Henderson in Portland pic.twitter.com/hCz5dlb3nT

— NBA (@NBA) March 13, 2025​

Thanks to more Scoot stuff, Portland took a three-point lead early in the fourth. Around the nine-minute mark, Thibs sent Towns in to play alongside Mitchell Robinson. Given how badly the Knicks had been outmatched on the glass, it seemed an obvious decision. Mitch missed two free throws and was cooked by Scoot, though, and Thibs gave him the hook after less than two minutes.

Well ok Scoot Henderson pic.twitter.com/vnKVoorFxy

— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) March 13, 2025​

With a triple from Anunoby and a contested bucket by Hart, New York took a three-point lead midway through. Bridges stayed aggressive despite sitting on five fouls, Avdija hit a go-ahead triple, and a game with over 30 lead changes was still up for grabs. With under two minutes left, KAT drilled two consecutive threes to give the visitors a six-point advantage.

Mikal passing, Hart rebounding, KAT shooting.

Awesome sequence. pic.twitter.com/AtQ1ENzd8M

— Rit Holtzman (@BenRitholtzNBA) March 13, 2025​

Henderson, who spends far too much time on the bench watching Simons play, banked a trey with a minute left. Bridges responded with a midrange J. Henderson drove for a layup and, thanks to a McBride foul, converted the And-1.

Scoot Henderson CLUTCH AND-1

He cuts the lead to 2 late in the 4Q pic.twitter.com/EQH7LQXLgJ

— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 13, 2025​

With 40 seconds remaining, the Knicks had possession, but no Jalen Brunson to rock this baby to sleep. Anunoby and Bridges both missed and Portland, down by two, took the ball with seven seconds to go. Henderson drove into Robinson, missing the layup but getting two free throws with three seconds left. After that, McBride missed the rim with a 38-foot shot, and we had overtime. 106-106.

Extra Frame​

With the Knicks up 111-110, Anunoby and McBride stopped Henderson at the rim, and the Knicks regained possession. On the inbound pass, however, Hart shuffled down the sideline and was called for a violation. Robinson stuffed Avdija, who grabbed the loose ball and scored while getting fouled by Hart. Down 113-111, three seconds to go, it seemed like New York was dead in the water. But a ‘Nova Wildcat saved the day with a buzzer-beater three—take it away, Mikal:

MIKAL FUCKING BRIDGES pic.twitter.com/nHXJXWHwdX

— Teg (@IQfor3) March 13, 2025​

Up Next​

New York treks back down the coast to face the Warriors on Saturday and wrap up this wearisome road trip. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.

Box Score

P.S. Mo Cheeks is a class act.

In 2003, then-Trail Blazers HC Maurice Cheeks stepped in to help 13-year-old National Anthem singer Natalie Gilbert.

Tonight, Gilbert returned to Portland sing the anthem once again, with Cheeks watching as a Knicks assistant https://t.co/mXhxQAJmXf pic.twitter.com/rw12oLSJHE

— NBA (@NBA) March 13, 2025​

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...-113-ot-fiiiiinally-the-mikal-they-traded-for

 

[New York Knicks]

Who Really Wore the Orange and Blue Best? #9 Richie Guerin vs. #11 Jalen Brunson

Antonio Losada

The Past vs. The Present

It was no surprise that Spree won last week’s matchup against Kenny Walker by a landslide. This week’s matchup pits the past against the present, presenting a much more intriguing and debatable matchup between Richie Guerin and Jalen Brunson.

If the true Knick historians who really know their Knicks history turn out to vote, they could give Guerin the edge. After all, the six-time All-Star led the Knicks in scoring and assists for four straight seasons, two feats that Brunson has yet to do. Guerin’s career highs of 57 points and 21 assists also remain unmatched by Brunson.

However, as the Knicks’ captain and leader for the past three seasons, Brunson has the advantage of familiarity. The majority of our readers who have never seen or heard of Guerin are likely to vote for the current star, making this week’s segment a true Who Really Wore It Best debate.

Antonio Losada

#9 Richie Guerin — There wasn’t much debate amongst our readers over WWIB #9. Guerin won by a landslide over RJ Barrett and Pablo Prigioni, with 72% of the 112 votes. Guerin was originally drafted by the Knicks in 1954. Guerin went on to become a 6x All-Star and a member of the All-NBA second team three times.

More honorable than any on-court accomplishment were the two years of service Guerin was required to finish with the Marines prior to being allowed to join the Knicks in 1956.

Photo by NBA Photo Library/NBAE via Getty Images

Guerin emerged as one of the Knicks’ few constants during a period of frequent roster changes. He earned his first All-Star selection in just his second season, beginning a streak of six consecutive appearances. In 1958, he not only led the team in assists but also set a franchise record with 21 assists in a single game, a mark that stood for 50 years until Chris Duhon surpassed it with 22 in 2008. To this day, Guerin remains second on the Knicks’ all-time single-game assists leaderboard.

Guerin wasn’t only a phenomenal passer; he was also a remarkable shooter, once scoring 57 points in a single game. This high-scoring affair in 1958 stood as another Knicks record until Bernard King’s 60-point outburst in 1984. Guerin remains fourth on the Knicks’ all-time list of single-game scoring performances, in addition to becoming the first Knick to ever score 2,000 points in a single season.

#11 Jalen Brunson — WWIB #11 featured one of our deepest lists of star players fans could vote on, and it was one of the most voted on numbers out of the entire series. Pitted up against Jamal Crawford, Harry Gallatin, Derek Harper, Rod Strickland, and Bob McAdoo, Brunson received 56% of the 196 votes.

Since Who Really Wore It Best #11 was first released in January 2024, Brunson has only strengthened his already impressive résumé. He has earned two All-Star selections, solidified his role as team captain, and made the selfless decision to take a pay cut to help the organization build a stronger roster around him.

Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images

Since joining the team in 2022, Brunson has become the face of a franchise looking to reach its first Finals appearance this millennium and capture its first championship since 1973. Over the past two-and-a-half years as a Knick, Brunson has averaged 22.3 points and 6.2 assists per game. Last season, he averaged a career-high 29 points and finished 5th in MVP voting.

Along with Josh Hart, the two “Roommates” helped lead the Knicks to back-to-back Eastern Conference Semifinals appearances, coming within just one game of the Conference Finals last season. As the current 3rd seed in the East, the Knicks, with Brunson at the helm, look to surpass last season’s disappointing finish and earn their first ECF appearance since 1999.

I know most will lean toward voting for Brunson—it’s hard not to, as Brunson is the Knicks' current leader, and many readers are too young to have parents who have seen Guerin play. But when you place the two side by side and compare their numbers and career accomplishments, in my humble opinion, the edge goes to Guerin.

If others share a similar sentiment, we could see a strong contender for the Great Debate Finals get knocked out in the first round.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...blue-best-9-richie-guerin-vs-11-jalen-brunson

 

[New York Knicks]

Has this much maligned bench player finally turned a corner?

Photo by Grant Burke/NBAE via Getty Images

The now 28-year old has turned it around, and has been one of the most productive players on the team this month

Landry Shamet started his Knicks tenure as badly as anyone could. After winning over Tom Thibodeau and playing more and better than expected in the preseason, he suffered a dislocated right shoulder and was cut soon after. And when he recovered and finally returned to the team, he was, more often than not, bad. The Knicks’ lack of depth didn’t do Shamet any favors, as he was asked to play more than he likely should’ve been playing. And the ensuing results were difficult to watch.

His effort on the defensive end was commendable, but he’s an undersized wing who isn’t particularly athletic, and it left fans wanting more from the backup veteran. But fans could’ve put up with his mediocre, and at times, even good, defense if his shot was falling. Unfortunately for him, the Knicks, and the fans, though, it was not. The former first-round pick, who came into the league as a shooter, struggled mightily from downtown, shooting just 29% from three over his first 19 games of the season. That, combined with his inability to get his own shot or create for others, made him relatively useless on that end of the floor.

But for a couple of weeks now, Shamet has been the kind of serviceable wing everyone has clamored for. He admittedly still falls a bit short (no pun intended) of being the ideal piece that this team needs on the bench. He isn’t going to get any bigger. His shooting, despite being better as of late, could revert to being inconsistent. And his defense is good, but it won’t reach an elite level. But he’s come a long way from being the barely playable backup whose minutes were so often difficult to put up with.

In his last 13 games, Shamet is averaging 5.6PPG, which isn’t particularly impressive, but he has shot 54.7% from the field and, more importantly, 41.4% from three on just over two attempts per game, all while remaining an above-average defender. And in March, to the surprise of many, it’s not Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, or Mikal Bridges who is tied with Deuce McBride for the highest net rating on the team. That honor goes to, yup, you guessed it, Shamet. The journeyman also ranks 20th in the league in defensive rating among players who average 15 or more minutes per game.

When Shamet, who celebrated his 28th birthday on Thursday, spoke to the media earlier this week, he spoke about feeling good, saying, “Yeah, knock on wood. I’m in a good spot,”. He also continued to talk about feeling the urgency heading into the final stretch, saying, “I think all of us collectively are gearing up for this last stretch. There’s been a heightened sense of urgency from all of us to get going. So kind of knowing what we have coming down the stretch, getting some things cleaned up and just trying do whatever— all of us do what’s asked of us to put us in a good situation.”

