Knicks rise to the challenge, rout Kings to start stiff remaining schedule
NEW YORK — Can the Knicks close it out?
It’s the question haunting generations of Knicks fans who’ve watched leads evaporate on the Madison Square Garden hardwood too many times before.
Saturday night, the Knicks faced their first test in what promises to be a grueling stretch of games. The opponent: a scorching-hot Sacramento Kings team that had won 10 of its last 12 games under interim head coach Doug Christie.
For a Knicks squad that entered the night with 29 wins, 17 of them coming against teams with losing records, this matchup was more than a game — it was a proving ground. Iron sharpening iron.
And for a while, it seemed like the Knicks were ready to make a statement. They built a commanding 19-point lead with 5:29 left in the second quarter, using Sacramento’s speed against them. But just as quickly as the lead grew, it began to dwindle: 17, 14, 12, nine. By the 21.1-second mark of the second quarter, the Knicks were clinging to a two-point advantage.
The ghosts of Knicks teams past loomed, threatening to derail the effort. But these Knicks? They’re different.
The Knicks responded to the Kings’ surge by taking over in the second half, cruising to a dominant 143-120 victory. It was their second-highest-scoring performance of the season, falling just short of the 145 points they dropped on Denver in November.
This wasn’t just a bounce-back game. It was a statement.
After a stretch where they dropped six of nine games, including four of six at home, the Knicks are now riding a three-game winning streak.
More importantly, they’ve shown they’re more than just a two-star show featuring Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson, both of whom are bound for San Francisco as All-Star starters.
Towns (18 points, 15 rebounds) played just four of the game’s final 16 minutes as he continues to manage a thumb injury. Brunson delivered a stellar 25-point, 11-assist outing. But the night belonged to the supporting cast.
Josh Hart, questionable to even play due to right knee soreness, recorded a triple-double with 20 points, 18 rebounds and 11 assists. OG Anunoby erupted for 33 points, and Mikal Bridges added 27 as the Knicks outpaced Sacramento’s high-octane offense.
For a team that’s struggled against winning opponents, this was a much-needed performance. Yet Towns, speaking on Friday, emphasized that a team’s record doesn’t always reflect its quality.
“It’s unfair to say just because of where teams are in the standings that they’re not quality teams,” Towns said. “These are the best basketball players in the entire world. Every time you go out there you have to put your best foot forward.”
The Knicks certainly put their best foot forward against the Kings, bucking another trend by taking a 38-25 lead after the first quarter. Their bench also made a difference early, with Landry Shamet hitting three quick threes and the second unit contributing 20 points, outpacing Sacramento’s key reserves.
The Kings, one of the NBA’s most exciting teams, couldn’t overcome De’Aaron Fox’s off night. Playing through a thumb injury sustained in his last game, Fox shot just 6 of 20 for 14 points. Domantas Sabonis did his part with a triple-double (25 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists), and Malik Monk led the team with 31 points, but it wasn’t enough.
Anunoby’s defense on DeMar DeRozan also stymied Sacramento’s offense, limiting the star to 18 points and forcing the Kings to rely on secondary options.
The Knicks have an opportunity to extend their winning streak to four games on Monday, but the road ahead doesn’t get any easier. The Memphis Grizzlies, led by All-Star guard Ja Morant, visit the Garden next, promising a high-flying spectacle.
Saturday’s win proved the Knicks are ready to meet the moment. But with the league’s toughest remaining schedule, the true test of their mettle is just beginning.