The Knicks got back on the winning track Wednesday night at The Garden, taking down the Clippers in a coast-to-coast battle to end their four game skid. After a week full of losing, this was the perfect opportunity for New York to get out of the funk they were in.
Reflecting on the losing streak, the Knicks opened the game with a slow start. Taking over two and a half minutes of game time to score, they found themselves down 14-5 at the first timeout. It wasn’t costly however because that Clipper lead completely disintegrated and it was back to a one score game in no time.
Los Angeles was in control throughout the first half. The star-powered duo of Kawhi Leonard and James Harden accounted for a good part of the Clippers’ 111 points, scoring a combined 48. Their dominance would’ve resulted in a bigger lead if it hadn’t been for Miles “Deuce” McBride, who scored four three’s from beyond the arc, keeping the Knicks alive, only down five going into the intermission.
The visiting team remained in control throughout the third until a pair of Jalen Brunson free throws with 5:08 left put New York in front for the first time since the first quarter. From there, they’d play hot potato with the lead, ending with the Knicks heading into the final 12 minutes up three.
In the fourth quarter we saw the dominant team that we’ve seen all season come to life and put the recent negativity in the rear-view mirror. Outscoring Los Angeles 32-23, New York was able to pull away, ensuring no comeback could be deemed possible.
Before the matchup, the last time the Knicks won a game was December 29. They’d end up losing their next four with three of them being by more than 10 points. The team was able to pull a reversal and finally give their opponent a taste of their own medicine.
Jalen Brunson was New York’s leading scorer, finishing with 26. Only scoring 10 in the first half, the captain came around in the end, making crucial baskets in clutch moments. Despite the win and leading his team in points, It certainly wasn’t an average performance as a team low plus minus of -6 proved it. Karl-Anthony Towns was active in all aspects and was a major factor in the Knicks performance on the night, finishing with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and a season-high seven assists.
After a strong start, the Clippers got colder and colder and were unable to recover. Leonard and Harden were shells of themselves in the second half, only scoring a combined 16 while the rest of the team could hardly make a basket. Tonight’s loss added to a continued struggle on the road as their away record now falls to 4-13.
This was a great win for the Knicks who played key fundamental basketball. Along with their lockdown defense giving guys like Leonard and Harden little to no options to successfully score, they tallied 31 assists on 47 made baskets.
“I just liked our overall competitive spirit tonight,” Head coach Mike Brown said to the media postgame. “Even at halftime we told our team man you guys are competing, we might be down but you’re competing and keep that up.”
The two clubs face off once more this season, playing at the Intuit Dome on March 9. The Knicks will look to keep their momentum going Friday night in Phoenix in a showdown against the Suns while The Clippers will remain in New York to play the Nets.
