At the halfway point, their record was 26 wins and 15 losses, two games better than last year. Doubling that would give them 52 wins and 30 losses, which is also two games better than last year. This is not a terrible record by any standards. Knicks fans would have mortgaged their homes and, if necessary, given their souls to ransom to achieve such a record.
So why is there so much emotion surrounding the Knicks right now…well?
Now, much of that was on display Monday night at Madison Square Garden, where the Pistons defeated the Knicks this year to add another chapter to one of pro basketball's greatest breakthrough stories.
It was a thrilling finish and the crowd was thrilled, but that didn't matter. Karl-Anthony Towns, who played bravely and brilliantly (and perhaps foolishly) all night, allowed one wayward ball. He pulled a late illegal screen when it appeared his hands were safe from contact. Malik Beasley made two clutch 3s in the second half. The final score was 124-119. The final buzzer sounds.
