Knicks Team Notes

[New York Knicks]

Knicks Bulletin: 'Club Tarrytown. 72 degrees and sunny every day'

Photo by Randy Belice/NBAE via Getty Images

Knicks. Bulls. MSG. No Michael Jordan but don't miss it!

The Knicks are back and so will soon be both OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson, according to the one and only Tom Thibodeau.

Life's about balance, however, so karma hit New York in the mouth with Josh Hart popping up on the injury report with an OUT designation for tonight's matchup against the Bulls at MSG. Sheesh.

Here’s what Coach Thibs and a few Knickerbockers had to say coming off the break and ahead of Thursday’s game.

Tom Thibodeau was asked if he got to use the All-Star break as a refresh pic.twitter.com/hH4oRRcWWh

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) February 19, 2025​

Tom Thibodeau

On Mitchell Robinson and OG Anunoby going through a full practice on Wednesday:

“Mitch was good, OG was good. So it was good to be back out there. [They] did everything.”

On Robinson’s potential return for Thursday’s game:

“I haven’t heard from medical yet, so we’ll see. But he looks good. He’s gotta get his timing (back), but overall, he moved pretty well… But it will take some time.”

On how Robinson’s return will affect the Knicks’ rotation:

“You have to anticipate that the game’s gonna be different so we’ll see where he is once he’s out there. He’ll need a little bit of time. But the things that he can bring, the hustle, the ability to see things early, play pick and roll, rim-protect, offensive rebound; those are things he’ll bring right off the bat.”

On adjusting to player availability throughout the season and finding positives on it:

“Whatever your circumstances are, you deal with them as best you can. We had guys out, so it was an opportunity for the new guys to get time together. So we tried to take advantage of it that way. Now that you have more depth, you take advantage of it the other way. You need everyone over the course of the season, so just get in there and get the job done.”

On OG Anunoby’s recovery:

“Yeah, I think the break was good for him. We’ll see how he responds tomorrow after practice today.”

On how and where he spent his All-Star break:

“It was perfect: Club Tarrytown. 72 [degrees] and sunny every day.”

"Thank the Lord, man"

Jalen Brunson says it was a "breath of fresh air" to be away from Josh Hart during the All-Star break pic.twitter.com/THJQltgF1y

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) February 19, 2025​

Jalen Brunson​

On the team’s chemistry and playoff push:

“It means a lot. Obviously after the break you want everyone to be ready to go. I’m excited to get down this stretch. I love this team a lot. I love everyone that’s a part of it and this organization. We all have one goal in mind and I’m really thankful.”

On Mitchell Robinson’s impact:

“Do you think he’s a difference-maker? Then, I think he’s a difference-maker.”

On Thibodeau spending his break at the Knicks’ training facility:

“I hope he knows he can be in the lab from home as well. This man has a very beautiful home office. Go stay there. And whatever I’ve told you guys, I’ve told him to his face.”

Karl-Anthony Towns was asked about Tom Thibodeau spending All Star Break in "Club Tarrytown"

"24/7 all-inclusive" pic.twitter.com/FRVcaoOjCy

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) February 19, 2025​

Karl-Anthony Towns​

On Robinson’s return and its impact on the team:

“We’ve done a great job of sustaining what we need to do and being where we need to be right now at this point in the season. The next-man-up mentality of the guys in the locker room has been great.

“To be able to get people — Mitch and everyone — back, it gives us a chance to hone in on our team as a whole.”

On the possibility of playing alongside Robinson:

“I remember being in Minnesota with three bigs.

“It’s great to have [Robinson] back and to have the firepower we have. It gives us versatility. It allows us to play against teams that have a two-big lineup, or teams that go small. We can adjust however we need to.”

On Tom Thibodeau’s evolution as a coach:

“Hell no (Thibs wasn't so locked into coaching a few years ago). Time has treated us all differently.

"For Thibs, I feel like he’s at a point where he’s just having fun. He’s really having fun with this. I know that from being a player and a friend of his. Just enjoying the process of being a coach.”

On Thibodeau’s hard-working mindset handling the Knicks:

“I think it’s a testament to growth for him and time. And a testament to players in this locker room and the coaching staff he has around him that allow him to appreciate the little things even more — and life more.”

