標籤: Knicks

It seems Danhausen’s Cleveland Cavaliers bashing before the Eastern Conference Finals was no fluke for television.

The Cavaliers were on the wrong side of history Tuesday night. They entered their Eastern Conference Finals series against the New York Knicks as huge underdogs on the road. However, they surprised many by taking a two-point lead at halftime, then increasing it to 22 with just eight minutes remaining in the game. Then Jalen Brunson and his teammates caught fire.

The All-Stars led a spectacular rally, with both teams tied at the end of regulation time. The Knicks superstar and his teammates kept it going in overtime and somehow pulled off an incredible Game 1 victory despite a huge deficit in the fourth quarter.

Cavaliers fans were heartbroken by the shocking loss and were trying to figure out how their team blew such a huge lead late. However, many NBA fans pointed to one person: WWE star Danhausen. The “Too Good, Too Bad” star actually cursed out Cleveland during an appearance on Tuesday nba today.

“I have a special mission I’ve been sent on, and that’s for the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight. Tell them they’re damned,” he said.

The moment seemed quite random. However, in an ex post after the game, Danhausen revealed the real reason for doing so. When a fan asked, “Why would you curse the Cavs?” The WWE star responded, “Have you ever heard of this guy, The Miz?”

In that case, the Curse of Danhausen makes all the sense in the world. The Miz is a native of Cleveland and a fan of his hometown teams. And Danhausen currently has an ongoing rivalry with the WWE great and has cursed Miz and his tag partner Kit Wilson. He teamed with Mini-Hazen and scored a victory over the pair at Backlash earlier this month.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

A new report has calmed New York Knicks fans’ fears that they will struggle in Game 1 of their series against the Cleveland Cavaliers due to their lengthy layoff ahead of the Eastern Conference Finals.

There is a lot of hope and excitement about the Knicks right now. On Tuesday night, they begin their Eastern Conference Finals series against the Cavaliers at home and as the favorite. Due to their excellent play over the past few weeks, this could be the franchise’s best chance to win an NBA title in decades.

However, there are some among his fans and basketball experts who wonder if not playing in games since May 10 will have any impact. This question has reignited the rust vs. rest debate and how it relates to the Knicks, as the extra days off will certainly give talented forward OG Anunoby a better chance to return to the field after suffering a hamstring strain in Game 2 of the semifinals.

Well, on Tuesday afternoon Sportico data expert Lev Akabas wanted to end the debate. He recently dug into the numbers and revealed some interesting details in a new X post. According to Akabas, since 1984, teams that received five or more days of rest, while their opponents had one, were 42–23 in Game 1 of a playoff series. Additionally, they were 48–17 in those series.

When it comes to teams with five or more days off, and were at home against an opponent with one day off between series, those teams went 33–9 in Game 1. The record of those teams in series that started with those unique parameters was 39–3.

Although it may not ease the fears of the most anxious Knicks fans, the data should give most of them reason to feel very confident about Game 1 tonight. Beyond how well his team has played over the last two weeks.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

A new rumor suggests the recently fired head coach is the favorite to get a similar start with the Orlando Magic. And the strange thing is that he too was appointed to this job two decades ago.

After blowing a 3–1 lead in their opening-round playoff matchup against the Detroit Pistons, Magic management decided that the team needed a new voice leading their locker room and bench in 2026–27. Still, it won’t be easy to replace former head coach Jamahl Mosley after playing a leading role in building the team into a playoff contender.

The organization has been linked to several experienced coaches to replace Mosley. However, according to NBA insider Jake Fisher, there appears to be a strong contender for the position. “Coaching insiders across the league landscape are operating under the belief that former Bulls coach Billy Donovan has an excellent chance to land the position.”

Fisher said the former Chicago Bulls head coach “has been talking with Magic president Jeff Weltman and will soon have an in-person meeting with the Orlando chief executive”. Donovan resigned from his role with the Bulls last month following a 31-51 finish and a fourth consecutive loss in Chicago. His record as a coach in the NBA is 469-413.

The former Florida Gators coach was hired as head coach of the Magic in 2007, before he reneged on the deal and returned to the Gators. He eventually jumped to the NBA eight years later with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Jeff Van Gundy is also a contender for the head coach position of Orlando Magic

While Donovan appears to be a strong contender to become the next head coach of the Magic, it is not a done deal. Another experienced coach with a strong resume who Fisher claims is in the running for the job is former New York Knicks and Houston Rockets head coach Jeff Van Gundy.

He left coaching in 2007 and remained a favorite on-air voice for the NBA on ESPN for several years. However, after 16 years, he was let go by the network in 2023. Since then, he has been a consultant for the Boston Celtics and is currently an assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers, where he has earned praise.

Van Gundy’s career record as a head coach is 430–318. His peak came when he led the Knicks for seven seasons, leading them to the playoffs six times, including their last trip to the Finals in 1999.

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A new NBA mock draft from ESPN shows the New York Knicks will use their first-round selection in June on a player who is unlikely to make much of an impact next season.

There is a lot of hope and excitement about the Knicks right now. On Tuesday night, they begin their Eastern Conference Finals series against the Cleveland Cavaliers at home and as favorites. Due to their excellent play over the past few weeks, this could be the franchise’s best chance to win an NBA title in decades.

Still, while the organization is hyper-focused on the East Finals, they should also keep some attention on what’s coming next, and that’s the NBA Draft next month. And when it comes to their choice at No. 24 at the June event, ESPN’s Jeremy Wu believes the team will take Houston big man Chris Cenac Jr.

On paper, getting an impact player from an elite team in 2025-26 sounds like a great accomplishment. But according to the draft expert, don’t expect Cenac Jr. to be more than a role player next season.

Will Chris Senac Jr. be Mitchell Robinson’s replacement for the NY Knicks?

Wu wrote, “Cenac measured well at the combine and excelled physically in on-court drills, with good amplitude and mobility for a center that makes him a worthwhile developmental bet.” “He made progress with his tenacity and rebounding in Houston, but is still a ways away from contributing to a winning NBA team.

“Still, his immense size and fluid movement skills give him a chance to carve out an eventual role in the NBA if he can find more offensive identity. There’s probably more rim-protection upside than his worrisome lack of blocks, as he was asked to play conservatively and focus on rebounding as part of Houston’s approach.

For a team that is hoping to win a championship this spring, and compete for more over the next few seasons, using a first-rounder on the prospect who will be the best role player next season is disappointing. However, Wu noted that with backup center Mitchell Robinson leaving in free agency this summer, the Knicks will have to look for a potential replacement.

Robinson is also basically a role player, but a very good player who specialized in certain skills. If Cenac Jr. can be just as meaningful or more in a few years, Knicks fans will be happy with this selection.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Giannis Antetokounmpo and his future with the Milwaukee Bucks will be the biggest story of the 2026-27 NBA offseason. After heavy rumors at the NBA trade deadline, the Bucks retained Antetokounmpo, but the relationship did not improve. Instead, the Bucks forward’s future became even more clear.

Milwaukee wants a solution on Antetokounmpo by the 2026 NBA Draft, which begins in just a month. Antetokounmpo will be the biggest fish on the trade market during the 2026 NBA offseason, and multiple organizations are expected to be in the mix.

This seems like a real possibility, so what will it really take for Antetokounmpo to get to New York? This is what needs to happen for the New York Knicks.

Giannis Antetokounmpo should request a trade with New York as a destination

It all starts with Antetokounmpo. If the Knicks want to pull off one of their biggest trades in franchise history, the 31-year-old forward will have to request a trade from Milwaukee. Again, Antetokounmpo would have to include New York as one of his favorite destinations.

Luckily for the Knicks, this shouldn’t be a problem. Antetokounmpo has his sights set on New York and would love to play in the Big Apple. Therefore, if Antetokounmpo requests a trade, the Knicks will inevitably be in contention. It just depends on what Antetokounmpo wants to do moving forward.

Does Antetokounmpo want to stay in Milwaukee and build his legacy with one team? If the Bucks are committed to building a great team around Antetokounmpo, this could take his mind off a trade. Still, the damage from the 2025-26 NBA season may be too much to overcome.

In that case, the Knicks would be one of the top landing spots for Antetokounmpo in a potential trade. However, does New York need a reason to trade for Antetokounmpo this summer?

The New York Knicks need a reason to pursue Antetokounmpo this summer

The Knicks are scheduled to play the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. New York has made it to the conference finals for the second consecutive NBA season, as Jalen Brunson continues to take the organization to new levels. However, the trade may become more difficult for Antetokounmpo in the coming weeks.

Will a second consecutive conference finals appearance derail the Antetokounmpo deal? How about an appearance in the NBA Finals? If the Knicks defeat the Cavaliers and make the 2026 NBA Finals, it could lead the team away from a drastic move for the 31-year-old star.

To stay under the second apron, the Knicks will likely have to trade a combination of OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart. Since New York doesn’t have many first-round picks to offer Milwaukee, it will almost certainly have to trade half of its starting lineup. This may not be attractive for a team that is so close to the championship.

After all, Antetokounmpo has dealt with injuries the last few seasons, and an unfortunate health issue could derail the Knicks. In order for New York to trade for Antetokounmpo, it needs a reason to pursue him this summer. More likely, it would require the Knicks to be eliminated by the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Antetokounmpo is interested in joining the Knicks, but the organization may not be in the right position to swing a trade this offseason.

READ MORE: Miami Heat predicted to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2026 offseason

Austin Konensky is a writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and more. His work can also…more about Austin Konensky

Who will win the Eastern Conference? The Cleveland Cavaliers punched their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals on Sunday night, taking on the comfortable New York Knicks. This will be a fascinating series, especially with all its focus being primarily on the West.

Let’s take a look at our game-by-game Eastern Conference Finals predictions.

Game 1: New York Knicks 121, Cleveland Cavaliers 113

It’s fitting that the Eastern Conference Finals features a matchup between the Cavaliers vs. the Knicks, as they faced each other to open the season on October 22nd. New York won two of the three head-to-head clashes during the regular season and we suspect the rest will play out in the team’s favor in Game 1. We think All-Star guard Jalen Brunson opened the ECF with a bang, scoring over 30 points with five three-pointers and combining with. Karl-Anthony Towns for 50. The Knicks won Game 1 in a two-man show.

RELATED: The latest on the Cavaliers’ plans with James Harden

Game 2: New York Knicks 115, Cleveland Cavaliers 108

New York knows at this point that Mikal Bridges is not going to provide much offensively. That’s fine in the Eastern Conference Finals; He just needs to be a blocker. Bridges did an excellent job of stopping Tyrese Maxey in the second period, and he will be tasked with another big defensive task here. We’re guessing the clamps will come out in Game 2, with both James Harden and Donovan Mitchell struggling when they are forced to match up with Bridges. Cleveland’s pair of All-Star guards battled the team’s issues on the glass, giving New York a 2-0 series lead with a clean record at home.

Read More: Western Conference Finals Predictions

Game 3: Cleveland Cavaliers 118, New York Knicks 110

The Knicks being well-rested certainly gives them an edge in the Eastern Conference Finals, but Cleveland has been battle-tested. Cleveland went 0–2 in the second round after losing on the road at Detroit and responded with three consecutive wins. We believe experience matters to win Game 3. It’s going to be a remarkable night for James Harden, who brings in over 30 points with 9 assists. The former NBA MVP responded with another vintage playoff performance in the series, which explains why the Cavaliers acquired him early this season.

Game 4: New York Knicks 121, Cleveland Cavaliers 117

With OG Anunoby injured, the Knicks have needed guard Miles McBride to step up more recently. He had a great performance in Game 4 vs. Philadelphia by making seven treys with 25 points and we think his perimeter shooting will shine once again in the Eastern Conference Finals. With Anunoby limited, McBride exploded with a game-high in three-pointers (five) made as part of the Knicks’ bench that made the difference in a Game 4 win on the road. This sent New York back to Madison Square Garden with a 3–1 series lead.

Game 5: New York Knicks 118, Cleveland Cavaliers 107

During the Eastern Conference Finals, we’re expecting Karl-Anthony Towns to be the biggest reason New York gets to the NBA Finals. Back home at Madison Square Garden, KAT would record his fourth double-double of the series and reach over 20 points for the second time since he has scored over 15 points in each contest. KAT and Brunson combined for over 40 points in a Game 5 loss to the Knicks’ rotation depth and team defense that gave the Knicks their first Eastern Conference title since 1999.

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Jalen Brunson has added to his legacy as one of the greatest players in New York Knicks history over the past few weeks. However, some new comments on Wednesday highlight why Carmelo Anthony was so bad for the franchise during his time in Gotham.

The Knicks have felt like a team of destiny this month. After being down two games to one in their quarterfinal series against the Atlanta Hawks, they have pulled off a historic victory by winning seven consecutive games and securing their spot in the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals.