This isn’t to propose that Shamet is some secret weapon that the Knicks have. He’s still somewhat limited in what he can do, he likely won’t play big minutes come playoff time, and he won’t be putting up any eye-popping numbers. But given how loud everybody, including myself, was about his poor play to start his season, he deserves some recognition for turning it around and finding some semblance of a rhythm. If he can continue to knock down open threes and defend the way he has for the majority of his Knicks tenure, then the Knicks may have themselves a serviceable, and at times, even good, rotational piece.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...maligned-bench-player-finally-turned-a-corner

 

[New York Knicks]

Game Preview: Knicks at Warriors, March 15, 2025

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

New York hopes to wrap up a challenging west coast run with a win against the rising Warriors.

The New York Knicks (42-23) wrap up their five-game road trip tonight against the Golden State Warriors (38-28) at Chase Center. The Warriors have won six straight and are surging behind a red-hot stretch, while the Knicks are looking to close out their trip with a statement win.

Golden State enters as 6.5-point favorites, riding a 9-1 run over their last ten games, and winning 15 of their last 20. The surge is fueled in part by the addition of Jimmy Butler, while Stephen Curry remains a dangerous sniper on the perimeter. Curry just hit another impressive milestone, draining his 4,000th career three-pointer.

For the Knicks, this game marks the end of a tough road stretch where they’ve gone 2-2 so far. They’re coming off a thrilling 114-113 overtime win in Portland, capped by Mikal Bridges’ buzzer-beating three. Again, they will be without the services of their injured captain, Jalen Brunson, and Delon Wright is questionable due to illness.

Curry, Butler, and Moses Moody will lead the charge for Golden State, while the Knicks will lean on Karl-Anthony Towns, Bridges, and OG Anunoby. The Warriors love to let it fly, ranking third in the league in three-point attempts per game, while the Knicks’ defense against the three-ball has been shaky—they rank 29th in opponent three-point percentage. That could be an issue against the Warrior’s shooters.

The two clubs faced off just 11 days ago. New York had a halftime lead, but were outscored 67-47 in the second half to lose the game 114-102. Curry cooked them from deep, making five of nine, and finishing with 28 points. Fellow guard Brandin Podziemski had the second-highest gamescore for the Dubs and added 19 points, but will miss tonight’s game with a back issue. For New York, OG Anunoby led the scoresheet with 29 points, followed by Brunson’s 25.

Prediction​

ESPN.com favors the home team by 65%. That’s reasonable, given that the Warriors are cruising and the Knicks, without Brunson, are wrapping up five-game road trip. A clash of contrasting styles, playoff positioning on the line, and some big names ready to go at it—this one should be fun if the wings have the juice to clamp down the perimeter. Look for the Knicks to give a good effort but falter down the stretch..

Game Details​

Teams: New York Knicks at Golden State Warriors

Location: Chase Center, San Francisco, CA

Date and Time: Saturday, March 15, 2025, 8:30 PM ET

Broadcast: ABC

Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/2025/3/15/24386459/game-preview-knicks-at-warriors-march-15-2025

 

[New York Knicks]

Warriors 97, Knicks 94: “Warriors defense is playoff ready”

Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images

Knicks battle, but Warriors hold on for the win in defensive slugfest

Coming into tonight, the Golden State Warriors had gone 13-1 in games Jimmy Butler played. Make it 14. Without their captain, Jalen Brunson, the New York Knicks (42-24) battled for a full 48 minutes, but the home team (39-28) held on for a 97-94 win at the Chase Center.

Quoth DeuceJuice: “Warriors defense is playoff ready.” True—but credit the Knicks’ defense as well, particularly Deuce McBride and OG Anunoby. After a 32-31 first quarter, neither team topped 22 points in a single frame.

Karl-Anthony Towns led all scorers with 29 points and 12 rebounds. He took a beating but never backed down, even with five fouls hanging over him. Anunoby added 20 points, nine boards, three steals, and a block. McBride and Mikal Bridges each finished with 19 points.

But the player Knicks fans will be talking about tomorrow? Josh Hart. Despite logging seven rebounds, seven assists, a steal, and a block, he put up a goose egg, going 0-of-7 from the field. In the fourth quarter, he and Tom Thibodeau had a heated exchange during a timeout. There’s a clip somewhere in all those words below. What do you make of it? Just passions boiling over, or a harbinger of changes to come?

All in all, after losing their leader in the first game of this trip, the Knicks wrapped up a grueling five-game road stretch with a 2-3 record. Given the circumstances, that’s hardly a disappointment.

First Half​

When these two teams last met, Karl-Anthony Towns was absent due to the death of a friend. On his next podcast, Draymond Green claimed Towns had skipped the game to avoid Jimmy Butler—an accusation that was both tone-deaf and ridiculous. As if to make a statement, Towns opened the game by scoring the Knicks’ first six points, all at the rim, and largely at Green’s expense. By the end of the first quarter, Towns had logged 11 points and five rebounds in just eight minutes. So much for being skeered.

11 PTS for @karltowns pic.twitter.com/lsExXNzuWE

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 16, 2025​

Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby were especially sharp for our heroes, combining for 15 first-quarter points and six boards.

Golden State relied on their usual game plan, with six of their 11 made field goals coming from deep—as expected from a team ranking third in three-point attempts. Five Warriors logged at least five points in the opening frame, and Butler banked a buzzer-beater to give them a 32-31 lead.

The home team opened the second quarter with a 7-2 run, pushing their lead to six. Towns collected his third foul at the eight-minute mark, prompting heckling from Green. Draymond displayed all the traits of a phony tough guy, jawing at Towns without looking him in the eye. Before he retires, someone needs to treat Draymond to a proper hockey fight.

Karl-Anthony Towns and Draymond Green get into after Towns picks up the foul on Green! pic.twitter.com/ImU324mGMm

— Knicks Fan TV (@KnicksFanTv) March 16, 2025​

With Towns on the bench, New York kept the score tight, never allowing Golden State to pull ahead by more than six. Midway through the quarter, a lineup of Miles McBride, Bridges, Josh Hart, Precious Achiuwa, and Mitchell Robinson crashed the boards but struggled to convert those rebounds into points. Robinson, panting after running the floor, was called “gassed” by Doris Burke on the broadcast. She wasn’t lying.

New York’s defensive pressure ramped up, forcing six Warriors turnovers in the quarter. Meanwhile, McBride caught fire, reaching 13 points by intermission. A low-scoring second period, won 22-19 by the Warriors, brought the halftime total to 54-50.

beautiful ball movement + @deucemcb11 puts it away pic.twitter.com/g5d54F3cSt

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 16, 2025​

By the break, Golden State had shot 8-of-23 from deep, while New York had gone 5-of-11. Otherwise, the two teams were neck and neck across the stat sheet—rebounds, points in the paint, turnovers, steals, blocks, fouls, etc. Would the Knicks sustain their defensive intensity and keep Towns out of foul trouble so he can keep stacking points in the second half?

Second Half​

Led by KAT and OG, New York kept up their tough play after the break, but a pair of drilled threes from Stephen Curry pushed the Dubs’ lead to nine.

All of the Knicks’ starters hit double figures in scoring—except for Josh Hart, who remained ice-cold. Through three quarters, he had missed all five of his shots and was still scoreless. Maybe he doesn’t

Meanwhile, McBride continued to play at full throttle, stuffing Curry on defense, wrestling him into a jump ball, and soaring in for a putback dunk. His energy helped the Knicks chip away at the deficit. After another grind-it-out quarter, which New York edged 22-21, Golden State took a 75-72 lead into the final frame.

deuce with the putback pic.twitter.com/17JeANlqDC

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 16, 2025​

In the fourth, bricks by Hart, Cameron Payne, Anunoby, and Towns let the Warriors mount a 7-0 run and go up by nine. During the timeout, Thibs and Hart got into a screaming match. We were feeling pretty frustrated with him, too, coach. Any lip-readers out there want to caption Thibs? Note: P.J. Tucker steps in to calm Josh, giving more evidence to my pet theory that the vet was signed to mentor Josh.

Thibs and Hart get into it on the sidelines pic.twitter.com/bdmSbALjon

— KNICKS BEAST (@KnicksBeast) March 16, 2025​

Towns was getting hammered on play after play, but his contributions in the net and on the glass cut the differential to just two points going into crunch time. Anunoby and Deuce continued to torment Golden State’s ballhandlers, Hart continued to corral loose balls, and when Bridges swished a fadeaway jumper, New York had a tie.

@karltowns pic.twitter.com/6eE2L2Ysvi

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 16, 2025​

With a minute remaining, the visitors trailed by two when Towns fouled Green, who made both freebies. 10 seconds later, McBride had his pocket picked by Gary Payton II, which resulted in a Green layup. How ironically fitting that this trash-talking lowlife drove the nails in New York’s coffin. . . . Great effort by our heroes tonight. Let’s go to bed.

Up Next​

Home again, home again. For one game at least. The Knicks host the Heat at the Mecca on Monday and then jet off to San Antonio. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.

Box Score

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...7-knicks-94-warriors-defense-is-playoff-ready

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks Bulletin: ‘Aw, yeah. I love Josh, you guys know that’

Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images

Loss on the court, heated exchange off of it. Those were your Saturday Knicks.

