My anxiety has been somewhat dissipated recently. But it's back.
After plunging through two games past the low opposition in the Wizard and Shorthanded Mavericks, the Knicks returned to weight class Wednesday night.
And they failed yet another test against the team in playoff competition and fell 126-113 to the Clippers at Madison Square Garden.
They fell 5-5 without Jalen Brunson, and their five victories all faced off against teams outside the playoff pictures.
It continues to be anxious seasonal incompetence that can only beat high-quality enemies that have worsened without Branson.
James Harden looked back at the watch and torched the Knicks with 29 points and 10 assists.
It caused Los Angeles' 16-6 runs and won a game tied to a double-digit lead that entered the fourth quarter.
Kauhi Leonard took it from there and scored the first 10 Clippers points of the fourth quarter. Los Angeles led to the 18-year-old. He finished with 27 points, 7 assists and 10 rebounds.
The Knicks' defense collapsed in the second half, giving up 40 points in the third quarter and 32 points in the fourth. They had no answers to Harden or Leonard, and Norman Powell also missed 19 points for the Clippers.
Karl-Anthony Towns did everything they could to keep the Knicks up, continuing the triple-double show with 34 points and 13 rebounds. Josh Hart was much quieter than Tuesday, with seven points, six assists and six rebounds.
And the Knicks' offense struggled when Cam Payne came out with a sprain in his left ankle and left Tyler Colek as the only healthy, true point guard. It made him hardly do it, but failed to score, but it prompted time for Deron Wright, which was mostly used.
The Knicks' lack of depth also reveals the theme of the season.
The Clippers outperformed the Knicks 24-12 by bench points.
Friday will offer another opportunity for playoff-bound opponents with the Bucks.