This is the second consecutive year the team has reached the conference finals and Brunson has played a huge role in their success. This includes reaching the playoffs every year since New York arrived in 2022. In that time, he has shocked the NBA world and emerged as a perennial All-Star and the best closer in the game.

Still, part of what makes Brunson so beloved by Knicks fans is that he is a humble star who is team-first. He proved this once again on Wednesday. During a press conference with the NYC media, Brunson was asked about his teammates recently taking more shots and not demanding the ball like many stars. His answer was simple and excellent.

Brunson said, “One, I’m not a star. Two, I want to win.”

Carmelo Anthony can’t hold a candle to Jalen Brunson in NYC

That kind of selfless and humble nature hasn’t been seen from a top Knicks star in a very long time. decade. and was one of Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony’s seven seasons in New York. Still, as good as Anthony was, he was not as impactful a player as Brunson.

During his seven seasons in New York, the 10-time All-Star led the Knicks to the playoffs only three times. In four of those years, they had a losing record, including a 17–65 mark when they played only 40 games in 2014–15. And while they made the playoffs, New York got the furthest trip to the semi-finals. Brunson has done this in at least every season he has been with the team. Plus, he took a discounted rate when he signed his extension through 2024.

Anthony was a great player and a great scorer, but his me-first, ball-hogging style was great for his numbers but bad for his teammates and the Knicks’ championship hopes. While New York fans celebrated the return of the Brooklyn-born kid, his seven years playing inside Madison Square Garden were mostly disappointing. And they led the franchise to seven consecutive losing seasons.

Brunson has excelled since day one and he is still only 29 years old. So even bigger seasons and potentially the Knicks’ first championship since 1973 could be ahead. Fans should appreciate the three-time All-Star as much as possible because superstars like him don’t come around often.

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New York Knicks fans got some great news when it came to OG Anunoby’s availability for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

With all the momentum the Knicks have had over the past two weeks, they head into the 2026 edition of the East Finals with only one obvious question: When will forward OG Anunoby be available to play? He missed the final two games of their four-game sweep over the Philadelphia 76ers. But they will definitely need him for their upcoming series against the Detroit Pistons or Cleveland Cavaliers.

Well, fans got an update on his availability on Wednesday, and it’s very positive. During a press conference with the NYC media, Knicks head coach Mike Brown revealed that Anunoby participated in “parts” of practice today.

Does this mean he’ll be in uniform for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals? not necessarily. But prospects continue to improve. Anunoby suffered a hamstring strain late in Game 2 of the 76ers series. However, after being evaluated, reports emerged that New York was optimistic he could return to face Philly.

But because the Knicks played so well in Game 3, they decided to be cautious again and sat him in Game 4 as well. As fans know, it all worked out, and they didn’t need Anunoby to blast through Philly and into the Conference Finals.

The series between the Cavaliers and Pistons is tied at 2-2. Knicks supporters won’t mind if the series lasts seven games and the East Finals begin next week. This will give Anunoby more time to rest and make his availability in Game 1 much more likely.

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Joel Embiid doesn’t want any blame for the Philadelphia 76ers’ failures in their semifinal series against the New York Knicks. And after their defeat in Game 3, they took the path of conspiracy to escape from it.

Friday was a must-win scenario for Embiid and the 76ers. They entered last night’s Game 3 up 2-0, having lost a lot of confidence after the Game 7 win over the Boston Celtics in the quarterfinals. With the return of the seven-time All-Star after missing Game 2 and some home support, Philly was in a better position to get its first W of the series.

However, after a strong first quarter and an early lead, the Knicks took control of the game in the second quarter and never relinquished it the rest of the night. While there are many who could take the blame for going 3-0, Embiid doesn’t want to take any of it.

After Game 1, he tried to put responsibility on the referees and accused the Knicks of dirty play. Unsurprisingly, he is also blaming the referees for the Game 3 failure. Yet, he has now gone beyond claiming poor performance by officials and is taking the path of conspiracy.

Joel Embiid: ‘I think it’s good when New York wins’

Embiid said when asked about officiating after Game 3, “They shot 32 free throws, we had 16. We’re not a team that shoots a lot of threes. We attack, put the ball on the floor. I don’t know.” “I think it’s good when New York wins, so we’ve got to have a mentality of not fouling. Being smart enough to not put ourselves in a position where they can take advantage of it.”

Of course, it must be the case that the league just wants the Knicks to advance and reach the NBA Finals. It can’t be that he was 3-11 in 14 minutes and .24 when he was on the floor in Game 1. Or that he missed Game 2 because of his lame body. Or that he let Tyrese Maxey take the lead in Game 3 instead of taking 17 shots and being -9 when he clearly wasn’t hot.

Making matters worse is Embiid’s avoidance of blame for the 76ers’ 3-0 series loss, becoming a viral sensation for his flop-a-thon in Game 3 on Saturday. The one-time NBA MVP is already an elite player. Taking responsibility for losses and being a leader makes him one of the least-liked stars in the NBA.

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A new report suggests that Joel Embiid’s worst nightmare will come true as New York Knicks fans are set to come to Xfinity Mobile Arena for Games 3 and 4 of their series against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Yes, the Knicks haven’t won an NBA championship since the early 70s. And since that time, they have faced many difficult seasons. However, despite the poor treatment their fan base has endured over the past 40 years, there are no better, more loyal fans than Knicks fans – and they travel.

New York is one of the few teams where fans of the franchise can be found in almost every city, and in some places, they take over the field. Cities like Washington, DC, Miami, Atlanta and Philadelphia can be like second homes for Knicks players. That’s why Joel Embiid implored Sixers fans not to allow the NYC Fanatics to take over their home arena as they did during the playoffs two years ago.

Data shows huge number of tickets sold from New York for Games 3 and 4 of Knicks vs. 76ers

Well, it seems his appeal for domestic support didn’t work. According to third-party ticket seller TickPick, 59% of tickets purchased on their site for Game 3 have come from New York and New Jersey, while 22% have come from Pennsylvania. The data for Game 4 is even worse, with 66% coming from New York and New Jersey.

It should be noted that there is a large number of 76ers fans in New Jersey as Philadelphia is on the border of NJ and PA. Plus, it’s not strange to think that there are Philly fans in Gotham. However, it can also be said that the Knicks have a good number of fans in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Spectators won’t really know whether Knicks fans will take over Xfinity Mobile Arena for Games 3 and 4 until Friday and Sunday. However, based on these numbers, past history, and the 76ers being down 2-0 in the series, it doesn’t bode well for Embiid and his teammates this week.

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A follow-up report brings even more positive news for New York Knicks fans when it comes to OG Anunoby’s hamstring injury.

On Wednesday night, the Knicks earned a hard-fought win over the Philadelphia 76ers to extend their lead to 2-0 in the semifinal series. In the win, New York got another great game from the guy who has quietly been their MVP these playoffs, OG Anunoby.

The nine-year veteran posted 24 points, five rebounds, four steals and had a +12 when he was on the court. Heading into the 2026 playoffs, Anunoby leads the team in steals (1.5), is second in points (21.4) and blocks (1.1), and is third in rebounds (7.5). However, fans got a big scare in the final minutes of Game 3 when he limped in, went to the locker room and never returned.

It took a long time for Knicks fans to get an update on his condition. However, on Thursday afternoon, ESPN’s Shams Charania revealed that he has a right hamstring strain and is listed as day-to-day. This is a huge relief for New York fans, but hamstring injuries are tricky, and Anunoby has dealt with them in the past. It may still take a week or more for him to return to action.

‘Optimism’ OG Anunoby will play in Game 3 or 4 of Knicks vs. 76ers

However, it looks like the Knicks may have actually gotten pretty lucky with one of their most important players. In a follow-up report from SNY Knicks insider Ian Begley, he claimed there is “optimism” in the locker room that Anunoby will not need a week of recovery and could play in Game 3 on Friday or Game 4 on Sunday.

This is fantastic news for a team coming off one of the most spectacular performances by any Knicks team in the playoffs in decades. Anunoby has played a major role in his dominant play.

With the Knicks holding a 2-0 series lead, they may be wary of the valuable forward and rest him for Game 3. If they somehow manage to win on the road, letting him sit Game 4 again would be a smart move. We’ll see how it all plays out tomorrow night in Philadelphia.

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A new NBA player poll offered some surprising disrespect towards New York Knicks All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns.

The stock of towns around the game seems to be at new highs. He played a major role in leading the Knicks to the Eastern Conference Finals last year as he earned All-Star honors for the fifth time. This season, while there has been much discussion about his fit with New York’s new offense, he went to the All-Star Game for the sixth time.

Yet, despite the discussion about his future in Gotham, Towns has silenced the doubters over the past few weeks by playing a featured role in one of the most impressive runs any Knicks team has ever seen. It should have engendered new respect in the NBA for the man many view as the greatest shooting giant of all time. Well, probably not.

Karl-Anthony Towns is called overrated by NBA players

On Wednesday, The Athletic released its latest player survey covering a variety of topics about the NBA. One of the questions asked was “Who is the highest-rated player in the league?” Although he didn’t receive the most votes, Towns was surprisingly close to the top.

Out of 81 votes, the talented big man got 7.4% of the votes. That was the third highest. The stars receiving more votes than Towns were Alpern Sengun (12.3%), Rudy Gobert (8.6%), and Trae Young (8.6%).

It should be noted that this question received the least number of votes compared to other questions, which had almost double the number of responses. Still, it’s still surprising why some players feel Towns is overrated despite being a six-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA player and a big part of teams that reached the conference finals the last two seasons.

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A new report offers reason to wonder if Karl-Anthony Towns’ recent hot streak for the New York Knicks may be partially motivated by the opportunity to score one last monster contract.

The version of Towns that Knicks fans have seen over the past few weeks may be the best version they’ve seen during his two seasons with the team. The strangest thing about this is that in his last four games, he has scored 20 or more points only once.

The All-Star who claims he is the best shooting big man of all time looks like an Eastern version of Nikola Jokic with some excellent passing and serves as a facilitator on top of that guy. However, he has also given maximum effort on the defensive side. The Knicks probably wouldn’t be in this recent playoff contest without this version of KAT.

A month ago, there was speculation about his spot on this roster and coach Mike Brown not making adjustments to get the most out of the six-time All-Star. It seemed that his days in New York would be numbered. Especially after the Knicks lost their series against the Atlanta Hawks 2-1.

However, he has started to work on defense, and Brown has finally found a way to get the most out of his talent. But all this requires a level of sacrifice that towns have rarely shown. Something changed, where he decided to change his style and do whatever was necessary for the team to win and reach the finals. This is a great thing for Knicks fans and shows a new level of dedication.

Is Karl-Anthony Towns’ recent play inspired by receiving a new max deal from the NY Knicks?

Still, for Towns, his recent play and mental pivot may be more inspired than his first trip to the NBA Finals. In a new report from ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst, NBA insiders reveal Towns could opt out of the final year of his deal next summer. Opting out of a deal that pays him $61 million seems strange, but the goal will be to get an extension.

They report, “The Knicks could give him a max deal of up to four years and $260 million.” At the age of 30, this would be the last major deal he would receive as a professional. So it means a lot for him to be the best version of himself and for the team to have a real chance to reach and win the NBA Finals.

Bontemps and Windhorst noted that the Knicks have invested about $170 million in Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart for the 2027-28 season. However, if the Knicks reach the Finals or win their first title in 43 years, Towns puts them in a difficult position where they may have to pay him off and make another title run.

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Philadelphia 76ers great Joel Embiid isn’t getting any sympathy from New York fans and radio hosts when it comes to complaints about the New York Knicks’ physicality in their ongoing playoff series.

On Monday night, the highly anticipated semifinal series between the Knicks and Sixers began at Madison Square Garden. Both teams entered the series performing brilliantly. However, basketball fans only needed three quarters to see that New York was the real team on fire en route to a 137-98 victory.

After the game, to no one’s surprise, Philly big man Joel Embiid complained about the Knicks’ physicality. Specifically, the moment when his stomach hurt during a screen. The blow left him in pain as the area had been damaged since his appendix was removed a few weeks ago.

Embiid said, “I thought it was unnecessary, but we move on. Whatever it is, it’s playoff basketball. If that’s the reality of it, I think we have to go out and be physically active as well.”

It’s hard to know if Mikal Bridges had any malicious intent on the play. But this claim comes just days after Jaylen Brown took aim at Embiid for being a dedicated flopper in their series against the Boston Celtics. This is a few years removed from the series where the center injured Knicks big man Mitchell Robinson with a dirty move. Most people outside of Philadelphia wouldn’t feel bad for the seven-time All-Star.

You can add popular midday WFAN host and New York Giants great Tiki Barber to that group. On the Tuesday morning edition of the show he co-hosted with Evan Roberts, the one-time NFL star questioned Embiid’s toughness.