Knicks are listing Mitchell Robinson (foot) as out and OG Anunoby (foot) as questionable for tomorrow vs CHI. Josh Hart (knee) is listed as out.

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) February 19, 2025​

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...club-tarrytown-72-degrees-and-sunny-every-day

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks 113, Bulls 111 (OT): “MIKAL BRIDGES BLOCK”

Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

Three Knicks log double-doubles and McBride scores a season-high to beat Josh Giddey’s 27 points and hold off the Bulls.

After an eight-day break that spanned the All-Star weekend, the New York Knicks (37-18) returned to action tonight, hosting the Chicago Bulls (22-34) at Madison Square Garden. Down two starters and rusty as an old jalopy, this was far from our heroes’ finest 53 minutes.

It took a 32-18 double-double from Karl-Anthony Towns, a 22-point, 12-assist double-double from Jalen Brunson, and a season-high 23 points from Deuce McBride, a redemptive fourth-quarter from Mikal Bridges (13 points, 10 rebounds), and five extra minutes of play, but the home team finally escaped with the win, 113-111.

Jaybugkit said it best: “MIKAL BRIDGES BLOCK.” If you turned off the game at the end of the third quarter, you wouldn’t believe it. Mikal had played like a wet dishrag for three frames but was merely saving his magnificence for a brilliant fourth quarter. His block on Nikola Vucevic under the basket with two seconds remaining saved the game and sent it to overtime. Read on for the clip below.

First Half​

Eh . . . not exactly an encouraging start. With OG Anunoby (toe) and Josh Hart (knee) sidelined, the Knicks rolled out a patched-together lineup featuring Miles “Deuce” McBride at shooting guard and Precious Achiuwa at power forward. Chicago wasted no time, jumping out to a 6-0 lead and forcing Tom Thibodeau to burn an emergency timeout just two minutes in.

From there, both teams proceeded to build a house of bricks. The Knicks hit just four of their first 15 shots—but fortunately for them, the Bulls were equally stinky. When Deuce drilled a trey with four minutes left in the quarter, the game was knotted at 15 apiece. With the Knicks short-handed, Landry Shamet and Ariel Hukporti also saw action in a truly ungraceful opening frame. By the buzzer, Chicago clung to a 21-19 edge.

PRECIOUS ACHIUWA STEAL AND SLAM pic.twitter.com/mYWHdZ46oE

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 21, 2025​

The second quarter saw a slight improvement. With Cameron Payne in the mix, the Knicks hit six of their first seven shots and began to carve out a lead. By halftime, after another clunky, funky stretch of basketball, New York held a 50-43 advantage.

What if the NBA introduced a rule where, after missing 15 more three-pointers than they made, a team would be docked a point for every additional brick? That might have spared us the agony of the first half, during which both teams combined to miss 39 three-pointers. Chalk it up to the proverbial All-Star break rust, I guess.

Despite losing the battle on the boards and in the paint, the Knicks kept their turnovers in check—just three to Chicago’s nine—and won the fast-break points battle, 13-4. Jalen Brunson led all scorers with 18, while Karl-Anthony Towns had snagged 12 of New York’s 31 rebounds (compensating for his 2-of-15 shooting from the field). For the visitors, Nikola Vucevic paced the Bulls with 14 points.

cap is leading all scorers on the floor with 18 points going into the half pic.twitter.com/v1rPFZkDRW

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 21, 2025​

Second Half​

New York came out of halftime with a little more control. Deuce swiped an inbound pass and set up Towns for a dunk, which is always exciting basketball! But Chicago quickly realized their best path to a comeback lay through the interior. By hammering the paint, they put together a 29-23 run to trim the deficit to one late in the quarter.

.@deucemcb11 is a PROBLEM pic.twitter.com/FuNPTNkAg6

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 21, 2025​

Not to be outmuscled, Towns exploited the outmatched Vooch and sank seven straight shots in the quarter. Karl was doing his part to keep his team competitive. The Knicks had just three of their regular starters in action, and two of them—Towns and Brunson—combined for over 40 points through three quarters. The third starter? Ouch. After shooting 2-of-10 with four points and two turnovers, Mikal Bridges faded into the wallpaper as the quarter wore on. No thanks to him, New York managed to hold onto a two-point lead after surrendering 38 points in the frame.

