Out of nowhere, the Knicks found themselves struggling. Potential challenges within the Eastern Conference were starting to surface as possible obstacles.
The start of 2026 brought some unexpected difficulties for the team.
They faced a 130-119 defeat against the 76ers at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, appearing disjointed for the second consecutive night.
This marked their second loss in as many games over the weekend, leading to their first three-game losing streak since late October.
It’s worth noting this was the only time they’ve lost back-to-back games this season.
Friday and Saturday saw them endure their third and fourth home losses of the year.
Although they had won 11 out of their previous 12 games and even secured the NBA Cup, they now sit at 4-5 over their last nine matches.
Two of those losses were against the 76ers at Madison Square Garden, who definitely seem poised to cause some disruption in the East.
The Knicks have assembled a youthful and dynamic backcourt featuring rising star Tyrese Maxey and rookie VJ Edgecombe, chosen as the No. 3 pick.
Maxey delivered an impressive 36 points on Saturday, while Edgecombe chipped in 26. The Knicks struggled defensively, unable to contain their explosive offense.
This season, the main challenge for the Knicks has been matching up against teams with fast, agile guards.
The 76ers possess two of the finest in Maxey and Edgecombe.
As the Knicks began to narrow the gap to nine points early in the fourth quarter, Edgecombe swatted a 3-point attempt by Mikal Bridges, then raced down the court for an easy dunk.
With just over four minutes remaining and the Knicks trailing by 12, Maxey hit a step-back three-pointer.
And with only a minute left, while the Knicks were still within ten, Edgecombe snagged an inbounds pass for a straightforward layup after a timeout. Their relentless pressure was evident.
Despite the expected boost from the return of both Karl-Anthony Towns (who was ill) and Mitchell Robinson (in load management), their impact was minimal.
Towns managed just two points in the first half and ended with 21, a lot of which came late in the game. He spent much of the night arguing with officials about calls and even received a technical foul in the first quarter.
Jalen Brunson led the team with 31 points, but his teammates seemed to fall short of their roles.
The absence of Josh Hart was notably felt; his all-around skills and energy would have made a difference.
This game marked Joel Embiid’s first time back at Madison Square Garden since becoming the Knicks’ nemesis in the 2024 playoffs.
This time around, he played more of a supportive role alongside Maxey and Edgecombe rather than showcasing his usual MVP-level performance.
Still, he contributed significantly with 26 points and 10 rebounds, surpassing Towns and Robinson.
The 76ers launched a 9-0 run in the second quarter that allowed them to take control, establishing a 19-point lead by the third quarter.
Even though the Knicks had a lively fourth quarter, they never truly threatened a comeback, never getting closer than seven points.
Looking ahead, the Knicks will face a tough road game against the first-place Pistons in Detroit. If they continue to perform like this, who’s even to say who might be out for the Pistons will matter?