“If there’s going to be an injury, there’s going to be a physical injury, and someone may accidentally or otherwise attack you, then don’t play,” Barber began by saying. “Remember when I broke my hand in 2000? I had to tape up my other hand because they were literally stepping on it, not knowing my hand was broken. I didn’t complain about it. That’s part of the risk of injury. So, stop being quiet.”

It will be interesting if it is used as bulletin board material in the 76ers locker room before Wednesday’s game or if it gets some “unique” chants from Knicks fans inside MSG for Game 2.

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The New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks are tied 2-2 in the first round. If New York finds a way to advance, the Boston Celtics could wait in the second round, and the debate is already beginning on what the Knicks need to do.

On the First Take X account, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith made his position clear. The seven-game series loss to Boston in the semifinals should not be used as a reason to gut the roster or fire the coach.

“If the New York Knicks go, and they lose in the semi-finals in a 7-game series against the Boston Celtics, I don’t think there’s any reason to say, ‘The coach has to go. These players have to go.'”

But Stephen A didn’t stop at defending the Knicks. He emphasized why Boston deserves such an honor in the first place. Tatum is recovering from sports. Brown is playing like an MVP candidate. And the difference between this Celtics team and the team that beat New York last year is real.

“If we’re being honest, there’s no shame in losing to the Boston Celtics despite the fact that you beat Boston last year. If Jayson Tatum is healthy, which he looks better and better, and Jalen Brown is an MVP candidate, the Boston Celtics are no joke. The Boston Celtics are capable of winning the chip.”

Stephen A. Why Smith thinks the Celtics are still a championship threat in 2026

It’s not just Tatum and Brown. Stephen A went through the entire roster, coaching staff and front office and explained why Boston is built differently, and the first thing he pointed out was how many ways this team can hurt you.

“In a lot of people’s eyes they live and die with the three. But the thing that has to amaze us is that we have to run, and I don’t forget to mention the Peyton Pritchetts of the world and the Derek Whites of the world and what they bring to the table, and Joey Mazzola and Sam Cassell, and those brothers and how exceptionally well they coach.”

Then she gave her flowers to Brad Stevens.

“But the thing that amazes me about Boston, I can’t forget to mention Brad Stevens, who knows what he’s doing as an executive, who is inheritor of the work that the great Nanny Engel did in Boston. He deserves a lot of credit.”

Then came the part that redefines everything. Tatum and Brown are not veterans retiring. They are still climbing.

“Jalen Brown is on the verge of going to his seventh conference finals. Jayson Tatum is on the verge of going to his sixth conference finals. And did you know that neither of them are 30 years old yet? Think about it. Neither of them are 30 years old.”

“None of them are like, you know, it’s like we’ve forgotten that all these brothers are still young. They’re not some age. We look at them and we’re amazed when KD is healthy, KD is 37. We’re looking at Steph Curry, 37, 38. We’re looking at LeBron James, 41. Jalen Brown and Jayson Tatum are not 30 years old. “Actually, they’re not 29.”

This brought him back to where he started.

“So I’m looking at them. I feel like, if the New York Knicks go and they lose in the semi-finals to the Boston Celtics in a seven-game series, I don’t think there’s any reason to say the coach has to go. These players have to go, blah, blah, blah.”

The Knicks defeated Boston last year, but Tatum was lost in Game 4 with an Achilles injury. He is now back and healthy. Losing to this version of the Celtics in seven games would not be a failure for New York. This would mean that they would be playing on a team that is built to win championships.

Jayesh Pagar is currently pursuing Sports Journalism from London School of Journalism and has four years of experience… More about Jayesh Pagar

ESPN’s latest NBA mock draft opens the door for the New York Knicks to select a potential OG Anunoby replacement with their top pick at the June event.

Since arriving in a trade ahead of the 2023-24 trade deadline, Anunoby has been a valuable part of the Knicks roster. He’s a reliable three-point threat, an underrated scorer, a talented athlete, but more than anything, he’s a tenacious defender who can guard both forward spots.

However, if the Knicks disappoint in this year’s playoffs and fail to reach the Finals, the 28-year-old could be used in a blockbuster trade. Furthermore, he still has three years and $135 million left on his massive contract. This is a huge number for a player who has never earned All-Star honors in the NBA.

Maybe that’s why Jeremy Wu’s new ESPN NBA mock draft predicts the team will use their first-round pick in June on Arizona big man Koa Peat.

Can Koa Pete replace OG Anunoby?

“Pete chose to declare for the draft and has the opportunity to solidify his role on the board with a strong predraft process,” Wu wrote. “Some teams see him as an excellent candidate to return to school and improve his stock, an option that is available to him.

“Scouts view his perimeter shooting as a key swing skill that will impact his career path, as he is not particularly effective at scoring outside 15 feet at this stage of his career. But his strength and quickness relative to his size, coupled with a solid offensive feel and ability to defend the perimeter, give him a chance to find a spot at the right position.”

The 6-foot-8 prospect isn’t quite the same three-point shooter as Anunoby, but he has similar athletic talent and the ability to be a problem for opposing forwards. One area where he is better than the nine-year vet is that he is a better ball handler and passer. The 19-year-old is a project, but he would come at a fairly cheap rate and wouldn’t need to be a top scorer or distributor, just a strong defender.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

A new report points to the New York Knicks potentially replacing veteran rim-protector Mitchell Robinson with St. John’s top star in 2025-26.

Robinson never had stats that jumped off the page. Even this season, he is averaging 5.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in just 19.6 minutes per night. However, for Knicks fans and rivals in the conference, they know the seven-foot player can make a big difference as an elite offensive rebounder, talented rim protector and lob threat.

That’s why New York gave the former second-round pick a huge raise four years ago in the form of a four-year, $60 million deal. However, with the valuable center in the final year of his contract, and the Knicks already hovering around the second salary tax apron, there’s a very real possibility they let Robinson walk in free agency.

That’s why they may consider trying to replace him with a more cost-effective option in June’s NBA Draft. Well, they could reportedly be one of those teams taking a close look at a player who could be a great replacement for Robinson next season.

Could the New York Knicks trade Mitchell Robinson for Zubie Ejiofor?

According to college basketball insider Adam Zagoria, more than 20 teams have “requested private workouts” with St. John’s star Jubie Ejiofor. It would make complete sense if the Knicks were one of the teams the senior won Big East Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Scholar Athlete of the Year honors last season for a Red Storm team that reached the Sweet 16.

Although Ejiofor is shorter than Robinson (7-feet compared to 6-foot-9), he weighs similar to the Knicks center. He is also a talented rim protector (2.1 blocks per night) and offensive rebounder (3.0 ORPG in 2025-26, 4.4 in 2024-25). However, he may be upgraded overall as he is a far more efficient scorer than Robinson.

Last season, Ejiofor posted 17.3 points per game and shot 72% from the line. Robinson is a liability at the line after averaging 51% from the stripe for his career. The St. John’s big man could be an option for New York, with a higher possibility at 24, or 31, to open Round 2 of the draft.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

The New York Knicks made a tremendous comeback on Saturday night. They defeated the Atlanta Hawks 114–98 to tie the first-round playoff series 2–2.

After losing two games in a row, New York was focused, physical and determined when it came out of the locker room. Here are three things we discovered after Game 4.

The Knicks always need a wakeup call

This team seems to play its best basketball when its back is against the wall. After losses in Games 2 and 3, including a blowout 109–108 loss where they blew a late lead, the Knicks came to Atlanta with something to prove. And he did exactly that.

With a jump ball at tip-off, New York set the tone. They led in every quarter, ran sharp offensive sets and defended with alacrity. Karl-Anthony Towns finished with a postseason triple-double (20 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists), and OG Anunoby exploded for 22 points.

Knicks’ true character – tough, deep and disciplined – was revealed in the moment he felt the pressure. This is quite reassuring, but at the same time, it is also a little worrying as we head towards a winner-takes-all series.

Mickle Bridge requires less than 20 minutes

We all know Mikal Bridges just isn’t producing when it comes to the biggest moments of the playoffs. After a scoreless performance with a shocking minus-26, the Knicks reduced their time on the floor in Game 4.

Although he scored a few times in the first half, his defensive mistakes and offensive struggles put him at risk in crunch time.

Mike Brown needs to accept the truth. In one trade, Bridges was the reason the Knicks had to give up five first-round picks; However, in the playoffs, performance matters, not loyalty.

Limiting their playing time to under 20 minutes allows the Knicks to keep their most effective and reliable players on the field in the final minutes, while also getting some benefits from their length and defense in controlled doses.​

Kat needs to be the main guy, not Jalen Brunson

Jalen Brunson is the heart of this team, but this game tells a clear story: They turned the ball over six times. Meanwhile, Kat was an absolute monster. He scored, counter-attacked and planned attacks all night long.

When the Knicks run the post and play through Towns in the mid-range, they look like a completely different team. The Knicks are at their best when the Cats are dominating and Game 4 proved that again.

Jayesh Pagar is currently pursuing Sports Journalism from London School of Journalism and has four years of experience… More about Jayesh Pagar

Things are looking pretty bad for the New York Knicks right now. They currently trail the series against the Atlanta Hawks 2-1 and will play again at State Farm Arena for Game 4 on Saturday.

They really need to win this game if they want to keep the series going. If they lose another game then it will be very difficult for them to make a comeback in the series.

The series has unfolded completely differently than anyone in New York had expected. The Knicks won Game 1 but lost Games 2 and 3 by a combined two points, with both losses decided by the final possession.

In Game 3, the Hawks again answered in the fourth quarter, with CJ McCollum and Jonathan Kuminga scoring points. New York had 18 turnovers and made only 28.6% of their shots from three-point range.

A 3-1 series loss against the Hawks would be a disaster for a team built to go deep. Mike Brown knows this. This is what every Knicks fan is watching. Here are three bold predictions for Game 4.

Prediction 1: Jalen Brunson scores over 25 and plays like himself again

Brunson has scored 26, 29 and 28 points in back-to-back games in this series, so the points have clearly been up. But unfortunately, he has also been responsible for every misstep of late. In Game 3, not only did he miss a three-pointer in the air with 16 seconds remaining, but he turned the ball over on the last play as the Knicks were unable to even attempt a shot.

This is a game where Brunson needs to look like himself from start to finish, not just in detail. Playoff Brunson is a different player. Last year, before the Knicks took on the Pacers, he was one of the best closers in the league, and there’s no reason why that player couldn’t show up in Game 4.

Brunson drops at least 25 and makes the right play when the game is on the line.

Prediction 2: Mikal Bridges struggles again and sees fewer minutes

Bridges had no points in Game 3, going 0-for-3 with one rebound and two assists in 21 minutes. In four-quarter periods in Games 2 and 3, they had zero field goals and six total turnovers.

Mike Brown took him out in the third quarter and kept him on the bench for most of the second half.

Miles McBride got 31 minutes while Bridges only got 21 minutes, and the Knicks were clearly more effective with that smaller lineup. Since Bridges is having trouble in this matchup, it’s hard to imagine Brown falling back on him in heavy moments when McBride is giving him more on the floor.

Prediction: Bridges plays less than 25 minutes again, and McBride handles the bulk of those extra possessions.

Prediction 3: Karl-Anthony Towns posts a double-double and stays on the floor

Towns had 21 points and 17 rebounds in Game 3, and he was certainly the best big man on the floor all night. The issue is that the Knicks are finding it difficult to utilize him in the most important moments; In fact, the final play went to Brunson.

As a small team, the Hawks and Towns demonstrated very clearly what this mismatch will look like when it comes to offense.

The Browns should keep Towns on the court for a full 40 minutes instead of just longer, because with the production from both Towns and Brunson, New York is a completely different team.

If these three things happen, the Knicks may very well win.

Prediction: Towns gets at least 22 points and 11 rebounds, and New York wins 110-102 to tie the series 2-2.

Jayesh Pagar is currently pursuing Sports Journalism from London School of Journalism and has four years of experience… More about Jayesh Pagar

Through three games, atlanta hawks saved by a hair’s breadth new York Knicks As they took their lead in the series to 2-1. There was another nervy situation at the end of Game 3, but the Hawks were able to prevail in the end and win 109–108.

A number of players have been instrumental in the team’s performance in the series, one of them being Jonathan Kuminga and his impact on the bench.

Kuminga had a good performance in Game 3, but some fans are still looking at a small step he made in Game 2, which helped the Hawks steal a lead on the road.

On one of the final possessions where Nickeil Alexander-Walker swiped the ball from Knicks captain Jalen Brunson, Kuminga was seen pushing his teammate toward Brunson in an effort to give him better position.

That strategy may have worked, because the Hawks got the steal and scored on the other end.

Jonathan Kuminga credits Draymond Green for winning strategy against New York Knicks

After the game, Kuminga, who will earn an average annual salary of $23,400,000 in the 2025–26 season, credited Draymond Green for his instincts to make that play.

