Knicks Overcome Slow Start with Impressive Win Against Bulls

When discussing the Knicks’ recent struggles at the beginning of games before their face-off against the Bulls, Josh Hart was quite open about the team’s challenges.

This has been an ongoing issue for a couple of years, yet he found it hard to identify the exact cause. “We’ve started slow the last two years,” Hart noted. “If we had the answers, we’d be in a better position.”

Leading up to Friday, the Knicks had shown erratic performances in the first quarters of their last four games, suffering early losses to Charlotte, Oklahoma City, and Houston but then rebounding with a solid outing against Memphis, scoring 48 points.

However, against the Bulls, the Knicks displayed a different level of energy. They jumped to a quick 20-1 lead, limiting Chicago’s scoring opportunities until nearly seven minutes into the game. This allowed them to lead 78-41 at halftime, effectively sealing the game.

The final score? A dominant 136-96 victory, solidifying their position as the third seed in the Eastern Conference with just four regular-season games left.

After the game, Knicks head coach Mike Brown remarked, “We started right tonight. If we do that consistently, we might really put pressure on our opponents.” He emphasized the need for the team to maintain proper defensive execution and secure rebounds to prevent easy baskets.

Prior to the game, Brown had cited defense as a significant factor in their slow starts. With the playoffs looming, getting off to a strong beginning was critical.

“A lot of it was our defense,” he reflected. “We ranked 19th in the first quarter in the league. Yet, we lead in the fourth quarter by a lot. It’s crucial for us to start games with that same urgency.”

In previous games, the Knicks had stumbled early, such as falling behind 24-14 against Charlotte, only to end up down by as many as 21 points. Against the Thunder, they began strong with a 7-point lead, while against Houston, they found themselves in a 22-5 hole early on.

Despite these setbacks, the Knicks had shown improvement in their last couple of games, even if the competition wasn’t particularly strong.

In the game against Memphis, they led by 17 at halftime, with Hart attributing their offensive success to aggressive ball movement. This time, the advantage had ballooned to 37 points at the break.

“We came out with a different energy tonight,” Miles McBride shared. “The first five players set the tone, and the bench followed suit.”

From the start, the Knicks capitalized on their inside game, racking up 40 points in the paint during the first half. Mitchell Robinson, generally recognized for his rebounding skills, found his stride, contributing 15 of his 17 points before halftime—his best showing since mid-December.

Defensively, Robinson met Brown’s expectations. Chicago struggled, scoring just one point and making zero shots until five minutes remained in the first quarter; they ended up shooting only 35 percent by halftime.

Overall, the Knicks enjoyed a strong start and coasted to a comfortable win. Given their recent downward trajectory, this emphatic game served as a refreshing beacon with the postseason approaching.