The Dubs got the dub on Saturday, beating the Knicks 97-94 in a low-scoring affair that concluded (thank God) New York’s five-game West Coast trip.

The Knicks did what they could without Jalen Brunson—now expected to remain sidelined through March if not longer—but New York just didn’t have enough.

Here’s what Coach Thibs and a few other Knickerbockers and Warriors said after yesterday’s game.

Hart also said “I love Thibs” and said you won’t find a more loyal player to him. Said it was the frustrations of a poor game coming out in the moment. Hart and Thibs are close. They also bicker sometimes. Just two extremely competitive dudes. Nothing to see here, in my opinion. https://t.co/t0ONlP63td

— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) March 16, 2025​

Tom Thibodeau​

On his sideline exchange with Josh Hart:

“Aw, yeah—I love Josh, you guys know that. Just whatever can get us going, just try to get us going.”

On whether it was just a passionate moment:

“Yeah, that’s it.”

On debating whether to leave Towns in the game as he got into foul trouble:

“Once you get three, the way we were matching up with them, I didn’t want him to get that fourth one. Because I knew we needed his offense, and so sometimes you roll the dice on that.”

On learning to win without Jalen Brunson:

“We’re learning. As I said when Jalen went down, you’re not replacing Jalen individually. We have to do it collectively.”

On the challenge of building chemistry with a near-new team following last offseason moves:

“I think everyone’s race is different. So everyone has to run their own race. You look at your team and you have to analyze what the strengths and weaknesses are, and then you build your plan around that.

“I think going into the season, if you have a new team, the challenge is how quickly can you get everyone onto the same team. If you’re in [Golden State’s] position where you’ve had the core of the team together, there’s different challenges with that as well.

“Whatever your race is, study it, prepare for it.”

On Karl-Anthony Towns’ career and fit with the Knicks:

“I think when you look at his career, he’s had a terrific career. He was winning at a high level. I think as a league, everyone was moving to the skilled five at that position.

“There’s not, I don’t think, in my opinion, a more skilled center than he is, in terms of his ability to score at all three levels. And then his passing ability on top of that, and he’s always been an elite rebounder.

“I think along with his experience, each year in Minnesota he got better. And he sacrificed a lot. When they traded for Rudy [Gobert], he moved to the power forward position and then they got Anthony Edwards, he adapted to that as well. They got to the Western Conference Finals because of his willingness to sacrifice and put the team first, so I thought that would be a good fit for us.”

On Jimmy Butler’s impact on the Warriors’ season outlook:

“I don’t know if it’s the playoffs or, I think that’s who Jimmy is. Jimmy is a fierce competitor. I always felt that was his biggest strength was his competitiveness and his brain.

“And obviously you can’t do the things that he’s done without a lot of talent. But I think that drive, and he’s got great balance to his game, but he reads the game extremely well.

“I think any time you have a player like that, that’s what the playoffs are. You have to have the ability to think on your feet. You’re playing the same opponent, oftentimes, seven-straight times, so you have to be able to make adjustments and read. That’s what I think he’s great at.”

Thibs & Josh Hart go at it during time out

"Thibs loves Josh Hart"
– Mike Breen

"That is 100 percent normal"
– Richard Jefferson pic.twitter.com/XUBiKTCIS3

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) March 16, 2025​

Josh Hart​

On the importance of patience and continuity:

“I think (teams need time to build chemistry). Obviously, there’s been teams where they’ve been together a while.

“Boston, they’ve been together for several years. They’ve made a couple of trades, but they were in their window the last couple of years. They made progress, obviously small tweaks to add to the roster.

“Sometimes it takes time. We’re in a generation now where everybody wants it now, now, now.”

"Karl had a great game"

– Draymond Green after he & the Warriors beat Karl-Anthony Towns and the Knicks 97-94

KAT left the court quickly while Draymond embraced several Knicks including Mikal Bridges & PJ Tucker pic.twitter.com/8R2zad4Uo6

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) March 16, 2025​

Karl-Anthony Towns​

On setting the tone against Draymond Green:

“Hell yeah, [I wanted to set the tone]. You want to help your team win. So wanted to bring that energy to the team, especially early in the game. Just was trying to do that to impact winning.”

On keeping focus amidst off-court distractions following Green’s comments:

“Nah, I’m keeping it about the New York Knicks. It’s not about anything off the court. It’s about the Knicks.”

On the Knicks’ roster depth and having enough to contend:

“I think we have a lot of talent on this team from top to bottom, not just the starting five but all the way to—we would like to say the deep bench, but I don’t look at us like that.

“So we got a bunch of talent. We got a great bunch of [guys]. So we have an opportunity to do something special, and it’s up to us to grasp that opportunity, take it and run with it.”

Shams: "Sources tell me…minimum return timeframe for Jalen Brunson…thru late March, early April…It will be a few more weeks away" pic.twitter.com/U61xr7WpU2

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) March 16, 2025​

Shams Charania (NBA Insider)​

On Brunson’s expected return:

“Sources tell me that it’s more of a three-to-four week minimum return timeline for Jalen Brunson. That sidelines him through late March or early April.

“The key for the Knicks and Jalen Brunson is keeping that swelling down in that ankle, getting it lower, and increasing the mobility in that ankle.”

Draymond: "Good to see KAT show up & play like that…Probably most physical I've ever seen…Extra motivation…Saw his answer to y'all…fed into what everybody was saying…If it forces a guy to play hard…great. I ain't never seen him willing to talk…fun…He had really good game" pic.twitter.com/wagq4rjqMO

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) March 16, 2025​

Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors Player)​

On Towns’ fourth-quarter performance:

“He had everything going inside. Missed a couple jumpers. I think I got away with a couple cause I left him open. Thank God he missed them.”

On Towns’ physicality:

“It was good to see KAT show up and play like that. Physical. Probably the most physical I’ve seen him play.”

On enjoying the battle with Towns on Saturday:

“I like battles. I’ve never seen him willing to talk. So I enjoyed that. That was fun. He had a really good game.”

Steph Curry's assessment on Draymond's "night night" celebration

"He's evolved his version of it... He's softened it a little bit. He's brought it down to where a pillow's supposed to be... I'm giving that a solid A- effort on the night night tonight. That was beautiful." pic.twitter.com/jIzKlwmRjn

— KNBR (@KNBR) March 16, 2025​

Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors Player)​

On Draymond Green’s reinterpretation of the night-night celebration:

“He’s evolved his version of it. He’s softened it a little bit. He’s brought it down to where a pillow’s supposed to be. I’m giving that a solid A– effort on the night night tonight.

“That was beautiful.”

"We just a bunch of dogs…Ain't nothing like playing in New York, in the Mecca of Basketball, MSG…We bouta turn up"

–– St John's RJ Luis
Big East Player of the Year
Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player
Big East Championpic.twitter.com/cemQSUQump

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) March 16, 2025​

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...lletin-aw-yeah-i-love-josh-you-guys-know-that

 

[New York Knicks]

Game Thread: Knicks at Warriors, March 15, 2025

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

New York seeks to close out their five-game West Coast trek with a win.

The Golden State Warriors (38-28) host the New York Knicks (42-23) tonight in the last of New York’s five-game West Coast trip. Golden State, led by Stephen Curry (24.3 PPG, 6.1 APG), thrives on three-point shooting, averaging 15.4 makes per game, while New York does more of its damage inside. The Warriors, now with Jimmy Butler, have won nine of their last ten games.

Tonight’s tip off is 8:30 p.m. EST on ABC. This is your game thread. This is Golden State of Mind. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Treat each other respectfully. And go Knicks!

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/2025/3/15/24385721/game-thread-knicks-at-warriors-march-15-2025

 

[New York Knicks]

Game Preview: Knicks vs Heat, March 17, 2025

Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images

Karl-Anthony Towns leads Knicks against a Miami team desperate for a win.

Tonight at MSG, the New York Knicks (42-24) take on a struggling Miami Heat (29-38) squad riding a seven-game skid. New York has tallied a 28-13 record against the Eastern Conference but is just .500 against teams above .500. Miami, meanwhile, has had several problems to overcome this season, including injuries and Jimmy Butler.

With Jalen Brunson recovering from an ankle sprain, Karl-Anthony Towns is the de facto team leader. He continues to be a force for the Knicks, averaging a 24-point, 13-rebound double-double this season. OG Anunoby has stepped up over the last 10 games, too, but Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart have been inconsistent without their Villanova brother at the helm.

Tyler Herro (24 points, six assists) and Bam Adebayo (18 points, 10 boards) lead the Heat, but their offense has otherwise sputtered, averaging just 105.1 points over their last 10 games.

The Knicks have won both times they’ve faced Pat Riley’s crew this season, once in October and again just 15 days ago. In the latter game, the Knicks edged out the Heat in a thriller, pulling off a 116-112 overtime win. Jalen Brunson led the charge with 31 points and six assists, and OG Anunoby had a fantastic game, logging 23 points, nine rebounds, five assists, three blocks, and two steals. Plus, he made 4-of-9 from deep and logged a team-high defensive rating of 104. On Miami’s side, Bam Adebayo scored 30 points and seven rebounds; Tyler Herro added 22 while missing nine shots from deep; and rookie Kel’el Ware recorded 12 points, eight rebounds, and six blocks

The Heat will play tonight without Dru Smith (out for the season, achilles) and Nikola Jovic (hand), while OAKAAKUYOAK Alec Burks is listed as day-to-day (back). Their starting line-up is expected to feature Herro and Duncan Robinson in the backcourt and Adebayo in the front with Ware (the rookie who played so well against New York last time out). Andrew Wiggins should make the start, but a lower-leg injury has him flagged as questionable.