Speaking to journalist Kevin Chouinard after the matchup, Kuminga praised Green as the source of that strategy.

“I’m going to give my praise to Drummond,” Kuminga said. “Growing up around him and watching him, I’ve seen him do it a lot of times. He’s one of the best at doing it.”

He added, “It’s something I’m not thinking about in the game, but watching someone do it over time, sometimes it just clicks.” “Nickel was still in good shape because he was able to get steals, especially with the way Nickel was playing defense.”

The Hawks sent Kuminga to help Brunson on key defensive possessions in Games 2 and 3.

When Brunson stopped for a turnaround at the end of G2, I asked him about pushing Nickell Alexander-Walker back.

“I’m going to give my compliments to Drummond.” pic.twitter.com/siPxxmWtkJ

– Kevin Chouinard (@KLChouinard) 24 April 2026

Jonathan Kuminga has been around some of the better players who played the game while he was with him Golden State WarriorsAnd it’s no surprise that he adopted defensive tactics from former teammate Green.

This shows that the power forward is a sponge and he is using his experience to help the Hawks get an edge in the matchup against the Knicks, who have been good in the last two games.

Since his first foray into online journalism in 2019, Peter Okereke has written widely on entertainment, politics and pop… More about Peter Okereke

The New York Knicks are in serious trouble. It was their second one-possession collapse in three games following a 109-108 blowout loss in Game 3 to the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday night. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith completely dismantled the Knicks on the latest First Take episode, delivering one of the most powerful speeches of his career and putting every single person in that organization on notice.

Stephen A. Smith had a lot of New York Knicks

Stephen A. was of a calm nature. He arrived at the first take desk loaded with items and left nothing on the table. “Get out of the way,” he said. “I’m just one of many to apologize. I’m so upset by what I’m seeing right now. I’m losing my mind.”

The harshest words were directed at Mikal Bridges, and honestly, it was deserved. Bridges went scoreless in 21 minutes during Game 3, finishing a brutal minus-26, and committed four turnovers. He did not attempt a shot after five minutes of the second quarter, and coach Mike Brown benched him for most of the second half.

Stephen A said directly: “Mikael Bridges is scoreless. I’m seeing a bunch of zeros, a bunch of donuts everywhere. Four turnovers, three shot attempts, two assists, one rebound, no free throws, no points, no steals, no blocks. That’s why we gave up five picks in the first round.”

The context makes it even more damaging; Those five options were the cost of acquiring Bridges from Brooklyn, a trade that now leaves New York with no assets to pursue stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Knicks management and coaching staff in the crosshairs

Stephen A. Didn’t stop with the players. He took aim at the front office and coaching staff with equal intensity: “If the New York Knicks lose this series, head down. I’m telling you this right now. I’m sick and tired of that damn Leon Rose.” He said the decision to fire Tom Thibodeau now looks like a catastrophic mistake, especially after the Knicks were swept by a young Hawks team in the first round.

Coach Mike Brown is now on the hot seat. Brown benched Bridges for parts of Game 3, but CJ McCollum’s pull-up jumper with 12.5 seconds remaining sealed Atlanta’s victory and gave the Hawks a 2–1 series lead.

As Stephen A clearly stated: “It’s going to be another head coach in New York City. If they lose this series.” The Knicks can’t afford to go down 3-1. Game 4 is now a must win.

Jayesh Pagar is currently pursuing Sports Journalism from London School of Journalism and has four years of experience… More about Jayesh Pagar

The New York Knicks now face a harsh reality: Decisions made after Game 2 may have directly contributed to their Game 3 heartbreak.

After falling 109-108 to the Atlanta Hawks and down 2-1 in the series, questions are rising over Mike Brown’s rotation options, especially his decision to limit Mitchell Robinson’s role.

Mike Brown, Knicks, and Mitchell Robinson Call

Context matters now more than ever. Mike Brown’s statement regarding the Kat-Mitchell Robinson pairing came before Game 3.

“Combination of [KAT and Mitch] It has not been good, so I am opting not to play them together in this series because of the matchup.

That decision translated directly into the Game 3 rotation. Robinson played only 11 limited minutes and was largely absent in key stretches, especially late in the game, when defensive stops and rebounding were crucial.

Brown defended his team after the game, saying: “I liked the fight our guys showed… We gave ourselves a chance.”

But the stats tell a different story: The Knicks didn’t have a strong enough presence inside the paint when it really counted.

Karl-Anthony Towns vs. Mitchell Robinson Impact

Karl-Anthony ​​​​​​​​​ Towns did his part. He finished the game with 21 points and 17 rebounds, performing consistently on both ends of the floor and gradually helped the Knicks erase the double-digit deficit.

But basketball is not a one-man show. When Mitchell Robinson wasn’t on the floor long enough to lead the defense, the Knicks ran into trouble with second-chance opportunities and rim protection, two things Robinson is very good at.

Atlanta took full advantage of this. Onyeka Okongwu and other players were able to penetrate with greater ease, while guards were also more successful in attacking the paint. The Knicks may technically dominate the paint in terms of numbers, but the Hawks have played better on some very important possessions, especially late rebounds and defensive turnovers.

In such a close game these things can be the difference between victory and defeat.

Under pressure after consecutive defeats

Their anger doesn’t begin and end with losing one game – it’s the entire situation. Two consecutive losses, both in the final minutes, have made the Browns the subject of intense criticism.

Towns clearly acknowledged the issue: “We struggled… but we need to close the game out. We didn’t do that today.”

And this is the main point. The Knicks are fighting, even coming out strong, but their player substitutions and late performance are letting them down.

The decision to limit Robinson may have been a tactical move targeting the match-up, but Game 3 revealed the price.

If being a tough, rebounding, defensive team is part of your identity, not having your best interior player on the field in the final minutes is a big risk.

Currently, this is a risk that is not paying off.

Jayesh Pagar is currently pursuing Sports Journalism from London School of Journalism and has four years of experience… More about Jayesh Pagar

If the New York Knicks don’t reach the NBA Finals this spring, a surprising rumor opens the door for them to get rid of Mike Brown without paying the $30 million remaining on his contract.

Despite being on the job for less than a year, Brown is feeling intense pressure in his first postseason as head coach of the Knicks. The former coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Sacramento Kings was hired to lead the team ahead of Tom Thibodeau. However, they have won only two games more than last year, and they have disappointed fans more in 2025-26 than in the past few seasons.

Going into the campaign, most Knicks pundits felt the team would have to reach at least the NBA Finals for the coaches, executives, and players to keep their jobs. While firing a coach after one season is a rash move, questions have been raised about the team’s chemistry this season and the Browns’ decision not to adjust their system to get the most out of All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns.

Moving Brown would be costly as the team is still stuck with three years of the four-year, $40 million deal he signed over the summer. Plus, they still owe Thibodeau a three-year extension two summers ago. However, the team may be saved from trouble by an unexpected turn of events.

Can the Warriors save the NY Knicks from the big Mike Brown Bills?

Steve Kerr’s future as coach of the Golden State Warriors is uncertain as his contract is set to expire soon. According to San Francisco Standard Warriors reporter Tim Kawakami, Brown would be the top choice as a replacement if Kerr opts out.

But why would an elite franchise like Golden State bring in a coach who has been dumped by four teams? Well, Brown remains popular after six seasons in the organization as Kerr’s top assistant and interim coach on two occasions.

Knicks fans saw last season how difficult it is to get an interview and potentially get traded for a coach. However, if the franchise wants to move on from Brown and bring in someone like Billy Donovan, they certainly wouldn’t be asking for too much in a trade with the Warriors.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

If the New York Knicks disappoint in the NBA playoffs and go head-to-head with head coach Mike Brown, his potential replacement has just become available.

Despite being on the job for less than a year, Brown is feeling intense pressure in his first postseason as head coach of the Knicks. He was hired to take the team beyond Tom Thibodeau. However, they won only two games more than the previous year, and they disappointed fans more during the 2025–26 season than in the past few.

Going into the campaign, most Knicks pundits felt the team would have to reach at least the NBA Finals for the coaches, executives, and players to keep their jobs. While firing a coach after one season is a rash move, questions have been raised about the team’s chemistry and the Browns not adjusting their system to get the most out of All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns.

But who can the team bring in with experience after failing to secure a preferred coach from rival teams last summer? Well, one of the coaches he was interested in a year ago has just become available. On Tuesday, Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan officially “resigned” from his role in the organization.

Billy Donovan would be the top Mike Brown replacement option for the New York Knicks

Rumors swirled last year that the Knicks front office was possibly considering bringing in Jason Kidd from the Dallas Mavericks and Ime Udoka from the Houston Rockets. The Athletic’s Mike Puleo noted today that before Donovan received an extension last year, “the New York Knicks reportedly pursued Donovan for their coaching vacancy, but according to multiple reports, the Bulls declined the Knicks’ interview request.”

Donovan finished his Bulls tenure with a 226–256 record and only one playoff trip in six seasons. Awesome, no doubt about it. However, as Florida’s head coach, he won two national championships, and when he took over the same job with the Oklahoma City Thunder, they went 243–157 and made the playoffs all five seasons.

What makes the 60-year-old an interesting option for the Knicks is that he is a native of Rockville Centre, NY. If the team disappoints this spring, a son of the state, who has a strong coaching resume, would make him one of the strongest replacement options on the market for the Browns.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

The New York Knicks dominated the game for most of the time. However, the whole situation went awry when we needed it most. The double-digit lead evaporated completely, the Knicks failed in their last few games and were swept by the Hawks in the end.

What was a great opportunity to achieve a big win turned into a very disappointing defeat and an even bigger question mark has arisen in front of New York after this 107-106 defeat on their own court.​

mikal bridges didn’t give enough

Bridges should have been one of the Knicks players to calm things down when the game got tense, but he didn’t do that here. He finished with just 10 points on 3-10 shooting, and he didn’t look like the hungry scorer that New York needed at all.

The problem was not just missed shots but also inaction. In the last game, he took the final shot and missed, which added to the disappointment. A player like Bridges can’t disappear in a situation when the game is on the line.

the knicks bench was cold as ice

The Knicks’ bench was not enough to help lead the team. New York got 13 points from Mitchell Robinson and seven from Jordan Clarkson, but the rest of the bench combined to score zero.

In a playoff game where every point counts, that’s not enough. Atlanta’s bench was able to score a total of 28 points, led by Jonathan Kuminga’s 19 points, and that extra scoring made the difference in the game when the starters began to fade.

Mike Brown needs to change the system, and the Knicks need to take it more seriously

A big lesson from this loss is that the Knicks can no longer rely solely on talent. Their offense sputtered in the fourth quarter, and the stats showed it: New York managed only 15 points in the quarter, shooting 22.7% from the field; Atlanta, on the other hand, scored 28 points and shot 72.2%.

In fact, the game showed that the Hawks consistently found the right moments to score, while the Knicks kept missing their chances. Even missed a few late shots that could have ensured victory. It is not just a matter of ‘bad luck’; This is a problem of the entire system and mentality.

If the style of play is too slow, too predictable, or too relaxed, this team will be victimized in close games.



Jayesh Pagar is currently pursuing Sports Journalism from London School of Journalism and has four years of experience… More about Jayesh Pagar

Game 1 gave the New York Knicks a strong early lead in the series, but it also showed that Atlanta could remain in the battle down the stretch. Jalen Brunson started off with sharp scoring, Karl-Anthony Towns took over after halftime, and New York held off the Hawks’ last-ditch effort for a 113–102 victory.

The focus now turns to Madison Square Garden for Game 2 on Monday night, and the Hawks will need a sharp response if they are to avoid a 2-0 loss. Atlanta was competitive for a long time in Game 1, and regular season meetings show that this matchup always looks closer than the scoreboard suggests.

Jalen Brunson exceeds 25 points again

Brunson looks to be the safest scoring bet in this series. He had already scored 28 points in Game 1, and the Knicks relied on him before Towns took over. The big reason to expect another big night is matchup history: Against Atlanta in the regular season, Brunson averaged 29.3 points and 7.8 assists, a sign that the Hawks have struggled to keep him from dictating the pace.

New York’s offense often runs on its ability to create in the half court, and with the series still being tight, the Knicks are likely to keep the ball in their hands when the game slows down.

Karl-Anthony Towns posts double-double

The city is the second biggest problem facing Atlanta. He finished Game 1 with 25 points, and 19 of them came after halftime, showing how dangerous he can be once he gets set. The best part of this prediction is the rebounding angle: Towns has the size and usage to stack the boards, and he averaged 13.5 rebounds in the two regular season meetings against Atlanta, while scoring 28.5 points per game.

This type of production makes a double-double very realistic, especially if the Hawks focus too much on Brunson and leave Towns space to work inside and on the glass.