Telepathically, Mikal heard me type the previous paragraph. Lo-and-behold, he scored New York’s first three buckets of the fourth quarter, quickly adding six points to his total. The good vibes were short-lived, though. When Josh Giddey swished a triple with seven minutes to go, Chicago had tied the game; soon after, two free-throws from Julian Phillips gave them their first lead since the second quarter.

Who but Bridges put the Knicks back on top with a long-ball. It was a rare make in a sea of misses, as each team struggled to put the round thing into the net. Mine eyes might never recover. With a little over two remaining, it was Bridges again on his redemption tour, driving into the paint and hitting Deuce in the corner to assist on the go-ahead three.

That thoroughly-shampooed and conditioned Australian, Giddey, was feeling his oats in the fourth, though. He answered with a three-pointer, and then so did Vooch. Down by two with 30 seconds left, Captain Brunson razzle-dazzled a 15-footer to tie the game at 104. Chicago had their shot when Lonzo Ball was left all alone for a straight-on three-pointer, but he bricked yet again. Then, with two seconds remaining and possession, they inbounded the ball to Vooch under the rim—and Bridges blocked him to send it to overtime! The Bridges redemption tour was complete!

WHAT A BLOCK 'KAL

we're headed to OT pic.twitter.com/iqQ6lyMfhi

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 21, 2025​

In the fifth quarter, Chicago scored first, but Deuce eclipsed his season-high for points to get the Knicks started on a 9-0 run. The Bulls came close, with a 5-0 run of their own, but the clock expired just in time. Two straight overtime wins for New York!

Up Next​

Gas up the jet and pack the swords. Our heroes are bound for Cleveland to face the Cavaliers tomorrow night in what ought to be (should be, could be) a thriller. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.

Box Score

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/2025/2/20/24369711/knicks-113-bulls-111-ot-mikal-bridges-block

 

[New York Knicks]

Game Preview: Knicks at Cavaliers, February 20, 2025

Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images

To be the best, you gotta beat the best.

We’re officially on the other end of the All-Star break, and it’s full speed ahead for the New York Knicks.

Last night, sans Josh Hart and OG Anunoby, the Knicks hosted the Chicago Bulls. Despite the absences, New York was able to claw their way to a win, starting off the back half of the season on a strong note. Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson led the way (as per usual), with KAT posting 32 points and 18 rebounds and JB connecting on 12 assists. Deuce McBride knocked down five threes in his first start of the year. And Mikal Bridges made an incredible defensive stand to force the game to overtime, where the Knicks would eventually pull out the victory.

HUGE MIKAL BRIDGES BLOCK TO FORCE OT pic.twitter.com/Q3JqY4pL0i

— NBA (@NBA) February 21, 2025​

Their reward for last night? A trip to Cleveland, the top team in the NBA, on the second end of a back-to-back.

The Cavaliers are 45-10 this season, and only improved their roster at the trade deadline. This is far from the squad New York took care of in the 2023 postseason. Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell mean business in the backcourt, and Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen are one of the best defensive frontcourts in the NBA. Last night, they took care of the Nets in Brooklyn, 110-97, and have now won nine of their last ten games. They’re 25-4 at home this season. Gulp.

On the injury front, both Josh Hart and OG Anunoby are considered questionable, with Mitchell Robinson still officially out as he ramps up to playing speed after rehabbing his ankle injury.

Hart has been battling ‘patellofemoral syndrome in the right knee’, and is probably a game time decision headed into tonight. Here’s what Ian Begley said about him last night:

On Josh Hart, Tom Thibodeau described his knee injury as 'soreness.' Thibodeau said Hart was able to practice in Knicks' first practice after the All Star break but could not participate in their 2nd practice. Hart's official injury is patellofemoral syndrome in the right knee

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) February 20, 2025​

Meanwhile, OG is also a GTD as he comes back from a foot injury that has kept him out the entire month of February.

Either of the two taking the floor tonight would be more than welcome, given that five Knicks played at least 38 minutes in last night’s overtime battle (Achiuwa, Bridges, Towns, McBride, Brunson).

Prediction

I hate to be that guy, but not only are the Cavaliers unbelievable, they’re healthy.