Prediction​

ESPN.com picks New York to win at 75%—as they should. However, our heroes are coming off a five-game road grind; they are still getting acclimated to life without their captain, Jalen Brunson; and they did not defeat the Heat convincingly the last time out. They had to outscore Miami 60-43 in the second half to force overtime. Oh, sure, they will win tonight—but victory might require more effort than it should, especially if Herro and Robinson make their shots. Prediction: our heroes fall behind for stretches, pull it together in the final frame, and win by +5.

Game Details​

Teams: New York Knicks vs Miami Heat

Location: Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, NY

Date and Time: Monday, March 17, 2025, 7:30 PM ET

Broadcast: ESPN

Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/2025/3/17/24387764/game-preview-knicks-vs-heat-march-17-2025

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks 116, Heat 95: Scenes from New York winning the culture war

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

Hart ties Frazier’s triple-double record as Knicks overcome groady start to steamroll Miami.

The New York Knicks (43-24) were favored to win when they hosted the Miami Heat (29-39) tonight at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks had won both of their previous match-ups, and the Heat had lost seven straight. If you only caught the first quarter, you might not believe it, but New York did indeed put the Floridians in a stranglehold after that and collected the win, 116-95.

A game that saw Josh Hart record his eighth triple-double of the campaign (tying Walt Frazier’s single-season Knicks’ record) started uhhh-gly for our heroes. The Heat owned the paint and hit big shots from deep. The Knicks played sloppy, coughed up possessions, and got blocked left and right. They could barely scrape together 18 first-quarter points, while Miami racked up 29. Yeesh.

In the second frame, the Knicks clawed back. Karl-Anthony Towns caught fire, hitting 15 consecutive points en route to totals of 23 points and seven rebounds.

EVERY ONE OF KAT'S FIFTEEN CONSECUTIVE POINTS pic.twitter.com/rgAHEg07xc

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 18, 2025​

OG Anunoby finished the night with nine points on 3-of-13 shooting, but he made some big plays to help rally the club. Finally getting into a groove, New York cut into their deficit by forcing turnovers and attacking the rim. A Duncan Robinson three kept the Heat ahead, but New York was right there, down 49–47 at the half. Robinson would lead his team with 22 points, thanks to five triples.

Building off their strong second quarter, New York blew the game open in the third and scored 41 points. It was Mikal Bridges’ turn to pile on the points, and his 15 points in the frame matched Miami’s total output. Bridges finished the night with 28 points on 10-of-14 shooting in one of his finer offensive performances of the season.

In support, Josh Hart packed his stats, and Mitchell dominated the glass (10 points and nine rebounds for the big fella tonight!). Miami had no answers. Turnovers piled up for the Heat—eight in the quarter—and New York ran wild in transition. A Landry Shamet triple capped a monster quarter, and the Knicks carried an 88-64 lead into the fourth.

Landry Shamet closes out a 41-15 third quarter for the Knicks!!

4Q coming up on ESPN pic.twitter.com/4eAH0EphsR

— NBA (@NBA) March 18, 2025​

The fourth quarter was smooth sailing, with early appearances by Tyler Kolek, Pacome Dadiet, and Anton Watson. What a reversal from the opening of this one—and what a treat to see Miami lose eight straight times for the first time in Eric Spoelstra’s coaching career.

Up Next​

Professor Miranda is sharpening his pencils and preparing your proper recap. Meanwhile, back-to-back games are upcoming—the first in San Antonio on Wednesday, and then another in Charlotte on Thursday. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.

Box Score

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...-scenes-from-new-york-winning-the-culture-war

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks players’ best March Madness games

Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images

Nostalgia, ultra.

With Selection Sunday behind us, and the NCAA tournament starting tonight, we take a look at the best games from every player on the current roster.

Jalen Brunson - 3/23/2018 vs. West Virginia (Sweet 16)​

The two time national champion had his share of incredible games while at Villanova, but only a few stand out more than his masterpiece performance against West Virginia.

The eventual national player of the year winner scored 27-points, which is tied for the fifth most points during his collegiate career, while shooting 8-15 from the field, 3-6 from three, and 8-9 from the free throw line. Villanova did end up winning by 12 points, which was tied for their smallest margin of victory all tournament long, but they lead by just one at halftime, and needed Brunson’s standout game to help catapult them to the elite eight.

Karl-Anthony Towns - 3/28/15 vs. Notre Dame (Elite 8)​

In his lone year at Kentucky, Towns failed to put up the kind of eye popping stats that some other prospects register, as he averaged just 9.7PPG, and 6.6RPG in the regular season. But when the NCAA tournament rolled around, Towns looked like he had started to put it together.

After scoring going the whole regular season, and conference tournament without scoring 20 or more points once, Towns scored 21 points, and 25 points in a four-game span-the latter of which is my pick for his best game as a Wildcat. His 21-point game, which also included 11 rebounds, and three blocks may look like a better overall stat line than his 25-point, five rebound, four assist, three turnover game. But the 21-point game came in the first round of the tournament, in a game where they played a 17-18 Hampton team, and won by 23-points. His 25-point game though, came in a two-point victory against a very good Notre Dame team in the elite eight.

Given the higher stakes, and the better competition, it is Towns’ most impressive game of not just his March Madness career, but his college career.

OG Anunoby - 3/17/16 vs. Chattanooga (Round of 64)​

Anunoby played in just three NCAA tournament games, so it was pretty easy to pick his “best” game. His first NCAA tournament game, which came against Chattanooga in the round of 64, saw him score 14 points on an efficient 6-7 from the field and 2-2 from three.

Seeing as he scored just seven points, and two points in his lone two tournament games following that one, it’s safe to say that was by far his best game during March Madness.

Mikal Bridges - 3/17/18 vs. Alabama (Round of 32)​

Bridges, like his current, and college teammate Brunson, had a nice, and long college career that saw him have multiple big games, so there were a few contenders but his best tournament game was a pretty clear one. It came against a ninth-seeded Alabama team that was lead by eventual lottery pick, Collin Sexton, who scored 17-points.

Villanova, who only saw two players score more than 15 points, won by 13 points, thanks in large part to Bridges, who the team relied heavily on. When it was all set and done, the wing scored 23 points on 7-16 shooting.

Josh Hart - 4/2/2016 vs. Oklahoma (Final Four)​

After losing to a Buddy Hield-lead Oklahoma team 78-55 during the regular season, Villanova’s tournament rematch against them drew a lot of attention. And Hart, and his Villanova teammates got their sweet revenge in the final four.

In the 44-point annihilation of the Big 12 powerhouse, Hart scored a game-high 23 points, grabbed eight rebounds, dished out eight assists, and recorded two steals while shooting 10-12 from the field. In true Hart fashion, it wasn’t always pretty but he was everywhere, and just outhustled everyone, and it was an outright dominating performance from the third-year player.

Deuce McBride - 3/19/21 vs. Morehead State (Round of 64)​

McBride’s best NCAA tournament game may be better than any other Knicks’. In his first tournament game, McBride lead West Virginia to an emphatic 84-67 win by scoring 30 points, grabbing six rebounds, dishing out six assists, and recording two steals.

McBride showed off his athleticism, and mid range jump shot on multiple occasions and was the best player on the floor and it wasn’t particularly close.

Landry Shamet - 3/19/17 vs. Kentucky (Round of 32)​

Shamet may play limited minutes now, and isn’t thought of as someone who puts up noteworthy stats, but the veteran wing had himself a very nice three-year college career in which he averaged 12.9PPG, 3RPG, and 4.1APG. That career was highlighted by his a very strong senior year where he 20 or more points seven times.

His best tournament game came during his junior year when he scored 20 points on 7-14 shooting against a very good Kentucky team in the round of 32. Shamet his a deep three with 55 seconds left to bring Wichita State within one but they ultimately ended up falling just short.

Cameron Payne - 4/4/14 vs. Yale (Finals)*​

This one comes with a bit of an asterisk as Murray State never made the big dance during his tenure there. But in his two year collegiate career, Payne had some big games in the CollegeInsider.Com Postseason Tournament. In five of his eight tournament games, Payne scored 20 or more points, with his best game coming in the championship game against Yale during his freshman year.

The starting guard tallied 24 points, seven rebounds, six assists, two steals, and two blocks, while shooting 8-16 from the field to lead Murray State to a 65-57 win over Yale. His 24 points was tied for the fourth highest scoring game of his freshman season, and tied for the 10th highest scoring game of his college career.

Tyler Kolek - 3/24/24 vs. Colorado (Round of 32)​

Kolek’s NCAA tournament career started off ominously. After transferring to Maquette his sophomore year, Kolek got his first taste of the tournament, but was eliminated in the first round after scoring just three points and dishing out 10 assists in a lopsided 32-point loss to the eventual champions, the University of North Carolina. In his third season, and second trip to the big dance, things weren’t too much better. Marquette did manage to make it out of the first round, but Kolek recorded just 15 points, and nine assists over the two games, before bowing out to Michigan State University in the round of 32.

