Magnificent Seven
The Knicks keep their streak going with a quality effort against a frisky Pelicans team up for the challenge.
Good morning! The Knicks just keep winning. Feels nice to say.
Knicks 121, Pelicans 116
48-25 (W7); 27-9 at home
It wasn’t quite playoff intensity, but that was one heck of a basketball game for late March, especially considering the record of one of the teams involved.
After six wins that collectively left a bit to be desired, it was hard to find much fault with the Knicks last night. The Pelicans looked every bit like a team trying to carry momentum into next season and were ready to go from the opening tip. Playing without a true center in their starting five, they offered a unique challenge to New York’s defense, and one that got even tougher as New Orleans hit 44 percent from behind the arc. Between the Pels’ shotmaking and the lack of safe hiding spots when they had the ball, this game was a true test.
Even if they may not have done so with flying colors, the Knicks certainly passed, although this was one of those games where their best defense was a great offense. Shooting 52 percent overall and 39 percent from long range, New York got basically what they wanted, when they wanted against a defense they should be able to exploit. Save for one dry spell, the Knick offense looked as confident and coherent as it has in weeks1.
Leading that brigade was a guy you may have heard of - the same guy who some fool had the audacity to doubt just yesterday.