Hawks fight hard, but lose

Atlanta should not be expected to roll over. The Hawks went 20–6 after the All-Star break to clinch the No. 6 seed, and in Game 1 they got 26 points from CJ McCollum and 23 points from Jalen Johnson to close the gap briefly in the fourth quarter.

That said, New York has already shown it can answer every Hawks run, and the Knicks were also 30-10 at home this season. Game 2 should be more competitive than the final score suggests, but the Knicks still have the deep late-game lead and cleaner star power. Expect Atlanta to make it uncomfortable, then come back short again.

final predictions: Knicks 118, Hawks 112

Jayesh Pagar is currently pursuing Sports Journalism from London School of Journalism and has four years of experience… More about Jayesh Pagar

After 82 games and the latest edition of the play-in tournament, the 2026 NBA Playoffs are finally here. The postseason schedule begins tonight with a quartet of matchups, including the Atlanta Hawks in Gotham to battle the New York Knicks and the Houston Rockets visiting LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.

So, who are the best teams heading into this year’s postseason? Our new NBA power rankings for the 2026 playoffs answer that question.

16. Orlando Magic

Expectations were high for the Orlando Magic in 2025-26, as they gave up a chunk of draft assets to land Grizzlies veteran Desmond Bane. However, he did not make the impact on attack that he had hoped for, and Franz Wagner missed only 31 games, making matters worse.

But the biggest surprise this season was the Magic’s decline on defense. They went from giving up just 105.5 ppg (No. 1 in the NBA) in 2024-25 to 115.3 this season. This is one of the main reasons why they are much weaker than pistons.

15.Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers have seen dark clouds hang over their season since day one when former head coach Chauncey Billups was implicated in a wild poker game rigging scheme. However, interim coach Tiago Splitter did an impressive job overcoming the drama, leading them to a 42-40 record and their first trip to the playoffs since 2021.

The biggest reason they are in the playoffs this month is former Wizards lottery pick Deni Avdija having a career year. The 25-year-old leads the team in scoring (24.2 ppg) and dropped 41 in their play-in win earlier this week. Their series with the Spurs should be fun while it lasts.

14. Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors made the playoffs last season. Hopefully the addition of second-year head coaches Darko Rajakovic and Brandon Ingram can make a big difference in 2025-26. It has worked as they have won 16 more games than a year ago.

This season, Toronto has a top 10 defense (111.8 points). But an offense that ranks in the bottom 10 (114.6 ppg) is why they are vulnerable in a four vs. five seed battle with the Cavs.

13. Phoenix Suns

Outside of the 76ers, the Phoenix Suns were the NBA’s biggest drop in 2024-25. That’s why they made massive changes last summer, including bringing in a new coach and getting rid of Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. The changes produced positive results, and Phoenix was a team worthy of respect in 2025–26.

The biggest difference from last season is that this group plays very good defense, giving up the sixth-fewest points in the NBA (111.1 PPG). They need two play-in games to reach the playoffs, but should provide solid resistance to the defending champion Thunder in Round 1.

12. Los Angeles Lakers

There were high expectations for the Los Angeles Lakers this season. He received a full training camp with young superstar Luka Doncic, and impressed head coach JJ Redick during his rookie year. Plus, they still have one of the greatest players of all-time, LeBron James, who is still playing at a high level.

Over the past few months, they were one of the best teams in the NBA. However, serious injuries to Dončić and Austin Reaves at the worst possible time left James alone to lead the way in a tough matchup against the Rockets in Round 1.

11. Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers bounced back from a disastrous 2024-25 campaign thanks to the emergence of rookie VJ Edgecombe into one of the NBA’s most talented young stars, Tyrese Maxey, and a future All-Star. Their talented guard and white beard, Paul George, is why their series against the Celtics in Round 1 is a must-see matchup.

10. Atlanta Hawks

This has been a very interesting season for the Atlanta Hawks. At first it seemed like it was about building for the long term. The best evidence was the emergence of Jalen Johnson as a new star and the organization moving Trae Young, longtime face of the franchise, to Washington.

Just being competitive seemed like enough. However, the Hawks and their young players have looked confident and dangerous in the NBA playoffs, averaging 118.5 ppg – sixth best in the league.

9. Minnesota Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves entered the new season as one of the West’s elite teams after consecutive trips to the Western Conference Finals. However, one of the NBA’s best defensive units has regressed this season. A year ago, they were delivering 109.3 per night. This year, they finished with 114.6 points.

With a superstar like Anthony Edwards, the Timberwolves remain dangerous, but it doesn’t look like the teams of the last two seasons.

8. Cleveland Cavaliers

Last year, the Cleveland Cavaliers were the best team in the East during the regular season. However, for most of this season, Cleveland fell out of the No. 1 spot in the East. But after their deadline trade for James Harden, the Cavs headed into the playoffs like a dark horse.

While they have a middle-of-the-road defensive team, the group that posted 119.5 PPG – fourth best in the NBA – cannot be underestimated in the seven-game series.

7. Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets were one of the NBA’s best stories last season, as they developed into an elite team in the West with strong defense and the emergence of Alpern Sengun. He believed that adding future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant would create a force that would rival the Thunder. But although the Rockets are good, they are not striking fear among their rivals.

Although they are only giving up 110.0 points per night – fourth best in the NBA – the absence of Fred VanVleet has resulted in an offense that ranks near the bottom 10 (115.2 ppg). However, they are favorites to advance as the Lakers are very excited to begin the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

6. Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons have gone from a feel-good story last season to one of the NBA’s best teams in 2025-26. Led by Cade Cunningham and his young core, the Pistons have a real chance to reach the NBA Finals, giving up only 109.6 PPG – third best in the NBA.

However, Detroit will only go as far as MVP candidate Cunningham takes them. After suffering a lung injury last month, there are concerns whether the team’s most important player will be limited at the worst possible time.

5. New York Knicks

After falling short in the East Finals last year, the New York Knicks made the bold move of firing head coach Tom Thibodeau and replacing him with veteran coach Mike Brown. Nevertheless, the move has not produced much different results compared to last season.

The team would win over 50 games for the third consecutive year, but despite a statistically top 10 offense and top five defense, Jalen Brunson and his Knicks have many critics because of how inconsistent they are against elite teams. They will have a very tough matchup against the Hawks early this postseason.

4. Denver Nuggets

When you have, arguably, the best player on the planet, Nikola Kokic, the Denver Nuggets will always be a very competitive team. Although they made a coaching change at the end of last season, their offense (122.1 ppg) is still the best in the NBA in the postseason.

A major reason for this is the re-emergence of Jamal Murray. The one-time All-Star had a career year in 2025-26 and looks like he could be a game-changer during their title run in 2023. If they can play solid defense when it matters, Denver will be a problem in the playoffs.

3. Boston Celtics

Jayson Tatum’s season-ending injury a year ago set the Boston Celtics up for a season well below their usual expectations. However, Jaylen Brown and the best defense in the NBA (107.2 PPG) helped the Celtics finish with the second-best record in the East.

Although they would have been a force in the playoffs, they are a popular choice to reach the Finals as Tatum is back and looking back to his old form sooner than anyone expected.

2. San Antonio Spurs

There is no better story in the NBA this season than Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. Despite being just a few years removed from a second consecutive 22-win season, the young team looks to win 40 more games in 2025-26 and is a serious threat for the Thunder in the West.

Additionally, the 22-year-old phenom is a legitimate MVP candidate and is likely to win Defensive Player of the Year due to his strength on both sides of the court. The French, their young and talented core, and top-three offense (119.8 ppg) make them feel like a group that can reach the finals in June.

1.Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder led the NBA in scoring last season and a year ago the franchise won its first championship. Not much has changed for reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the team in 2025-26 as they head into the playoffs with a top-five offense and No. 2 defense in the league (107.9 PPG).

The biggest difference in 2025-26 was that elite B-side forward Jalen Williams only played 31 games during the regular season. However, despite his absence he has had the best record in the NBA all year and is looking healthy at the right times.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

A new NBA rumor reopens the door for the New York Knicks to go back to the blockbuster trade idea from a few years ago if they don’t reach the NBA Finals this spring.

There is a lot of pressure on Knicks head coach Mike Brown and his top stars heading into Game 1 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal matchup with the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night. In the eyes of the team management, this is a team that should compete for the NBA championship in a few weeks.

Apart from this, their fans yearning for championship also have high expectations from this expensive roster. However, it will not be easy to overtake the East’s elite, and there is a very real possibility that they fall short of their goal in these playoffs. If they don’t at least reach the NBA Finals, changes are coming to New York.

There will certainly be changes to the roster, and many NBA experts expect the team to continue pursuing Milwaukee Bucks veteran Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer. However, a different effective option may be available.

Is the door open for the New York Knicks to trade Donovan Mitchell this offseason?

Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star Donovan Mitchell is eligible for an extension this summer, according to Fred Katz of The Athletic. However, if he does not sign, “the organization will discuss the possibility of moving him, league sources said.”

Before Mitchell was traded to the Cavaliers four years ago, the Knicks were seen as a heavy favorite to acquire the New York native. The expectation was that he would be paired with big free agent Jalen Brunson. That was before the Knicks guard emerged as one of the game’s best. Having Brunson and Mitchell together in the backcourt could be a big problem for teams throughout the league.

Team president Leon Rose – if he keeps his job – cannot rule out going back to that original plan after their current failure. The big question is, does New York have the assets that would interest the Cavaliers in a potential trade?

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

A new report suggests that even coaches from rival teams are confused by some of Mike Brown’s decisions with the New York Knicks’ starting lineup.

After winning 51 games and reaching the Eastern Conference Finals last spring, the Knicks made the bold and possibly hasty decision to fire head coach Tom Thibodeau. Feeling that they had gone as far as they could with the veteran coach, he had put in impressive performances under the stewardship of the roster.

When they could have acquired a top coach from another team, the Knicks brain trust chose former Cleveland Cavaliers and Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown to be Thibodeau’s successor. Yet with three games left in the regular season, the team has about the same number of wins as it did a year ago, and there will be more disappointment heading into the NBA Playoffs.

There are questions about the Knicks’ defense and Brown not adjusting his system to get more out of All-Star forward Karl-Anthony Towns. Another issue that has troubled fans and analysts is Brown’s resistance to making changes to the starting lineup when the team is struggling. He left the lineup with Towns and Mitchell Robinson in the front court in November and never returned to it. This is a decision that has confused some people throughout the game.

Rival coach criticizes NY Knicks head coach Mike Brown’s ‘stubbornness’

“It’s championship or bust mode for that team. I don’t know how Mike Brown hasn’t at least given some other lineups a look despite all the troubles they’ve had,” a rival assistant coach told Heavy’s Sean Deveney. “It’s a fine line between having the courage of your convictions and being frankly stubborn about it. They have enough problems. It wouldn’t hurt to be creative and see what that looks like.”

It is not a good thing for Brown that sometimes the possible solutions to some of his conflicts are obvious, yet he is unwilling to admit his mistakes and make changes.

If the Knicks don’t reach the NBA Finals or at least the East Finals, heads are going to be bowed. Certainly, they will try to make major changes to the roster. And team president Leon Rose could be removed. However, while it would be a bad look to fire the head coach for the second consecutive year, Brown continues to give management reason to throw him under the bus if the team disappoints this spring.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

A new rumor has added a team to this summer’s Giannis Antetokounmpo trade pursuit that would be a major threat to the New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves.

The story of whether or not the Milwaukee Bucks will trade Antetokounmpo dominated the NBA news cycle in early 2026. Especially when reports surfaced that the team was listening to trade offers ahead of the February trade deadline. However, February 6 passed and the 10-time All-Star remained in Wisconsin.

Still, the expectation was that trading would resume this summer. It appears the matter is now at a standstill as Antetokounmpo and the team have clashed over his return to the court in the final weeks of the season. Well, just like before the deadline, the Knicks, Warriors, Timberwolves and many other teams are expected to be the top contenders for the two-time NBA MVP.

Those franchise offerings will be refined this summer. But will that be enough to defeat the Brooklyn Nets, because, according to the New York Post’s Brian Lewis, after appearing disinterested in pursuing a star player again, it is now certain that Brooklyn will “tell the Bucks their desired superstar this summer.”

What could the Brooklyn Nets offer in a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade?

From this year to 2030, the Nets have eight first-round selections. Which includes two pieces in 2027, 2028 and 2029. A lot of draft picks will be a key part of any offer Milwaukee accepts for Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Brooklyn will have plenty of them in future years. Another priority for the Bucks will be adding young stars.

The Nets could offer Michael Porter Jr. one season remaining on his contract. He certainly has value after a career year in 2025-26. The big question is whether Milwaukee will see the value in players like Nic Claxton and the team’s five first-round selections from the 2025 class – Igor Demin, Nolan Traore, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf (26th), and Danny Wolf.