As a senior though, Kolek turned it around, leading Marquette to the sweet 16, and averaging 18.7PPG, 8.3APG, and 7RPG while shooting 57.5% from the field. The best game of that run, and his NCAA tournament career has to be his second round performance against Colorado where he recorded 21 points, 11 assists, and five rebounds in the narrow four-point win. Throughout most of the game, Kolek looked poised and under control, and made really sound decisions as the orchestrator of the offense.

Making this performance even more impressive was his floater to put Marquette up by three with just under 55 seconds to go.

PJ Tucker - 3/19/06 vs. NC State (Round of 32)​

Tucker, who is both the newestand the oldest Knick, played two seasons at Texas, where he played in four NCAA tournament games- the best of which came against NC State in the round of 32.

Tucker scored 17 points, and grabbed 11 rebounds, four of them offensive, while recording two steals and shooting 7-14 from the field. Tucker’s 17 was tied with teammate and eventual NBA starter Daniel Gibson.

Anton Watson - 3/23/24 vs. Kansas (Round of 32)​

Watson played 151 games during his career at Gonzaga and he saved some of his best for his last NCAA tournament run. Despite only scoring more than 21 points three times before his final tournament appearance, Watson scored 21 points, and grabbed six rebounds in a 21-point blowout victory over Kansas in the round of 32. The big man’s 21 points, which came on a very efficient 8-11 from the field, was the highest of the game.

You’ll notice that there are a few names missing. Mitchell Robinson, Precious Achiuwa, Ariel Hukporti, and MaJon Beauchamp all didn’t play in an NCAA tournament for one reason or another. Robinson committed to Western Kentucky University but left and dedicated the 17-18 season to training on his own. Achiuwa played one year at Memphis, but he didn’t appear in any postseason tournament games. Hukporti didn’t attend university in the states. And Beauchamp played one year at Yakima Valley College, where he averaged 30.7PPG, 10.5RPG, and 4.8APG, but they aren’t a Division 1 college.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/2025/3/18/24388513/knicks-players-best-march-madness-games

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks 116, Heat 95: “The Heat suk”

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The missing “c” represents competence. Of which Miami has none.

The New York Knicks kicked some ass all over Madison Square Garden last night, beating the Miami Heat 116-95 to sweep the season series. The last time the Knicks did that, Charles Smith was a forward, not a flashback; the only current Knicks who’d been born were P.J. Tucker and Delon Wright. With the win New York lowered its magic number to clinch the third seed to 10.

Did you know the Leon Rose/Tom Thibodeau Knicks have never reached the playoffs without a starter either being out hurt or injury-compromised? In 2021 Mitchell Robinson’s absence turned Clint Capela into what Tyson Chandler turned Roy Hibbert into in 2012. Two years ago Julius Randle gamely fought through multiple ankle injuries over two rounds; last year the postseason opened with Randle lost to a separated shoulder and quickly became a George Romero zombie movie, with only one or two people surviving to the end in a world without hope.

Is this year shaping up the same, only different? And by “different” maybe “better”?

The Captain is now the late-season casualty, but as Geoff Rasmussen has written, the loss of Jalen Brunson could be a blessing in disguise, with last night an example. The first quarter ended with the visitors up 11. In the second, Karl-Anthony Towns put up a solo 15-0 run; in the third, it was Mikal Bridges scoring 15 in the frame. By the fourth the Knicks were up as many as 27 (not that you could tell by how late Tom Thibodeau had Towns in the game). Yes, the Heat are a floating tire fire, starless and purposeless for the first time since . . . ?

So to summarize the state of the Heat... - lost 8 straight for the first time since 2008 & first time under Spoelstra - lost 4 straight by double-digits for the first time since 2016 - 18 blown double-digit leads, tied for most in the NBA - 4-15 since the Butler trade

— Keerthika Uthayakumar (@keerthikau.bsky.social) 2025-03-18T02:13:38.661Z

But for any team to pull off a 40-point swing over three quarters, particularly without their main engine, is impressive. If Brunson does return for the playoffs, Milwaukee, Indiana or Detroit will make harassing him plans A, B and C. The Knicks will not only need other guys to score, they’ll need them to create.

Thus it was meaningful seeing Towns remember that he’s 84 inches tall, and that he’s not only allowed to post people up, he’s quite good at it. KAT struggled with his shot against Bam Adebayo, missing five of six shots. It happens. The 9-of-11 he shot against the rest of the Heat illustrated the depths to which South Beach has sunk. Miami’s defense needs Adebayo to play cornerback and safety, shutting down his man while being available to help everyone else’s with theirs. Kel’el Ware is a promising prospect, but for now too green for a team that deep in the red. Quoth heatforlife: “The Heat suk.” They left out the “c,” perhaps in honor of their team having no O, little D and no one worthy of the captain’s C.

Mikal Bridges has clinched about five wins already this year with late-game defensive plays and drilled a buzzer-beater, and yet if he saw an infant in a stroller about to be hit by a car and pushed the child out of harm’s way there’d be Knicks fans griping that he didn’t push more gently. Perhaps that’s the price you pay when the price you cost is five first-round picks and you’ve yet to earn any postseason capital with your new team. But don’t get it twisted: Josh Hart can put up triple-doubles every day between now and the season finale, and OG Anunoby is an invaluable weapon to have come game 83 and beyond, but if the Knicks are going to upset Boston or Cleveland it’s going to be because someone besides Brunson and Towns raised questions those teams couldn’t answer. If anyone else is gonna do that, it’s Bridges.

So maybe Brunson’s absence is an unexpected gift. The Knicks have held steady since, while the Bucks and Pacers failed to make up ground; New York’s playoff positioning seems secure. If Thibs ever did lead the Knicks to a title, he’d still have them back at practice the day after the parade, so was there really any chance of the team learning to expand beyond “Go on, Jalen, do all the offense” as long as Brunson was available? If he hadn’t sprained his ankle in L.A. he pro’ly would’ve averaged 36 a game the past couple weeks, the Knicks would be exactly where they are in the East, Bridges would still be averaging around 17 a game instead of the nearly 23 he has since, and they’d likely wait to brainstorm adjustments on the fly during the playoffs.

Instead, they have weeks of relatively low-stakes games to experiment. The Knicks are like a couple of virgins who were waiting till marriage to do anything physical, but are now marooned for a few weeks on a remote island. If when they’re rescued it turns out they still haven’t tested any boundaries . . . well, you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it kink.

Get kinky, Knicks! The schedule remains friendly for a bit: a two-game road trip to the Wemby-less Spurs and hapless, hopeless Hornets, then five out of six at home with four against losing teams. Don’t let Towns go another month or two thinking all he’s allowed to do is drive or spot-up. Don’t let Brunson’s eventual return mean you fall back into a rut — and yes, if fiftysomething wins and being elite on one side of the ball is a rut, it’s a comfortable rut compared to most we’ve seen ‘round here. But what Knicks fans want to see more than anything are signs that this year, this team, is different. Sweeping Miami is a small step in that direction, but small like a truffle: tasty, rich and complex. Hopefully last night was only an appetizer.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/2025/3/18/24388565/knicks-116-heat-95-the-heat-suk

 

[New York Knicks]

Game Preview: Knicks at Spurs, March 19, 2025

Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

Two teams dealing with major injuries, headed in different directions, clash for the second and final time this year

Following a five-game West Coast road trip, the Knicks played just one game back home, which ended up being a much-needed victory over the Heat. Now, they have to fly back out to face off against the Spurs in San Antonio. The good news, though, is that they’ll be heavily favored in tonight’s matchup against a struggling Spurs team that has lost 23 of its last 33 games.

The Spurs did look really solid at times earlier this season, building off of Wembanyama’s rookie season, incorporating veteran point guard Chris Paul, and utilizing a deep team that included names like Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan, and Devin Vassell. They then made a splash during the trade deadline by acquiring De’Aaron Fox, and some thought that they had the potential to make a push for one of the play-in spots. Since then, though, they have lost both Fox and Victor Wembanyama to season-ending injuries and have sputtered. While they have solid wins against teams like the Grizzlies, Pelicans, and Suns over the last month and change, they also have some ugly losses. They lost to the Kings by 18, lost to a Mavericks team without Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, and recently lost to the Hornets in a game in which they gave up 145 points in regulation.

Since February 12, Wembanyama’s last game, the Spurs rank 30th in defensive rating with an abysmal rating of 123.1 and are 24th in net rating with a rating of -6.1. Now, it isn’t all bad. While the playoffs and the play-in are likely out of reach, and their two centerpieces are out for the season, they’ve had some bright spots. They are 12th in offensive rating during that span, with an offensive rating of 117. And rookie standout Stephon Castle is blossoming in front of everyone’s eyes, averaging 17.6PPG, 4.2RPG, 3.3APG, and 1.1SPG while shooting 46.5% from the field over his last 30 games. And for his last 11 games, he’s averaging 20.7PPG, 4.5RPG, 4.2APG, and 1.1SPG, while shooting 47.7% from the field. In fact, the rookie has been playing so well that he’s now the runaway favorite to win the Rookie of the Year.

