The Knicks started life without two-time All-Star forward Julius Randle, if only for a long time, but with a Next Men Up win at Charlotte on Monday night, OG Anunoby It was his 13th win in 15 games since he first played with the team. After a trade with the Raptors in late December.
Notably, Anunoby suffered a last-minute elbow issue and was unable to play against the Hornets, and the Knicks will be without Randle for the first time this season after dislocating his shoulder against the Heat on Saturday. It got even more complicated.
Coach Tom Thibodeau didn’t hesitate to use an eight-man rotation, adding Josh Hart and Precious Achiuwa to the starting lineup, leading to a 113-92 victory over the similarly undermanned Hornets. The Hornets were without two injured regulars, LaMelo Ball and Gordon Hayward. Saad (Terry Rozier) was traded to the Heat last week.
With the win, the Knicks now have an astonishing 20-0 record this season against a team that started Monday’s game on a losing streak. And, remarkably, it would have been 1-0 if it weren’t for Randle, who went down during the hiatus and missed the first game of the season. Garden moments late in Saturday’s home win over the Heat.