While both teams are on game two of a back-to-back, the Knicks ran a tight rotation deep into an overtime battle. They’re possibly down two of their most impactful players. The Cavs are…not. Not a single player played more than 30 minutes in their win last night at Brooklyn.

Tonight, let’s hope that the wheels don’t fall off and the Knicks can make the final score look respectable. But If Brunson and Towns aren’t both in perfect form right out of the gates, look for Cleveland to take care of business easily. It kills me to say it, and I hope I’m wrong, but it would take a hell of an inspired effort for the Knicks to keep it close down the stretch. The Cavs should take care of business at home against a banged-up, tired New York squad.

Game Details

Date: Thursday, February 21st, 2025

Time: 7:00 PM ET

Venue: Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH

TV Broadcast: ESPN

Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...-preview-knicks-at-cavaliers-february-20-2025

 

[New York Knicks]

Cavaliers 142, Knicks 105: Scenes from falling on Cleveland’s sword

Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images

Short-handed Knicks are no match for the Ohio Players

The odds were against the New York Knicks (37-19) tonight at the Rocket Arena. The Cleveland Cavaliers (46-10) had lost only four home games this season. Both teams were playing on the second night of a back-to-back, both having won games in New York City yesterday (Cavs at Barclays, Knicks at MSG). The Knicks were short-handed again, with Josh Hart sitting out a second game and Mitchell Robinson in street clothes. Sure, OG Anunoby returned after missing six with a toe/foot issue, but the sledding was bound to be tough against a healthy, league-leading Cavs team. And so it was. Final score, 142-105.

New York had their chances early. Jalen Brunson came out firing, scoring the Knicks’ first nine points and 16 of their 29 in the quarter. We cheered when rookie Ariel Hukporti checked in midway through the quarter, swatted down Jarrett Allen at the rim, and came away with the ball. But the highlights were few, and flimsy interior defense let Cleveland feast—26 of their 41 first-quarter points came in the paint.

Surrendering 41 on 74% shooting to start the contest? That never bodes well. Here’s Huk.

ARIEL HUKPORTI O TO D pic.twitter.com/kNTl2KJroJ

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 22, 2025​

In the second quarter, Brunson added nothing to his total, and New York stacked up the bricks while the Ohio Players piled on the points. Donovan Mitchell scored 24 on 9-of-11 in the half, leading his squad to a 77-50 lead at intermission. Against the league’s best team, every mistake hurts. New York’s nine first-half turnovers cost them 14 points. Also not helpful? Making 4-of-13 from deep while your opponent hits 8-of-15.

SPIDA DOING WHAT SPIDA DOES. ️@spidadmitchell | #LetEmKnow https://t.co/7tsG5jGRVD pic.twitter.com/gUoO43T2pz

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) February 22, 2025​

After halftime, the home team went up by 33. Unable to get stops, the best the Knicks could do was trade buckets—and they did little of that, too. The score was 110-79 heading into the fourth, and in such a godforsaken hole, Thibs pulled the starters. New York native Ty Jerome hit two threes; the Knicks fell behind by their biggest deficit of the season, 41 points; and I went back to reading Denis Johnson’s Train Dreams. Great book. Terrible game.

When they ask what’s different about this Knicks matchup this year. pic.twitter.com/bNoc2jHzm1

— RealCavsFans.com (@realcavsfans) February 22, 2025​

Up Next​

For you, Professor has a proper recap on the way. For the Knicks, it’s a trip to Beantown to face the Boston Celtics in a Sunday matinee. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.

Box Score

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...s-105-scenes-from-falling-on-clevelands-sword

 

[New York Knicks]

Cavaliers 142, Knicks 105: “Cavs are really damn good”

Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Lost the fight? Get up. Fight’s nowhere near over.

Unless you’re a bigot or a sadist, the news of late can seem pretty depressing. If you zero in too much on today, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that there was a time before now, just as surely as there’s time yet to come. That’s what they count on when they enshittify: that we’re all prisoners of the moment, willing to surrender to it. We’re not.