The Knicks, like the Spurs, have gone through some injuries of their own, with Jalen Brunson set to miss a few weeks, and Ariel Hukporti expected to miss even more. And, like the Spurs, they hit a bit of a rough patch. But they, also like the Spurs, have had some bright spots. Not only have they started to trend back up, winning three of their last four, but their defense has seen a major uptick since Mitchell Robinson was reinserted into the rotation following a long hiatus. In the nine games the Knicks have played since Robinson’s return from injury, the Knicks are second in the league in defensive rating. Some of that is due to the Knicks having to replace Brunson with Deuce McBride in the starting lineup, but it’s clear that New York’s style of play and road to victory has changed with their star point guard sidelined.

Since Brunson’s injury, the Knicks rank just 21st in offensive rating. But over their last four games, they seemed to have potentially figured some things out. While there have been some really tough-to-swallow offensive moments, you can see the team starting to learn how to play without their floor general. During Brunson’s absence, Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 24.4PPG, OG Anunoby has three games of 23 or more points, McBride has two games of 19 or more points, and maybe most importantly, Mikal Bridges has regained some of his confidence and form, averaging 23.4PPG, and 4.6APG, while shooting 64% from the field, and 47% from three.

Prediction​

A game between two fully healthy versions of this team could’ve and likely should’ve been very entertaining to watch. Brunson and Towns vs. Fox and Wembanyama would’ve been one of the better point-guard-center duo matchups in the league. But with three of those four names set to miss tonight’s game, it’ll be less star-focused, and a bit more one-sided. Now, the Spurs, with Paul, Castle, and Vassell, can still score and put up a decent fight. But the Knicks have been very good at taking care of business and beating the teams they are supposed to beat. And the Spurs are very much a team they are supposed to beat.

I expect the Spurs to keep the game somewhat close, with the McBride and Castle matchup being a fun one to watch. But with Bridges and Towns playing the way they have, I think the Knicks’ subpar offense can take advantage of the Spurs’ horrid defense, with the Knicks’ very good defense being able to stifle what has been a solid Spurs offense. Knicks win 120-110.

Game Details​

Teams: New York Knicks at San Antonio Spurs

Location: Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX

Date and Time: Wednesday, March 19, 2025, 8:00 PM ET

Broadcast: MSG

Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/2025/3/19/24389366/game-preview-knicks-at-spurs-march-19-2025

 

[New York Knicks]

Spurs 120, Knicks 105: “That game was like puking and sharting at the exact same time.”

Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images

A Seton Hall alum comes from out of nowhere, dropping a career night on the lackluster Knicks.

Sandro Mamukelashvili, drafted 54th overall in 2021 by the Pacers and traded to the Bucks, spent his first two NBA seasons splitting time between Milwaukee and their G League affiliate. In 2023, the San Antonio Spurs (28-39) claimed him off waivers. This season, he has averaged five points and 2.4 rebounds in 46 games.

Tonight against the Knicks (43-24), the 6’11”, 240 Seton Hall product scored a career-high 34 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and a steal. He shot 13-of-14, including all seven attempts from downtown. He led all scorers and did it in 19 minutes of gameplay. Which NBA team is gonna give this kid Isaiah Hartenstein money?

The story of the game? Well, the first quarter stunk. The second quarter really stunk. In the first half, Mitchell Robinson outscored all starters, save Karl-Anthony Towns, who finished with 32 points and nine rebounds. New York ratcheted up the defense to win the third quarter, 29-16, and a miracle rally looked possible. But a 28-point hole was too much for our heroes, and they succumbed to Sandro by midway through the fourth. Final score, 120-105.

As Unmitigated Gall so delicately put it: “That game was like puking and sharting at the exact same time.”

After awful performances in the first half, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby both finished with 14 points, both made five field goals. Miles McBride couldn’t hit the rim before halftime but came around to score 11 points on 4-of-14 shooting. And Josh Hart took four shots to finish with . . . two points. He looked like a player who has been away from home for a long, long time.

How about that Mitchell Robinson? A 13-point, 11-rebound double-double. Looking good, big fella!

First Half​

Karl-Anthony Towns made four straight buckets and all nine of New York’s initial points. After that thrilling start, our heroes fell on their faces. They shot 4-of-25 (including nine missed three-pointers). Starters Miles McBride, Mikal Bridges, and OG Anunoby combined to miss 14 shots during that putrid stretch. How gruesome was the quarter? Mitchell Robinson’s four points outscored the combined total of Bridges, McBride, Anunoby, and Josh Hart. In fact, Josh attempted zero shots in his first eight minutes. Hand, scratch head.

Meanwhile, San Antonio jumped out to a 13-point lead, powered by Harrison Barnes and Stephon Castle. Even AARP member Chris Paul got in on the fun, scoring eight straight while New York spun their wheels in the mud. When the curtain closed on Q1, SA was ahead of NY, 29-20.

CP drills the deep 3 to cap a 16-1 Spurs run!

NYK/SAS | NBA League Pass pic.twitter.com/iKd0Henufi

— NBA (@NBA) March 20, 2025​

New York’s second unit offered little help, as the Spurs enjoyed a twenty-something-to-two run in the heart of the second quarter. Some dude named Sandro Mamukelashvili came off the Spurs’ bench to score 13 points. A hot dog vendor dunked. Somewhere, Tracy Morgan puked while New York fell behind by 28 to a team that won seven of their last 20 games. The Knicks’ defense, which had been superb in recent games, forgot to board the plane from NYC. Halftime score: 67-43.

Devin Vassell hits the triple to cap a 30-7 @spurs run

NYK/SAS | NBA League Pass pic.twitter.com/cMe9ycdAxe

— NBA (@NBA) March 20, 2025​

In can-this-really-get-any-worse news, Karl-Anthony Towns injured his thumb and/or wrist during this disaster of a first half. In obvious pain, he retreated to the locker room briefly and spent time receiving treatment on the bench. By intermission, Towns led the team in scoring. Its second-leading scorer? Mitch with six points. Aside from KAT, the starting unit combined to shoot 3-of-24. . . . New York lost the boards by 10, points in the paint by 10, and fast break points by nine. One of the worst halves of the season, folks.

Second Half​

Bridges and the crew enjoyed espressos at halftime, and started the third quarter with wide-eyed energy and improved dignity. Hart was dishing, Mikal, OG, and KAT made big buckets, and their defense tightened up. A 22-3 run to cut their deficit to eight by midway through the quarter.

og cashes it. bench loves it. pic.twitter.com/st5vBHoM6a

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 20, 2025​

Don’t get too excited. After that, the Spurs scored ten consecutive, including contributions by Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, and Julian Champagnie. Thanks to buckets from McBride and Landry Shamet, the Knicks fought back to close the quarter down 83-72. Tough defense limited San Antonio to just 16 points in the period!

To start the final frame, the home team outscored the visitors 8-1. Thibs decided to try the twin-towers lineup of Towns and Robinson, a strategy that paid dividends. Mitch dunked twice as New York enjoyed an 8-2 run of their own. Trading mini-runs wouldn’t win the game, though. The Knicks needed scoring and stops.

Stops like when Mitch swatted back Jeremy Sochan! Scores like when Cameron Payne and Anunoby cashed in three-pointers! New York came within nine points with five minutes left, but that Sandro cat, man. He just kept pouring it on. As the Knicks’ hopes dwindled the stretch, PJ Tucker made his Knicks debut. Meh.

Sandro Mamukelashvili is going OFF

A career-high 34 PTS on 13-14 shooting and 7-7 from three... in only 19 minutes played pic.twitter.com/5tPN0LQrU5

— NBA (@NBA) March 20, 2025​

Up Next​

Shake it off. Onward to Charlotte for tomorrow’s game. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.

Box Score

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...ke-puking-and-sharting-at-the-exact-same-time

 

[New York Knicks]

Game Thread: Knicks at Hornets, March 20, 2025

Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

New York needs to get right against this cellar dweller.

The New York Knicks (43-25) head to Charlotte looking to bounce back from yesterday’s tough loss in San Antonio, but fatigue could be a factor after six road games in their last seven outings. Jalen Brunson remains sidelined, and Mitchell Robinson might rest, which could give the Charlotte Hornets (17-51) an edge inside. Or New York could blow them out. Who knows?

Tip-off is 7 pm EST on MSG Network. This is your game thread. This is At the Hive. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Be cool and considerate. And go Knicks!

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/2025/3/20/24390183/game-thread-knicks-at-hornets-march-20-2025

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks Bulletin: ‘The way that we’re losing games is embarrassing’

Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images

Can the playoffs start like, yesterday already?

If it wasn’t because the Knicks have already clinched an eighth-seed play-in berth and only need a couple of wins in 13 games to seal their presence in the playoffs proper, it wouldn’t be crazy to believe they would fail to get into the final bracket.

New York lost embarrassingly against the Spurs and did so once more against a bottom-four squad in the bad-as-hell Hornets 115-98, with the bench scoring all of 11 points and the full squad getting outrebounded 52-38. I’m off till April, seriously.

Here’s what Coach Thibs and a few Knickerbockers had to say before and yesterday’s disaster.