Furthermore, while Antetokounmpo wants to play in New York, he may not have any interest in joining a Nets franchise that is known for losing heavily throughout its history.

At the very least, the Nets should be a player in the Antetokounmpo trade market and could make a strong offer that should worry teams like the Knicks, Warriors and Timberwolves.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

A major injury update from the New York Knicks means the team has no excuses anymore as they look to finish the regular season strong.

On the surface, this has been another good season for the NY Knicks. They have a 49–28 record and have a chance to record their most wins in a season since the 2012–13 team, which had 54 wins. Still, when you dig deeper, this has been a disappointing group.

Despite being on the verge of a third consecutive 50-win season for the first time since the early 1990s, they are just one game away from clinching the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. In a year where the East was poised to move forward in a way it hasn’t in years, the NY Knicks simply haven’t taken advantage.

They certainly have the talent to reach the NBA Finals, but they have been inconsistent when it comes to elite teams in the league. While defensive lapses and Karl-Anthony Towns fitting in on offense are frequent excuses for their up-and-down play, another major reason is that they have been without Landry Shamet and Deuce McBride for most of March. The guards are two key members of their bench.

Knicks fully healthy heading into Bulls game

Well, that may no longer be an excuse if the NY Knicks don’t potentially advance in the playoffs. On Thursday night, New York Post insider Stephen Bondy reported that “The Knicks have a clean injury report for tomorrow’s game against the Bulls. Not a single player is listed.”

McBride recently made his return, and now Shamet has been cleared to return as an immediate addition to the offense off the bench. A team wants to play at full strength before heading into the postseason. The NY Knicks have him now, which is great. But it also means that injuries will not be considered an excuse for moving forward. And if they can’t finish the regular season strongly, they’ll obviously have big problems starting the playoffs.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

The New York Knicks battled the Oklahoma City Thunder for three quarters, but walked away with another disappointing loss, 111-100, with a long list of what-ifs. It wasn’t about the effort. Jalen Brunson again played brilliantly and the defense competed for long periods of time.

But when you look at the numbers and the key moments, there are two things most responsible for this loss, and both can be completely fixed if the Knicks are serious about making noise in the playoffs.

CT disparity and Knicks’ ill-discipline

The first thing to start with is free throws, because that’s where this game was really lost. The Thunder hit 38 free throw shots. The Knicks made 17 shots. That’s a 21‑try difference and an 18‑point difference on the line in an 11‑point loss.

New York already ranks near the bottom of the league in free throw attempts per game, and it showed again. Instead of attacking the rim and forcing OKC to commit fouls, the Knicks resorted to jumpers while getting to the other end and getting pucks.

Mike Brown also acknowledged this: “It was a hard-fought ball game, but the thing I was most disappointed with was the energy we used on the officials. They shot 38 FTs. Were all of them legal? IDK. Some of them were because we overreached,” according to James L. Edwards of The Athletic.

This is where disappointment is justified. The Thunder are smart and experienced at making contact, but the Knicks played right into their hands. Karl-Anthony Towns’ flagged-1 on Chet Holmgren early in the third was the perfect example.

You can’t give free points and extra possessions to a good team and then complain about the whistle. Until the Knicks get mentally stronger, play defense without drawing fouls, and put more pressure on the rim themselves, games like this will continue to get out of hand.

The Knicks bench was a complete ghost

If CT was the first problem, the bench was the second. New York did not get a single bench point until Jose Alvarado’s three-pointer with 6:45 left in the second quarter. This is embarrassing for a team with playoff hopes. While OKC’s second unit brought the energy, pressure and scoring, the Knicks’ bench gave them almost nothing except missed shots, careless fouls and turnovers.

This is where criticism should be brutal. The starters did enough to give the Knicks a chance. Brunson, Hart, Bridges and Towns continued to pull the team back into the game. But every time the bench came on, the energy was gone and the scoreboard was against New York.

If this team is to be taken seriously, the bench needs to stop being a problem that starters are asked to fix and start becoming a real advantage. Right now, it’s the opposite, and that’s a big reason the Knicks came out of this with another avoidable loss.

RELATED: NY Knicks Legend Tells the Brutal Truth About Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade

Jayesh Pagar is currently pursuing Sports Journalism from London School of Journalism and has four years of experience… More about Jayesh Pagar

The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade discussion is impossible to ignore. The New York Knicks have been linked to the two-time MVP for months. But now, a Knicks legend has stepped in with a cold dose of reality. John Starks, one of the most beloved figures in franchise history, spoke to Front Office Sports and didn’t hold back at all.

Starks was clear from the beginning. He said, “Giannis is not coming. He is not coming to New York.”

He went on to express his genuine respect for Antetokounmpo and his loyalty to the Milwaukee Bucks. Starks pointed out that Antetokounmpo had every opportunity to leave before the Bucks won the championship, but he decided to stay, fight and perform.

“He said, just give me some players around me, and I’ll bring you a championship, and he kept his promise.”

Starks highlighted his admiration for players who persevere and work hard even in difficult situations rather than abandoning the team. In fact, that’s exactly what Antetokounmpo did, and Starks believes loyalty is a very strong character trait.

Starks also mentioned that New York is a tough place to play if you can’t win. He said the Knicks have now become a desirable organization because of management, but still need to keep winning.

RELATED: NY Knicks get the injury news they’ve been waiting for for weeks

Could the Starks really be wrong?

But there are some things worth noting here. The situation has changed significantly in Milwaukee. Rumors say the Bucks and Antetokounmpo are set to get a ‘divorce’ this summer. Antetokounmpo’s injury issues have lowered his trade value, so a Knicks deal including Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby may be more realistic than ever.

Some time ago, Shams Charania reported that the Knicks were one of four teams interested in trading for Antetokounmpo. Under the leadership of Leon Rose, the Knicks front office has assembled one of the most attractive teams in the entire league.

Although Starks may admire Antetokounmpo’s dedication, loyalty isn’t always top-notch when it comes to the complete disintegration of a franchise. However, the door has not been completely closed yet.

RELATED: Mitchell Robinson continues public disappointment with NY Knicks’ recent game

Jayesh Pagar is currently pursuing Sports Journalism from London School of Journalism and has four years of experience… More about Jayesh Pagar

Assuming the New York Knicks do not win the NBA Championship this spring, teams like them and the Golden State Warriors are expected to make a summer trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, popular NBA analyst Bill Simmons explained this week why both teams need to go in a different direction.

Although they are still behind the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference standings, the NY Knicks still have high hopes of reaching the NBA Finals in the spring. However, the Pistons have given them a lot of trouble during the season, and the Celtics now have top star Jayson Tatum back, they cannot score goals.

If they don’t, he is expected to be a top contender in the summer trade market for Antetokounmpo. Similarly for warriors also. A team that feels like they’re a major chunk away from getting Stephen Curry another championship before he ultimately walks away from the game over the next few seasons. Furthermore, both are considered to be the preferred spots for the two-time NBA MVP.

However, is giving up a large amount of long-term asset the right thing for any team planning on moving Antetokounmpo? Bill Simmons isn’t so sure, and during a new edition of his The Ringer podcast, the popular NBA expert laid out some interesting reasons why the 10-time All-Star isn’t worth a king’s ransom.

Antetokounmpo trade not worth the risk to NY Knicks, Warriors?

First of all, he has played in the league for 13 years, a total of 895 games, 89 playoff games, more than 29,000 minutes, and more than 3,000 playoff minutes. He also mentioned various injuries he sustained during that period, including a hyperextended knee, a bad wrist sprain and a few groin strains. That’s a ton of wear and tear that is hurting again and again.

Yet, the worrying details did not end there. He asked his co-host how many players have averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds for a season in years 14 and up? The answer was only one player. Moses Malone’s 20 and 12 seasons in 1988 and ’89.

Then he asked how many players age 32 or older averaged 24 points and 10 boards? Only four in NBA history have done so. They’re Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, Karl Malone and Elgin Baylor, and that hasn’t happened in 28 years.

Simmons makes a pretty strong case for why a trade for Antetokounmpo would be a big risk for the NY Knicks or Warriors. Because there is clear evidence that they won’t get the players they need, and that could set those franchises back a decade.

The NY Knicks faced an injury-plagued star disaster when they signed Amare Stoudemire in 2010. Giving up all of your assets and then giving a future Hall of Famer a new max contract seems like a huge risk. As far as the Warriors are concerned, the goal of trading for Antetokounmpo would be to acquire a new superstar after Curry. However, based on clear evidence, they could trade and re-sign a player who may never stay healthy.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Mitchell Robinson has always been known for cryptic, hard-to-decode social media posts that leave fans reading between the lines. But after the New York Knicks’ 114-103 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on March 27, it seemed like Robinson completely flipped the script, and gave an answer so honest and self-aware that the entire Knicks fanbase didn’t see it coming.

After the game, a disappointed fan wrote to Robinson on Snapchat: “Y’all played like crap today, man.” Robinson responded without hesitation: “We did, but basketball won’t be a great night every night.”

Michelle Robinson holds up a mirror for the ny knicks

Snapchat certainly wasn’t the only social media platform where Robinson openly expressed his feelings. Right after the Knicks fan TV clip of Robinson instructing teammate Ariel Huckporty on rebounding before the game. He left a comment on the same post after the game.

Robinson wrote: “Until we change our mentality, it doesn’t matter; we’re not doing anything remarkable – keep that nonsense up, including me.”

a defeat that affected the situation

It was certainly not a tiring game. In fact, a Knicks win over Charlotte would have moved New York into second place in the Eastern Conference, a seeding that offers a lot of playoff advantage.

However, they allowed a Hornets team to dominate the first half 65–55, before going on a meaningless run late in the third quarter to put them behind 94–76. The Knicks’ record is currently 48–26, which is third in the East, but their playoff position has not been decided.

A monster test awaits against the Thunder

There is no time to be disappointed. The Knicks head to Paycom Center to play the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. The Thunder are on top of the Western Conference with a 58-16 record and are very formidable with a 30-6 home record this season.

However, if Robinson’s honest comments do indeed indicate a real change in attitude, then Knicks supporters should be prepared to see him deliver an extraordinary rebounding show, completely controlling the zone, consistently blocking every missed shot for the Thunder, and clearly demonstrating why a focused Mitchell Robinson is without a doubt one of the league’s most powerful big men.

Jayesh Pagar is currently pursuing Sports Journalism from London School of Journalism and has four years of experience… More about Jayesh Pagar

The New York Knicks had a chance to make a real statement in their game against the Charlotte Hornets. Instead, they went home with a 114-103 loss, and Mitchell Robinson made sure no one forgot how bad it was.

Knicks Fan TV posted a video that caught everyone’s attention. The caption reads: “Coach Mitch giving Huckporty some pointers before the game.”

In the clip, Robinson can be heard rebounding for the young big man. He told Hookporty, “How to rebound… You know I had injuries back in the day… So I sat down and watched our team shoot… So like OG, prime example: OG shoots right above the front rim, so [misses] I’ll go back to that every time.”

After the game, Robinson did not mix anything. He commented on the same post and wrote: “It doesn’t matter unless we change our perspective, we’re not doing much, including me.”

The Knicks had no answers all night.

On the court, the Knicks couldn’t find any rhythm. The Hornets took a 38-36 lead early on after the first quarter and steadily increased it. The score was 65-55 at half time. Things got even worse in the third quarter, with Kon Knueppel and LaMelo Ball combining to significantly extend the lead, resulting in a 94–76 lead before the fourth.

The Knicks showed some fight late, with Josh Hart leading the way and Jalen Brunson finishing with 26 points and 13 assists. This was an important game. A win could have given New York the second seed in the East. Instead, they allowed a short-handed Hornets team to dominate them.

New York faces the Thunder on March 29 and it won’t be easy. OKC will come hungry after losing to the Celtics. Since Boston is still the second seed, the Knicks will have to find a way to get this win.

Furthermore, the Knicks will face even more difficult opponents going forward, and if Robinson’s statement is to be believed, they need to solve this immediately.

Jayesh Pagar is currently pursuing Sports Journalism from London School of Journalism and has four years of experience… More about Jayesh Pagar

Rising WWE superstar Oba Femi was among the thousands in attendance for the New York Knicks’ seventh consecutive win, who visited Madison Square Garden ahead of Monday Night Raw on March 30.

Femi attended the Knicks’ game against the New Orleans Pelicans in style by wearing a blue shirt that matched New York’s uniform. Photos of Femi were shared on Madison Square Garden’s social media accounts, in which he is holding the Knicks’ WWE-style championship belt and a custom jersey with his name on it.

ruler x garden 🧡💙

Catch @WWE On March 30, Monday Night Raw! pic.twitter.com/9dbJUCAayt

– MSG (@TheGarden) 25 March 2026

This is a big step for Femi. Obviously, WWE sees a lot of potential in him and him promoting the company like this shows their confidence in him.

