Knicks Feast on Hornets in Dominant Win

CHARLOTTE — The Knicks appear to have had quite the Thanksgiving feast after their commanding victory over the Hornets.

Mike Brown’s fresh lineup delivered a historically remarkable performance.

With Mitchell Robinson sidelined, every Knicks starter scored in double digits in the first half of Wednesday’s 129-101 rout of the Hornets. It marked the first time since the 1996-97 season, when this statistic began being tracked, that all Knicks starters reached at least 10 points during a game like this.

The Knicks (11-6) led by 25 points at the half, with Jalen Brunson closing it out in front of a sizable crowd in Charlotte (4-14).

Brunson led the game with 33 points, shooting 14-of-28 over 34 minutes.

Brown’s impressive lineup featured Josh Hart and Miles McBride, both of whom showcased their talents early on. Hart stood out, wrapping up the second quarter with 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting, along with 4 assists and 4 rebounds.

Even though he only managed three points in the second half, Hart’s initial contributions were overwhelmingly positive.

Brown clearly aimed to have Karl-Anthony Towns play center instead of power forward with his substitutions.

Robinson was absent when Towns was off the court in the first half, and the same happened the other way around.

This strategy had proven effective just two nights earlier against Brooklyn, where Towns thrived with Robinson out due to illness.

Against Charlotte, Towns’s box score reflected 19 points and 10 rebounds in 32 minutes. He had a strong first half, fighting for better positioning and scoring effectively inside against Miles Bridges.

In the second half, Brown transitioned back to a double-big lineup, placing Robinson at center and Towns at power forward.

Robinson ended the night with no points and four rebounds over 15 minutes, hardly making an impact. Meanwhile, McBride had his best outing of the season, scoring 19 points on 6-of-8 shooting over 39 minutes.

The Hornets continued to struggle this season, with LaMelo Ball contributing 11 points on 4-of-14 shooting across 27 minutes.

Ball’s performance was in line with his usual unpredictable style.

This victory was also part of the NBA Cup competition, setting the stage for the Knicks as they head into their final group play match against the Bucks on Black Friday.

A win would lead to the quarterfinals, while a loss could limit them to a wild card spot.

Brown acknowledged the significance of the tournament.

He kept his starters on late in the game and cleared the bench with just over two minutes remaining.

After Mikal Bridges made a steal and layup, he taunted the Hornets bench, prompting a heated response from their coach, Charles Lee.

“Yes, we will talk about the following [the NBA Cup],” Brown commented. “I think pressure is a privilege in life, so I try to embrace it. If you’re in a pressure situation, it usually means you’re doing well. For those who are competitive, self-imposed pressure is inevitable. So, it’s a privilege to experience that pressure, and I believe it prepares you for the postseason, which I convey to my players.”

Clearly, the starting lineup took that message to heart.