Thibs on Brunson: "The only thing I'd say is he's doing light shooting & he's out of the boot. So steady progress. We'll see…Whenever he's ready, he's ready. He's putting a lot into his rehab…Hopefully we get some games [before playoffs] where he works his way back into it" pic.twitter.com/puSs6ZiEjb

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) March 20, 2025​

Tom Thibodeau​

On shooting struggles and poor defense against Charlotte:

“The defense and the rebounding have to be the constant, so the nights that you’re not shooting well you still have a good chance to win. I thought for the most part, there was a lot of unselfish play.

“We didn’t shoot well, but we had 26 assists, right? And there was low turnover, but I think sometimes when you’re missing those types of shots it tends to … you can’t allow that to take away from your intensity, or your concentration.

“The frustration, you have to eliminate.”

On how the team approached the Hornets game coming off a loss to the Spurs:

“Just go in with the right mindset. That’s the challenge. That’s what competition’s all about. Your mind is everything. So if you believe you can do something, you will.”

On rebounding issues against small lineups:

“That was a big concern. Big. Particularly because they started the game small. And I thought our reaction to the ball wasn’t great, and they’re athletic and quick, so we’ve gotta make sure we put a body on it, but it’s — we were behind all night. It’s better to initiate contact rather than react to it.”

On shared responsibility for losses between the starters and the reserves:

“I don’t wanna put it on a bench. It was all of us. You win together. You lose together.”

On Brunson’s injury progress:

“He’s doing light shooting and he’s out of the boot. So there’s steady progress and we’ll see where it goes from there.”

On Brunson’s return timeline:

“Whenever he’s ready, he’s ready. He’s putting a lot into his rehab. That’s what he can control right now. So that’s where we want his focus to be. Hopefully, he’ll get some games where he can work himself back into it.”

On the grind of the schedule:

“The schedule is the schedule. Sometimes it’s in your favor, sometimes it’s not. We’ve been on the road a long time, come home for one and then turn right back around. But that’s our reality. We have to find a way to win. In the third quarter, I thought we had the right approach, and that helped. I think we got (the score) to eight and then we get hurt with the 3.”

Josh Hart: "Mental toughness. That's my big concern right now. We can make all the excuses in the world. There's highs & lows in the season, no one's 82-0, but the way we're losing games is embarrassing. We have to find a way to right the ship. We gotta come out next game w more… pic.twitter.com/iGu1vF8mGA

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) March 21, 2025​

Josh Hart​

On his main concern for the team:

“Mental toughness. I think that’s my main concern right now.

“If we’re right mentally. We win some of these games but we’re not doing what it takes. We’re not doing the extra effort. We’re not giving energy, not giving the right output. We’re crying to refs.

“We got to pick it up.”

On the back-to-back losses to tanking teams:

“We can make all the excuses in the world, but there’s highs and lows in the season and no one’s 82-0. But the way that we’re losing games is embarrassing.”

On the need to respond before it’s too late:

“So, we have to find a way to right the ship. We have to come out next game with more intensity, more desperation.

“Starts with myself. As someone who’s supposed to bring energy. I’ve been atrocious the last several weeks. So, we have to get our minds prepared for the end of the season.”

On the travel schedule and effort needed to navigate it:

“Like I said, we can make the excuses. We’ve had a terrible two, two and a half weeks of travel. But all teams go through terrible travel periods during the season.

“And it’s not an excuse.”

On the lack of rebounding, defense, and effort shown lately:

“We’re not doing what it takes. We’re not doing the extra effort. We’re not giving energy. We’re crying to refs. We’ve got to pick it up.

“We can be more aggressive defensively on the ball. We can be more assertive offensively. Not being stagnant, communicating better. I think we got outrebounded by 14 today. A lot of that is effort. None of that takes talent. None of that is schemes and those kind of things.

“It’s extra effort, and we’re not doing that, and that’s what’s embarrassing, especially for this team, especially for a Thibs-coached team, a New York-based team. That’s not what we should be doing. That’s not what we’re supposed to be built on.”

On the challenge of facing the Wizards next, as easy a game as that might look like:

“If we don’t come right, we’re going to get embarrassed again.”

Deuce: "What do they say, '90% of game mental'…If you think you're tired gonna come out tired, late on rotation, forget to box out…Shot not falling, guys incl myself, hard to lock in…Figure out way…doesn't always mean making shots…means gotta lock in even more on other end" pic.twitter.com/RqDSuCiX7p

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) March 21, 2025​

Miles McBride​

On the need to make up for missed shots with a stronger defensive focus:

“Shots are gonna fall, not fall, whatever that is. In that case, we got to clean up on the defensive end. Make sure we’re doing everything we can for them to miss shots and us to rebound because we’re a talented team.

“We’re going to end up making shots. It’s just got to be on the other end.”

Hornets bench love KAT's T pic.twitter.com/iHIdhzwNZB

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) March 21, 2025​

Karl-Anthony Towns​

On the team’s slow start:

“I think it was just our energy. We just didn’t play to the capabilities that I know we all can. We came out flat. We fought a little bit back in the second half, but they were hitting shots.”

On not making excuses for the loss:

“Nah. I don’t wanna start that [narrative]. We’re a hell of a ball club, and we know what we can do, and we’ve shown the world what we can do. We just didn’t do what we needed to do in the first half. We fought really hard in the second half but we just didn’t get the job done.”

On the need to improve before Brunson’s return:

“We can’t worry about [Brunson coming back]. We’ve got to get better now. I told all y’all before, we need to continue to improve every single day, so when he comes back, we reintegrate him into the team, and we’re a better version than the one he got injured playing with, that he left.”

13 games left pic.twitter.com/uCrgqIaRHq

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) March 21, 2025​

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...he-way-that-were-losing-games-is-embarrassing

 

[New York Knicks]

Hornets 115, Knicks 98: “This team frustrates the hell out of me.”

Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Back-to-back losses to lottery teams as the Knicks look lost without their leader.

For the second straight night, the New York Knicks (43-26) were embarrassed by a lottery team. Tonight’s opponent, the Charlotte Hornets (18-51), defeated the Knicks in every single quarter thanks to a slow, plodding offense and invisible interior defense. You’re lucky if you missed it. Final score: 115-98.

Quoth The Antisola: “This team frustrates the hell out of me.” Yep, although more of my ire is directed at the coach. With Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball swishing five triples (25 points total, eight assists), Mark Williams hammering the boards (19 points, 14 rebounds), and Miles Bridges adding a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds), New York looked like a G-League squad—so why not give a G-League star some burn? But no—Tyler Kolek languished on the bench until the final two minutes, long after this game was far out of reach. Don’t get me wrong; I doubt Kolek would have saved the game. But he might have provided a spark, or at least a little enjoyment in an otherwise joyless affair.

As for stats: Karl-Anthony Towns scored 24 points and 10 rebounds. He’s an offensive savant; he could do nothing to stop Mark Williams and Jusuf Nurkic. OG Anunoby scored 25 points; Mikal Bridges scored 16; and Josh Hart found his way to 13. Miles McBride, playing through a groin injury if memory serves, shot 4-of-10 and scored nine. And Precious Achiuwa punched his ticket to the end of the bench.

Would they have won if Mitchell Robinson wasn’t on a minutes-restriction DNP? Maybe. He at least would have guarded the paint.

Woof.

First Half​

From the jump, the Knicks couldn’t buy a bucket, the other team couldn’t miss, and I had to double-check that this wasn’t a replay of yesterday’s San Antonio debacle. Nope, this was Charlotte and despite the similarities—early deficit, brain farts—our heroes managed to inch ahead by the six-minute mark.

ball off the dribble... We like that! @joshhart pic.twitter.com/LZmR2xr0OK

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 20, 2025​

OG Anunoby was the first to reach double digits for either team. On the other side, former Knick DaQuan Jeffries chipped in seven of Charlotte’s first 15 points.

After the Knicks went up 19-15, their defense went poof, they lost 50/50 balls, and Charlotte ripped off a 12-0 run to close the quarter up, 27-19.

LaMelo Ball cashes in the DEEP three pic.twitter.com/nnHM23gQAP

— Hornets Nation (@HornetsNationCP) March 21, 2025​

Precious Achiuwa had a baffling half. On a fast break, he encountered Jusuf Nurkić in the lane and somehow missed Josh Hart wide open under the rim (see below). Later, he lazily telegraphed a pass into a turnover. Once Mitchell Robinson is fully healthy, rest assured that Precious will be shipped off to Siberia—or Thibs-eria, if you will.

The Knicks GOTTA be tanking

What is this pic.twitter.com/hhepdxDGm4

— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) March 21, 2025​

With their defense leaking, the Knicks found themselves trading buckets and misses with the lowly Hornets. Bench scoring would have helped, but New York’s second unit managed to score nothing while their Charlotte counterparts contributed 17 first-half points.

In the second quarter, the Knicks’ interior defense evaporated entirely. They got manhandled on the glass and offered no resistance in the paint, falling behind by 14. Halftime score: 52-41.

Through two quarters, Charlotte shot 53% to New York’s 40%, dominated the boards 26-12, and owned the points in the paint 30-22. Sure, the Knicks tallied five steals, but their interior defense was nonexistent. The nightmare that started yesterday in San Antonio continues.