Oba Femi and Brock Lesnar are likely to face off when WWE RAW Knicks visits Madison Square Garden.

Currently, Femi is locked in a high-profile feud with Brock Lesnar leading up to WrestleMania 42. More likely, they will both be on the upcoming episode of Raw at the Garden on March 30.

Although it is unlikely that they will have a match, it is expected that they will have a physical relationship once again. Femi has performed better than Lesnar in his last two matches. Therefore, the “Beast Incarnate” is likely to return to Fami at least once before WrestleMania 42 begins on Saturday, April 18.

Femi was a major force in WWE’s developmental brand NXT. He won the NXT North American Championship once and the NXT Championship twice.

He was such a dominant champion that he left the NXT Championship after winning it for the second time. Femi never lost it, but rather gave it up.

Shortly after, he joined the WWE main roster before competing in the 2026 Royal Rumble. Lesnar eliminated him, which started their feud. Now, his first big fight on the main roster is against Lesnar, which is a big achievement for him.

With only 10 games remaining before the playoffs, the New York Knicks look ready to take on the challenge of advancing to the NBA Finals. New York has won six consecutive games. And their top-five offensive and defensive ratings are a testament to their success, with both trending in recent times. Additionally, many of the Knicks’ critics, who as recently as last week were warning about their poor road trip to the NBA Finals, were silenced when Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons suffered an untimely concussion.

While the Knicks themselves are unlikely to be focused on other teams’ roster developments, those around the team have likely turned their attention to advantageous matchups in the playoffs.

How the Knicks should approach the Eastern Conference playoff brackets

Ultimately, no Eastern Conference foe is that scary for New York at the moment. The Knicks have played well against most of the top teams except the Pistons. But if they had to choose, it’s probably the Boston Celtics at least Desirable match. Granted, New York is 2-1 against Boston this season (without Jayson Tatum). And the Celtics are still figuring out how to play with Tatum in their lineup. But Tatum is unlikely to continue shooting so poorly (38.5% from the floor and 29.3% on 3-pointers, both career lows). And Boston probably has the biggest lead of any other Eastern Conference contender.

However, the Knicks’ path to the NBA Finals appears to be easier now than it was a week ago. And the Knicks’ previous nightmare matchup has likely shifted into their dream scenario. Detroit suddenly looks a lot more attractive without Cunningham. Still, the Pistons are a hard-nosed, gritty team. They still have several talented and athletic defenders. And if Cunningham is out they’ll probably want to make the game even more physical.

It’s important to note that there is no guarantee that Cunningham will miss any games in the second round. And the second round is the earliest the Knicks could possibly face the Pistons. But given Cunningham’s potential limitations due to a lack of conditioning, as well as the options in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Pistons suddenly look like their best second-round matchup.

And while it’s a long shot that New York will face Detroit in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, it is possible. The Pistons are five games ahead of the Celtics with 11 games remaining.

Which Eastern Conference rival offers a dream first-round matchup?

Before turning their attention to the second round, the Knicks must deal with a first-round opponent. Considering the odds, New York should probably prefer to face the Atlanta Hawks. Agreed, this is probably the best team of the group. But many other teams are performing poorly for various other reasons.

The Philadelphia 76ers have the highest ceiling—and the lowest floor. They can and probably will be a mediocre team at best. But the chances of Paul George returning to his old form are slim, however slim, as is the possibility of Joel Embiid returning from injury. And if it works, the 76ers might be a little too dangerous for comfort.

The Orlando Magic offer the same ruthless toughness that makes Detroit an ineffective matchup, albeit with much less cohesion. The Miami Heat and head coach Erik Spoelstra have historically been very good at playing in the postseason. And the Charlotte Hornets are just too young, talented and free for any team want Even to face.

So, in an ideal world, the Knicks would remain in the third seed, Atlanta would remain in the sixth seed, and Detroit would drop to the second seed. And while that path may be incredibly unlikely, the silver lining is that a healthy Pistons team is the only Eastern Conference foe the Knicks have to handle this year. And it appears Detroit is unlikely to return to full strength.

So, minus the Pistons from the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference, the Knicks have a very clear path through the East. And while it’s incredibly important that the Knicks avoid losing anyone, it’s also possible to think that if they stay locked in that no one can beat them in the East. Still, New York should expect its dream matchups to make life easier.

The New York Knicks are currently on a five-game winning streak and will next host the Washington Wizards, who have lost 15 consecutive games. The Knicks lead the season series 2-0 and come into this game with a 93-92 win against the Brooklyn Nets.

New York is currently 46-25, in third place in the Eastern Conference, while Washington is 16-54, having last won on Feb. 20. The Knicks are allowing just 110.3 points per game (5th in the NBA), while Washington is allowing 123.8 points per game (29th).

In terms of injuries, the Knicks will be without Miles McBride and Landry Shamet, while Josh Hart is listed on the official injury report with a knee issue along with Tyler Kolek and Ariel Huckporty, according to a post on X by Steve Popper. For Washington, Leaky Black is sidelined with a left ankle sprain, while Justin Champagnie is unavailable as he serves a league suspension. The injury list also includes Anthony Davis (left finger sprain), Keyshawn George (left elbow sprain), Trey Johnson (right foot sprain), and Alex Sarr (left big toe capsulitis).

Cam Whitmore is also out with a serious right shoulder condition related to deep vein thrombosis, while Trae Young is out with lower back soreness and a right quad injury. After all, D’Angelo Russell is no longer with the team.

Josh Hart’s injury status vs. Wizards

Josh Hart is listed as questionable, leaving some uncertainty regarding his availability. He is averaging 12.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. New York enters this game as the clear favorite, finishing in the top five in both offensive rating (3rd) and defensive rating (5th). The Knicks are averaging 116.8 points per game, good for 10th in the NBA, while only allowing 110.3 points per game, fifth-fewest in the league.

They have already defeated the Wizards twice this season by margins of 17 and 31 points, and will once again be the favorites at home. Even if Hart doesn’t play, he has enough firepower to dominate the injury-plagued Wizards at home.

Washington’s struggles are reflected on both ends of the floor. The team is 25th in the NBA in scoring, averaging 112.5 points per game, and 27th in offensive rating. Defensively, the Wizards allow 123.8 points per game, which ranks 29th in the league, and they have the worst defensive rating overall.

The Wizards are also coming off a 132-111 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder for the second straight night, a situation they have struggled with all season with a 1-11 record and losing 16 of their last 17 games.

knicks injury report

Josh Hart – Questionable (right knee; patella femoral syndrome).

Miles McBride – out (pelvic; core muscle surgery)

Landry Chamet – out (right knee; soreness)

Tyler Kolek – Questionable (G League – On Assignment)

Ariel Hookporty – Questionable (G League – On Assignment)

Kevin McCullers Jr. – Questionable (G League – Two-Way)

Trey Jameson III – Questionable (G League – Two-Way)

Dillon Jones – Questionable (G League – Two-Way)

magicians injury report

Trae Young – out (quad)

Anthony Davis – out (finger)

D’Angelo Russell – Out (not injury related)

Cam Whitmore – out (shoulder)

Kishawn George – out (elbow)

Trey Johnson – Day To Day (ft.)

Leaky Black – Day to Day (Ankle)

The New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets are set to play on Friday night. Karl-Anthony Towns is listed on the injury report for the game. While Towns has faced injury concerns at times this season, he listed “personal reasons” on Friday’s injury report. So, is he playing tonight?

Everything we know about Karl-Anthony Towns’ situation ahead of the Knicks and Nets game on Friday night.

Karl-Anthony Towns’ status vs. Nets

According to the NBA injury report, Towns is currently listed as questionable to play against the Nets.

The Knicks will enter the game with a 45–25 record. They are in third place in the Eastern Conference standings. Meanwhile, the Nets are 17-52 and in 13th place in the East.

As far as the question of whether Karl-Anthony Towns is playing tonight against the Nets, the answer is probably.

knicks injury report

The Knicks have seven players listed on the injury report.

• Karl-Anthony Towns (personal reasons): Questionable
• Kevin McCullers Jr. (G League Two-Way): Questionable
• Dillon Jones (G League Two-Way): Questionable
• Trey Jamison III (G League Two-Way): Questionable
• Pacom Dadiet (G League Two-Way): Questionable
• Josh Hart (right knee patella femoral syndrome): out
• Miles McBride (pelvic core muscle surgery): out

net injury report

The Nets also have seven players listed on the injury report.

• Ziare Williams (left hand soreness): Available
• Ben Saraf (pain in left foot): Available
• Noah Clowney (right wrist sprain): Out
• Igor Demin (left plantar fascia injury management): out
• Terence Mann (illness): Out
• Michael Porter Jr. (left hamstring strain): Out
• Deron Sharp (left thumb surgery): Out

The New York Knicks have not been lucky in the playoffs in recent years. He missed the 2024 Eastern Conference Semifinals matchup with the Indiana Pacers due to injuries. And bad luck struck again in the Eastern Conference Finals last season, starting in Game 1 when they blew a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter in a 128-135 overtime loss to Indiana. The Knicks ultimately lost that series in six games.

However, the Knicks’ fortunes may have changed. And while there is an injury Never To celebrate, it was recently announced that Cade Cunningham has a partially collapsed lung, which could impact the balance of power in the Eastern Conference.

And considering how bad Detroit’s matchup has been for New York, this is a situation that could benefit the Knicks.

How Cade Cunningham’s injury changes the power dynamics in the East

Cunningham is the offensive engine of the Pistons. He is their leading scorer (24.5 points per game). And he also leads them in assists (9.9 assists per game). Cunningham also sets the tone for the Pistons’ success overall, as his outlook and approach are adopted by the broader team. Losing Cunningham to a partially collapsed lung is a huge loss for Detroit. Damaged lungs usually take three to eight weeks to heal. With the 2026 NBA Playoffs starting in about a month, timing may not be on Detroit’s favor.

What happens will depend on the severity of Cunningham’s injury and how long he will be out. The Knicks have a slight advantage if he returns before or during the first round — although that’s assuming he returns close to 100%. Thankfully, Cunningham’s injury was not considered serious. In other words, surgery is unlikely. More likely, Cunningham has returned rusty.

Assuming a return occurs, Cunningham will likely be out of shape. He will be unable to maintain cardiovascular fitness during his recovery. This means fewer minutes on the rebound and/or less impactful clutch minutes. Therefore, if Cunningham returns in the first round, the Pistons are likely in a good position to advance given their overall superiority, especially against the bottom tier of the Eastern Conference. And that will give the All-NBA guard time to get himself in shape.

However, it is more likely that he will not be back so soon. There is more possibility of a comeback in the second round. That means the Pistons will need Cunningham to step up quickly against a well-prepared Cleveland Cavaliers team – possibly the Knicks. And this is where things get tricky for Detroit.

How the Knicks could benefit from a Cunningham-less Eastern Conference

Without speculating too much about Cunningham’s return date, the benefit to New York is fairly obvious. The Pistons will either be without their best player or a younger version of themselves for part of the playoffs. Considering how Detroit has handled the Knicks this season, this isn’t bad news for New York. Although given the glory involved in winning your conference – and ultimately a championship – avoiding top-flight competition is clearly lacking – winning is the ultimate goal.

Considering the risks involved in recalling Cunningham, as well as the potential limitations he will face upon returning, it is unlikely we will see him at full strength for the rest of this season or the playoffs. This means a more open Eastern Conference. And that should benefit the Knicks as they attempt to make their first NBA Finals since 1999.

There is something inherently electric about this time of year. The collegiate atmosphere permeates the professional ranks and each high-stakes possession in the NCAA Tournament feels like a job interview for the bright lights of the NBA. For the New York Knicks, the 2026 March Madness tournament is not just a spectacle for fans. It’s a scouting gold mine. As we look ahead to the 2026 NBA Draft, the front office is looking for specific role models who fit into the gritty, blue-collar identity carefully constructed in Manhattan. Of course, the Garden aspires to greatness. As the world of college basketball descends into its annual chaos, three specific names stand out as potential inheritors of the Knicks’ winning culture.

Championship aspirations

By mid-March 2026, the Knicks find themselves firmly established as one of the elite squads in the Eastern Conference. His impressive record is 44-25. This team has proven that their success in the NBA Cup is no fluke. Rather, it’s a harbinger of the deep postseason run the city has craved for decades. Jalen Brunson undoubtedly remains the undisputed engine of the offense. Meanwhile, Karl-Anthony Towns has provided a difference and scoring dimension at the center position that the Knicks haven’t seen in years.