The Knicks news hasn’t been great the past few weeks, either. OG Anunoby sprained his foot before the All-Star break. Josh Hart has missed both games since the entr’acte with jumper’s knee. Sometimes it seems David Wright, who retired nine years ago, is closer to returning to the Mets than Mitchell Robinson is to the Knicks. And then there’s the boogeyman that’s haunted them since this otherwise successful season kicked off: whenever New York steps in the ring with a heavyweight, they come out looking like featherweights.

Last night’s 142-105 capitulation in Cleveland — and it wasn’t even that close — was the kind of game that threatens to derail all your equilibrium as a fan, to make you throw up your hands and say “Forget 2024-25! Time to reassess for next year.” To which I say nay, loves. Last night hurt, for sure. The Knicks had a chance to change one of the narratives around them and instead reinforced it with titanium bolts. But just like with the “real” world outside of sports, it’s not just important to avoid being a prisoner of the moment — it’s imperative to anyone who believes in tomorrow being better than today. In that vein, a few attempts at consolation.

First of all, we didn’t learn anything new last night! The Knicks came into the contest eight games behind the Cavs in the East, about as far as the Pistons are from the Knicks. If the Knicks beat the Pistons by 30, would it impact your view of either team’s season so far? Doubtful. Cleveland is on pace to win 67 games; they’d be just the 13th team in league history to win that many and the first since the Warriors added Kevin Durant. ESPN’s broadcast shared a graphic showing the Knick starters lead the league in minutes played, while the Cavs rank 28th. A half-dozen Cavs who were there when Donovan Mitchell arrived three years ago are still there. The only currently active Knick who was on the team when Jalen Brunson arrived that same year is Deuce McBride. The Cavs are deeper. The Cavs are more familiar with one another. The Knicks are hanging on till game 83, where they hope they can outsprint their opponents. The Cavs are built for the 82-game marathon. They should be ahead of the Knicks at this point. Quoth RJParrot: “Cavs are really damn good.”

Hart and Mitch will never be All-Stars. They’re not quite irreplaceable cornerstones como Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, but they’re physical players who impact the game on both ends, and while politically 2023 may feel like a thousand years ago, basketball-wise it’s not all that long ago. Two years ago in the playoffs, in a series featuring at least five players who were or would become All-Stars, the best player on the floor was Mitchell Robinson. Last night in the first half, Towns shot 9-of-13 while Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley combined to shoot 10-of-12. Precious Achiuwa missed all six of his looks. It’s not quite as simple as that, but it kinda is. Anunoby returned for his first action since the first of the month and looked it.

These Knicks aren’t built to survive the absence of three starters. Few teams are — just a year ago, every Cav starter besides Allen missed double-digit games. They won 20 fewer games than their pace this season. Health matters. So does where you fight your fight. If these teams meet in May, will Dean Wade still be playing 20-25 minutes? Sam Merrill? Landry Shamet? Ariel Hukporti? In many ways, last night’s matchup is an endangered species, one we’re unlikely to see again — ever. At least not in any game between these two that counts. A more physical Knick team in the more physical postseason environment is an entirely different opponent.

Hateful people want to weaponize the government into a vast pain-spreading machine. But today isn’t tomorrow. There are still judges committed to the spirit of justice. Every day there are people reaching out to help neighbors, strangers, fellow humans. Tomorrow has yet to be written, even while today’s emperors parade around in no clothes insisting the fragile golf pencils they scratch at the world with are writing in ink. The Cavs can win 72 games this year and finish 20 up on the Knicks, and if they meet in May that and $2.90 gets them a Metro pass.

The Knicks have built a title-worthy starting lineup in the past 13 months. Compare: KAT, OG, Hart, Bridges and Brunson to Isaiah Hartenstein, Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, Donte DiVincenzo and Brunson. They may not have the depth to go all the way, but it’s difficult if not impossible to win all your battles in one offseason. Just like the “real” world of the moment: wars aren’t waged or won all at once. If you lose today, don’t lose the lesson. And don’t lose sight of tomorrow — they’re counting on you throwing your hands up and giving in. Fight today, endure today, repeat both tomorrow. As it so happens, the Knicks’ next game is tomorrow in Boston, another statement game. If they get blown out again, everything I wrote today still applies. And if they win? Sam said it best: “It’s been a long time coming, but I know a change gone come.”

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...iers-142-knicks-105-cavs-are-really-damn-good