Second Half

In the third, New York attempted to close the gap. Anunoby knocked down a three, Towns dunked, and Bridges was active on both ends. And yet, the ‘Bockers never truly threatened the lead. Why? No stops, pops. Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball dished to Miles Bridges on a deep three and set up DaQuan Jeffries for another. Meanwhile, Nurkic did whatever he wanted around the rim, deterred drives, and even swished an uncontested threeball. Charlotte snuffed out any signs of hope, went up by as many as 18, and mounted a 13-4 run to win the quarter, 85-72.

700th career 3 for @MELOD1P @Lowes | @FDSN_Hornets pic.twitter.com/q6sAbkTSy0

— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) March 21, 2025​

In the final frame, New York made their baskets. So did the Hornets. The Knicks cut the lead to nine briefly, but they couldn’t get an offensive rebound to save their souls. Add another Achiuwa goof, and the hole was 16 points deep in no time.

This Mark Williams kid ain’t bad:

MARK WILLIAMS BLOCK & SLAM

The Hornets center making plays on both ends! pic.twitter.com/UNAF7kOEp8

— NBA (@NBA) March 21, 2025​

LaMelo swished some more triples. The fat lady had sung. Down by 19 with two minutes to go, Thibs sent in Tyler Kolek, MarJon Beauchamp, Anton Watson, Landry Shamet, and Precious. Here’s a novel idea. . . . No one watching this game thought the Knicks would come back after three pathetic quarters (make that six, if you include last night’s game). When your club is clearly doomed, why not deploy dime-master Kolek earlier in the fourth to see if he can spark something? Could his defense be that much worse than what the starters were offering?

Up Next​

The Knicks host the Wizards on Saturday. They should have swept a slate of Spurs, Hornets, and Wizards. Now they might be lucky to win one. Le sigh. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.

Box Score

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...ks-98-this-team-frustrates-the-hell-out-of-me

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks sign P.J. Tucker to second 10-day contract

Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images

Back-to-back agreements for The Realist.

The New York Knicks are signing P.J. Tucker to a second 10-day contract, according to Stefan Bondy of the New York Post.

The Knicks are signing PJ Tucker to a second 10-day contract, league sources told The Post.

— Stefan Bondy (@SbondyNBA) March 20, 2025​

Tucker, who initially joined the Knicks earlier this month, will continue his role as a veteran presence despite barely playing any minutea since his arrival as a part of a tight (how surprising) Thibs rotation.

Tucker, in fact, just made his season debut on Wednesday in a brief two-minute appearance during the horrible loss to the San Antonio Spurs. While his impact on the court has been minimal, his presence in the locker room and on the bench has been highly valued by players and fans alike, and that's probably all we can realistically expect from him as long as Thomas Joseph is at the helm.

“It’s always good to have vets and like-minded guys that just have each other’s back,” Tucker said after his first signing.

Tucker’s journey to New York has been unconventional, to say the least. After picking up his $11.54 million player option with the Clippers over the summer, he remained inactive as his agent sought a trade. He was eventually dealt to the Utah Jazz on Feb. 1 but never suited up for them, before ultimately getting moved again to the Toronto Raptors as part of the five-team Jimmy Butler trade. Again, he never played and was waived by Toronto on Feb. 28, leading to his free agency and allowing him to remain eligible for the playoffs.

In an interview following his first Knicks deal, Tucker admitted the 10-day contract process was new to him, as if he hadn't had any other crazy firsts before in his discombobulated career.

“It was interesting. Because I was like, I’ve never been on a 10-day before. It’s different,” Tucker said. “But I was willing to do whatever I could to be able to be on this team. I’ve kind of done it all already, so for me, it’s not a big deal. I’m cool with earning my stripes.”

With the Knicks currently 43-25 and holding a strong playoff position, Tucker’s primary role will remain cheerleading from the sidelines and getting reps off the court.

Tucker will be available tonight as the Knicks continue their road trip, facing the Charlotte Hornets later on this mourning Thursday after yesterday's horrible defeat.

If the Knicks wants to keep PJ beyond this next 10-day stint, they will need to sign him to a standard contract for the remainder of the season.

“I’m just a realist. And I want to win,” Tucker said during his introductory presser. “I don’t know another way to put it.”

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...cks-sign-p-j-tucker-to-second-10-day-contract

 

[New York Knicks]

Game Thread: Knicks vs Wizards, March 22, 2025

Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images

Knicks look to avoid losing three straight games to the league’s worst teams.

The New York Knicks (43-26) host the Washington Wizards (15-54) at Madison Square Garden, seeking to bounce back from consecutive losses to the dregs of the NBA. The Knicks have dominated the Wiz, winning all three match-ups this season. Beware Alex Sarr from deep, though. Protect the perimeter!

Don’t lose. Tip-off is 8:00 pm EST on MSG. This is your game thread. This is Bullets Forever. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Treat each other respectfully. And go Knicks!

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/2025/3/22/24391660/game-thread-knicks-vs-wizards-march-22-2025

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks Bulletin: ‘It’s lit to be in front of our fans, we needed the juice’

Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images

New York’s MSG healed the Knicks on Saturday.

The Knicks are determined to make us all sweat and that’s what they did on Saturday when they beat the Wizards 122-103, not before nearly surrendering a 33-point lead. Sheesh...

New York welcomed its team back and boosted them in victory after back-to-back collapses earlier this week. MSG will grace the Knicks two more times on Tuesday and Wednesday before our heroes board another plane for their next road game—against the Bucks on Friday.

Here’s what Coach Thibs and a few Knickerbockers had to say before and yesterday’s get-right game.

Thibodeau on Tyler Kolek tonight:

“The second quarter was really good, and it allowed Cam to get some rest there. But it’s more how the team was functioning. Building that lead was more a byproduct of staying organized and penetration and making the right reads. So it was good… pic.twitter.com/j9hD2GMjdB

— Ben Oppenheimer (@BenOpp92801) March 23, 2025​

Tom Thibodeau​

On Cam Payne’s key three-pointer:

“We have to play tougher with the lead. But that was a big shot for us. Cam isn’t afraid to let it fly in those spots, which is what we like about him. He stepped up and gave us some really good minutes tonight.”

On Cam Payne’s shooting mindset:

“He’s not afraid. Cam is going to let it fly, which is what we like about him. We have to play tougher with a big lead, but that was a big shot.”

On Tyler Kolek’s performance against Washington:

“Tyler gave us great minutes. We built the lead which allowed Cam to get some rest there. It was more how the team was functioning. We stayed organized and he was making the right reads — it was good to see, he’s done a good job for us.”

On the Wizards’ offense nearly clearing a 33-point Knicks advantage:

“They are a good offensive team in terms of pace. They can make up ground quickly on you.”

On replacing Brunson by committee:

“When he went out, we talked about it. You’re not replacing Jalen individually, it’s impossible. So we have to do it collectively. We have to do it with our defense and our rebounding and playing together. We do that, we’re capable of winning.”

On Brunson’s recovery status:

“When he went out, we talked about it. You’re not replacing Jalen individually. It’s impossible. So we have to do it collectively. We have to deal with our defense and our rebounding and playing together. When we do that, we’re capable of winning.”

On the team focus late in the season:

“We just talked about it as a team as we’re heading down the stretch. Everyone’s got to be focused on the things we need to focus on.”

On finally returning to MSG:

“It’s good to be back [home]. We’ve just got to come with our energy tonight.”

On moving past the road trip:

“It’s part of the league. It’s, just get ready for the next game. Understand what went into it, what you have to prepare for each game. Just got to be ready to go.”

On St. John’s season under Rick Pitino:

“They had a heck of a season. Rick has done an incredible job there. The program is on its way. They had a phenomenal year … [John Calipari] did a terrific job at Arkansas as well. He’s a good friend as well. The tournament is the tournament, you know. One and done.”

Poole flop pic.twitter.com/MlItynY86M

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) March 23, 2025​

Karl-Anthony Towns​

On nearly blowing a 33-point lead as the Wizards cut it down to four:

“It was four? I didn’t know that. We can’t have those nights—those moments where we play a great first half and then we act like teams are just going to give us the win. This is the NBA, guys.”

On Mikal Bridges’ impact on Saturday’s win:

“We’ve all seen those moments where Mikal shows why he is so coveted in this league. He can score the ball. But he does so much for our team and sacrifices so much so that we can be the best version of ourselves.”

On Cam Payne stepping up:

“Shout out to Cam. He stepped in like a true professional and led us. He gave us the spark we needed, without that kind of start from him I don’t know how this game goes—shoutout to him for real.”

"It's good to be back in my bed, see my dogs, see my family" - Cam Payne on getting a win back at The Garden and having some time at home.@nyknicks | @alanhahn | #NewYorkForever pic.twitter.com/227b72CY1Y

— KNICKS ON MSG (@KnicksMSGN) March 23, 2025​

Cam Payne​

On hitting a big shot after missing badly twice:

“It felt good, especially after hitting the side of the backboard twice in a row. Glad I found a way to help us get the lead back up.”

On the mindset going into the game:

“I kind of felt like everybody came in knowing it was a must-win for us. Get back on the right track. We’re back at home.”

On playing at MSG again:

“It’s lit. It’s good to be in front of our fans. They give us the juice tonight, and we needed the juice.”

KNICKS WIN!!!!! pic.twitter.com/KWehzSULCI

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 23, 2025​

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...o-be-in-front-of-our-fans-we-needed-the-juice