After being one of three teams in NBA history to win the NBA Championship and then go 0-3 the following season, the New York Knicks looked to bounce back and win their first game against the 3-0 Detroit Pistons at home. Detroit was without starting center Jalen Duren, who suffered a hamstring injury during the Pistons’ win over the Boston Celtics last Friday. After trailing by as much as 13 points, the Knicks stepped up, particularly in the third quarter, where they went on a 37-13 run. New York would take an 111-97 win, but there isn’t much rest, as today they’ll head to Chicago for a matchup against the Chicago Bulls.
New York’s third-quarter run against Detroit was certainly a big factor in their win Tuesday night; however, the play of starting center Karl-Anthony Towns was truly spectacular as he finished with 27 points and 20 rebounds. This is Towns’ fourth straight game with a double-double, and even though the six-time all-star recorded seven turnovers, there was enough offensive firepower that those turnovers didn’t cost the Knicks this game. Jalen Brunson shot five for 18 from the floor but went 13 for 16 at the free-throw line to finish with 23 points. New York desperately needed that win over Detroit to get the nerves out and truly get comfortable for the new season. Hopefully, now that they’ve strung together their first win, the Knicks will be able to feel a bit more at ease.
The Bulls have started this 26-27 season with a 1-3 start. They lost to the Toronto Raptors, won against the Milwaukee Bucks, and then lost the next two games against the Washington Wizards and the Celtics. Chicago’s rookie power forward Caleb Wilson leads the team with 21 points per game and even showcased his potential at just 19 years old with a 30-point, 14-rebound performance in the loss to Washington. Through four games, the Bulls rank last in field goal and three-point percentage. However, with the array of young talent this team has, mixed with some great veterans such as Norman Powell and Buddy Hield, this team could find their groove and be a threat within the coming weeks.
With the momentum of picking up their first win of the season, the Knicks’ offense needs to shine. Chicago has allowed nearly 130 points per game, which is rated worst in the league. New York has to expose this and find their way to get quick, easy buckets, or go to the free-throw line. Mikal Bridges hit four threes yesterday, those being the first four threes he’s hit all year. The offensive flow from him needs to continue. Same for OG Anunoby, who struggled shooting during the loss against the Philadelphia 76ers and last night finished five-for-15 from the floor, one-for-six from beyond the arc, and had just 13 points. Bench players such as Landry Shamet and Miles McBride must play their part in the offense as well. For Chicago, they need to play their best game early on this season and step up against the defending NBA Champions.
My predictions for this Knicks team thus far have been way off, but I believe I will finally get one right with the Knicks winning a second game in a row. New York has too much veteran experience for them to be losing to such a young team like the Bulls. Chicago’s Josh Giddey will play a role as well as Wilson; however, Brunson, Towns, and the rest of the Knicks need to get the job done to continue focusing on their main goals for this season and move past the slow start. The Knicks take a 122-100 win on the road tonight.
