Sometimes, facing off against weaker teams is just what you need to turn things around.
After a worrysome three-game skid, the Knicks found just the remedy in their last two outings. They dominated the Bulls 136-96 during a home game at Madison Square Garden. This win marked their third straight season with at least 50 victories, a feat they haven’t accomplished since stringing together four seasons from 1991 to 1995.
Despite some chatter about their sluggish start to the game, the Knicks came out firing. They surged to a 20-1 lead and ended the first quarter ahead by 22 points. In that quarter, they shot an impressive 58.3 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from beyond the arc, while the Bulls really struggled.
The gap widened to 28 points early in the second quarter, eventually ballooning to 37 by halftime. It felt almost like an exhibition game, like the Knicks were going through the motions against subpar competition. The Bulls, it seemed, were resigned to taking ill-advised shots and barely putting up any resistance, eager just to leave with yet another disappointing loss.
Mitchell Robinson, stepping in for the injured Karl-Anthony Towns, got the Knicks off to a fast start with 10 points, five rebounds, and two steals in the opening quarter. He finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and two steals.
OG Anunoby led the scoring with a balanced effort from the team, contributing 31 points, including seven three-pointers, which ties his career high. There was a noticeable improvement in the ball movement as players worked together instead of taking turns going for individual shots, a habit that has become frustrating lately. Jalen Brunson played a key role in facilitating the offense, scoring 17 points while providing 10 assists. Mikal Bridges added 12 points but struggled from the three-point line, missing all five of his attempts.
Jeremy Sochan, surprisingly, got a significant amount of playing time off the bench against Mohamed Diawara, possibly auditioning for a playoff role. He logged a career-high 17 minutes, putting up seven points and eight rebounds—not exactly in garbage time.
Coach Mike Brown seized the opportunity to rest his starters in the fourth quarter, giving the bench some minutes. That’s when Jose Alvarado finally got his first run after not seeing any action in the previous three quarters.
Looking at the standings, neither the Bulls nor the Grizzlies—whom the Knicks beat just prior—are actually at the bottom, but both are well under .500 and out of playoff contention. The Bulls, especially, have been in a downward spiral lately, with a dismal record of 5-23 since February.
In a way, these last two games have been a brief confidence boost for the Knicks after struggling against playoff-caliber teams: the Hornets, Thunder, and Rockets. Josh Hart has been vocal, urging his teammates to step up their intensity, noting they are “not going in the right direction.”
But the Knicks seem to thrive against opponents that aren’t performing well. Since early March, they’ve gone 9-0 against teams with losing records, contrasting their disappointing 3-6 record against winning teams over the same period.
Next, the Knicks will face a real challenge as they gear up to play against tougher opponents, including the rising Hawks, along with the Celtics and Raptors. Atlanta and Toronto could very well be first-round playoff matchups.
“I always want my team to play at their best,” Brown remarked. “Do I feel we’re there yet? Not quite. But I believe in this team. I’ve seen them perform well consistently throughout the season.”
Friday’s performance was closer to what’s expected. Now, onto the real challenge ahead.
