The New York Knicks suffered a crushing loss last night on the road against the Cleveland Cavaliers. They coughed up a 15-point lead to lose 124-105. New York was outscored by a whopping 26 points in the second half. Wednesday night’s loss was the latest in a troubling trend for the team this regular season.
They are 0-8 this year against the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Oklahoma City Thunder. These three teams have the best records in the NBA. The issue for New York has not been their woes against the league’s best but how they have looked in those games. Seven of the eight games have been double-digit losses. Will the New York Knicks beat any of the league’s best squads to end the regular season or in the NBA Playoffs?
New York Knicks Season Summary
New York is the N0.3 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 48-28 record. Even though they are one of the league’s best teams, their inability to compete with the upper-echelon teams limits their playoff chances. The Knicks have been led by a stellar offense this year. They are ninth in points scored, fourth in field goal percentage, and 10th in three-point percentage.
The Knicks defense, a strength in past years, has been its weakness this season. They are 10th in points allowed, 23rd in opposing field goal percentage, and 27th in opposing three-point percentage. New York’s subpar defense, coupled with an inability to beat the NBA’s best, is problematic. It is a recipe for an early playoff exit.
Final Thoughts
New York returns to the court Saturday on the road against the Atlanta Hawks. The New York Knicks have two more chances this regular season to defeat one of the league’s best teams. They host the Boston Celtics on April 8 and the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 11. For New York to have any chance for a deep playoff run, a healthy Jalen Brunson is paramount. He has been sidelined since March 6 with an ankle injury. A timetable for a return to the court is unknown.