Despite the general chaos of an 82-game schedule, they have maintained a top-three seeding. Recently he has also demolished his rivals in a record breaking manner. The chemistry between Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and the rest of the core has made them a defensive nightmare. This set the stage for what many believe could be the most significant playoff push for the franchise in thirty years.

missing pieces

Despite current success, Leon Rose and the Knicks’ brain trust understand that the NBA is an arms race. To be stagnant in this league is to be left behind. With veterans at their peak and a high winning percentage, the Knicks will likely select in the late first round. This is where value and fit outweigh the need for a franchise-changing star. He preferred versatile, multi-position defenders who could shoot the long ball. Still, as the roster matures, there is a growing desire for another dynamic secondary playmaker or a developmental big man who can run the second unit.

Furthermore, with the physical toll of the “Knicks way”, finding a high-motor player who can contribute to the rotation is paramount. The goal is to find a prospect that simply does not have high profits. They need someone who has the mental toughness to survive in the spotlight at Madison Square Garden and thrive under the intense expectations of the city.

Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan

If the Knicks are looking for pure, unadulterated defensive intensity with a frame that screams New York basketball, Moraes Johnson Jr. is the name that should be circled in red on every scout’s clipboard. The Michigan standout has spent the 2025-26 season blowing up draft boards. This is due to the versatility of his size and coordination. Johnson is an absolute beast on the defensive end. This is where he is incredibly variable, he has the length and instincts to disrupt both perimeter players and interior threats.

He also shows what kind of motor the Knicks want. He can consistently impact wins through his rebounding and rim protection. Watching him go through the pressure of March Madness will reveal if his offensive flashes, including some long-term shooting ability, can match his elite defensive floor. This would certainly make him a primary target for a team looking to bolster their frontcourt depth at the end of the first round.

Patrick Ngongba II, Duke

Yes, the Knicks have established a strong identity in the paint. That said, the prospect of adding a talent like Patrick Ngongba II for a team selecting late in the round is almost too tempting to ignore. Duke’s big man is a defensive presence well beyond his years. He has demonstrated a level of polish and passing skill that is rare for modern centre-backs. Ngongba isn’t just a lane-blocker either. He is a smart interior defender who fits the modern structure by using his positioning and high basketball IQ to end games before they develop.

Note that the Knicks’ defensive scheme relies on high-level communication and “shrinking” the floor. Additionally, Ngongba’s discipline and ability to facilitate from the post will be a huge asset. If he can lead the Blue Devils in the tournament and prove he can handle athletic finishers, he will immediately demonstrate the maturity needed to play at the professional level.

Dellin Swain, Texas

For a team that values ​​multi-positional wings with elite physical tools, Texas junior Dellin Swain is the quintessential late riser. He is definitely one to watch this March. Standing at 6 feet 8 inches tall, Swain has burst onto the national scene this season. They have outscored the Longhorns in almost every major statistical category. He is a premier transition threat who can push the ball himself or finish as a cutter.

Of course, Swain’s defensive versatility also makes him a perfect fit for the Knicks’ culture. He is a disruptive event-maker on the perimeter, using his length to generate steals and deflections at a high rate. Certainly, his outside shooting remains the swing skill for his professional ceiling. However, his high IQ as a connector and his consistent rim pressure suggest he can thrive in an NBA system that offers more spacing. If he leads Texas to a deep tournament, his draft stock will be undeniable.

The Indiana Pacers may have just etched their name in the franchise record books, but it’s certainly not a reason anyone in Indianapolis wants to celebrate. On Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, the New York Knicks handed the Pacers a 136–110 loss, Indiana’s 14th consecutive loss. This disappointing stretch officially sets a new franchise record for the longest losing streak in Pacers history, surpassing the mark held since the late 1980s.

It has been a tough journey for head coach Rick Carlisle and his team, who remain the only team in the NBA without a win since the All-Star break. The absence of superstar guard Tyrese Haliburton, who is out for the season with a torn Achilles, has left a huge void that the roster can’t easily fill. Without their primary playmaker, the Pacers’ offense looked disjointed and tired, a trend that continued against a surging Knicks team.

Even with the Knicks missing star point guard Jalen Brunson due to an ankle injury, the home team’s depth was too much to handle. Karl-Anthony Towns dominated the interior, while Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby provided consistent pressure on the wings. New York jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, taking advantage of an Indiana defense that has struggled to make stops during this historic slide.

Jarace Walker tried to keep things competitive for the Pacers, but the lack of veteran support, coupled with Pascal Siakam’s knee problem, made it an uphill battle from the starting point. As the final buzzer sounded in New York, the reality of the 15-54 record began to set in. While the team is clearly in evaluation mode, falling into such a historic rut is a tough pill to swallow for fans. Indiana will head home the next day, looking for any way to stop the bleeding before this record grows even longer.

New York – The New York Knicks conducted a coaching search last season to improve their approach to individual games, the season as a whole, and the playoffs. Despite the results delivered by former head coach Tom Thibodeau, Mike Brown received the reins because the organization felt he could both identify and implement needed improvements.

The Knicks defeated the Golden State Warriors 110-107 on Sunday night, and sent their fans home victorious from Madison Square Garden. But, regardless of the results, Brown was clearly frustrated with the team’s process throughout the game. While not named “Defensive Player of the Game”, he told reporters that the focus and physicality of his group was unacceptable for starting four of their last five games.

“One thing I tell them is that on an experienced team that has won and has a very high level of experience, I should not be calling two timeouts in the first six minutes of a ball game,” Brown shared in disappointment after the only-score win. “And I’m not talking about the X’s and O’s. So, this group knows it. They understand it. Now we have to do it.”

Last season, despite discouraging lineup data, the Knicks took their starting five of Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart to the Eastern Conference Finals. Once the Indiana Pacers took a 2–0 lead, New York insisted on starting Mitchell Robinson instead of Hart.

Brown began his first season with Robinson, but reinstated Hart in late December. The coach told reporters on Sunday that he was not considering a change at the moment, but that “it’s not too late to do anything” at this point in the season.

“If I felt the need, I would do it. I’m not thinking of it right now,” Brown said. “I’m not focused on each individual because, like you said, we started different guys at different times. … We can play better. I know about myself and every guy in that locker room, every person in that locker room, expects more. And somehow, some way, we’ve got to figure it out.”

Does it make sense to trade Mikal Bridges if the Knicks are winning?

Leaving Mikal Bridges on the bench in crunch time has become a trend for the Browns. The starting wing spent the final seven minutes of the game against the Warriors on the sidelines. Veteran sharpshooter Landry Shamet once again took the fifth spot in the lineup. This is at least the seventh game this season the Browns have finished without Bridges, testing the Knicks’ locker room ethos that sacrifice is necessary to win.

It was not Brown or any other Knicks player who decided to trade five picks in the first round for Bridges. Or to offer him the four-year, $150 million extension he signed last offseason. But even if Bridges is performing better than average for his career, it’s still difficult to evaluate those decisions objectively.

New York’s front office transformed a laughing stock into a contender in four seasons, without ever losing. They essentially just traded two first-round picks in three transactions that brought them Brunson, Towns, and Anunoby.

It makes sense that the team took an unprecedented gamble and traded five picks for Bridges. The rest of their roster was also assembled in an unconventional manner. This is the same braintrust that was ridiculed for making Brunson the first player without an All-Star appearance to receive $100 million from a team that did not draft him.

Bridges needs to improve his aggression on both ends of the floor. But this is to help the Knicks win games, not the previous trades.

On Sunday evening, the Golden State Warriors’ losing streak continued with a narrow road loss at the hands of the New York Knicks. The Warriors put in an admirable effort in this game, sidelining Stephen Curry and several other key players, but ultimately, they gave up a 21-point lead and suffered a tough loss.

At one point in the second quarter, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr yelled at rookie Will Richard after he was unable to block an overthrow pass from Brandin Podzimski on a fast break, leading to a turnover.

After the game, Kerr explained what he was thinking during that moment, and also expressed regret for his anger.

“It was a bad pass from BP. BP should have made a nice pass and Will should have dunked. Turned into a 5-point swing. I was angry at Will because I thought he could have turned the ball over and not made the throw. I thought he was trying to make a round-the-back pass for a score. I’m not sure, I could be wrong,” Kerr said, according to @jinttherty on Twitter. Said.

He said, “…I regret losing my composure there a bit because it’s my job to keep players forward, especially without so many players. That’s a big part of winning games like this. Making good decisions, understanding how valuable the ball is.”

It was indeed a bizarre scene, considering that the turnover originated from Podziemski’s pass, and there was nothing wrong done on Richard’s part.

Overall, the Warriors are currently 32-35 on the season, and have moved into a situation where they must win two elimination games to make the playoffs when the postseason begins today.

The Warriors next play against the Washington Wizards on Monday evening.

Just before the 2026 Oscars ceremony, the New York Knicks greeted superfan Timothée Chalamet by honoring his new film, Marty Supreme.

The Knicks took to social media to post a photo of Karl-Anthony Towns in a Marty Supreme jacket ahead of the 2026 Oscars, and captioned it, “Sunday reminder to believe in yourself.” [Oscars]”

sunday reminds to believe in yourself #Oscar pic.twitter.com/9H8XmwxQMJ

– New York Knicks (@nyknicks) 15 March 2026

While self-confidence is important, it didn’t work for Chalamet and the Marty Supreme crew at the Oscars. Meanwhile, on Sunday, March 15, the Knicks defeated the Golden State Warriors.

While Nicks was the winner, Timothée Chalamet and the Marty Supreme Crew lost at the Oscars

At the same time at the 2026 Oscars, the Knicks were coming off a comeback against the Warriors. They finished the first quarter down by 15 points, and were down nine points at halftime.

Despite this adversity, the Knicks were able to move forward. They defeated the Warriors by three points for their third straight win before hosting the Indiana Pacers in New York.

Perhaps Chalamet’s night would have been better if he had been involved in the game. Marty Supreme received nine nominations at the 2026 Oscars, but did not win anything.

Chalamet was nominated for Best Actor for the third time in his career. He is still deprived of victory. A year earlier, he had lost to Adrien Brody despite his performance as Bob Dylan in the biopic, A Complete Unknown.

There was some controversy surrounding Chalamet’s nomination. He recently commented about the dying art forms of opera and ballet, and it rubbed many people the wrong way.

After all, Chalamet would have to wait at least another year to win an Oscar. He is scheduled to appear in only one film in 2026, and that is Dune: Part Three. Chalamet did not receive an Oscar nomination for his performance in any of the previous Dune films. Maybe the third time will be the charm.

New York – It’s been one battle after another for the Golden State Warriors right now.

The understaffed Warriors, missing more than $190 million in salary due to eight players out due to injury, lost 110-107 to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. The loss marked their fifth consecutive loss, their longest of the season, dropping them to 32–35 on the season.

But despite the loss, coach Steve Kerr was proud of his players for the way they defeated players including Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Kristaps Porzingis.

“Couldn’t ask for anything more,” Kerr said. “It’s so much fun to coach these guys. They’re playing so hard together. I just want them to be rewarded for their efforts. And we’ve lost some of them, but we’ll keep fighting [and] Keep
To get better.”

Leading by 21 points at one point, the Warriors took the lead against the Knicks early in the game with Brandin Podziemski and Quinton Post leading the way. Podziemski finished with a team-high 25 points with six assists, while Post collected 22 points on 9 of 16 from the field.

But once New York gave up its complacency, it began imposing its will on the Warriors. They forced the Warriors into nine turnovers in the second quarter, reducing the lead to nine at halftime. And in the third quarter, they bullied the Dubs on the boards, outscoring them 15-to-1 in that period.

Still, Golden State held on until the final minutes, thanks to Gui Santos scoring 11 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter. But with a chance to take the lead with 23.7 seconds remaining, Podziemski hit a 26-foot triple over Jalen Brunson that went in and the Warriors could not recover from there.

Steve Kerr supports Brandin Podziemski’s shot

Podziemski’s missed 3-pointer in transition will be remembered as a big ‘what if’ turning point for the Warriors in crunch time. But whether it was an ill-advised shot or not, in Kerr’s mind, he thought it was a good one to take.

“Felt great,” Kerr said after the game. “I didn’t want to call timeout. I wanted to play in the flow. He had Brunson. He looked like he was going to attack. Brunson backed off. I like that. Take the three, go for the throat.”

Despite this, the Warriors find themselves at their lowest point of the season. Five consecutive losses, barely hanging on to the ninth seed, slipping even further behind the eighth-place Los Angeles Clippers, Curry still a long way from a comeback – it feels like it’s do-or-die time for Golden State right now.

But Kerr said that although he is being “beaten” right now, he could not be more proud of the effort he has shown recently.

“I’m just overwhelmed by these people,” Kerr said. “Just their effort, their intensity, their engagement. It’s really beautiful to see. And like I said, we’ll be rewarded for it. We’ll stick with it and keep getting better, and we’ll start winning some of these and getting some guys healthy.”

If the warriors have made any contribution in these defeats, it is their efforts. Effort, hustle, patience and fight. There’s a level of buy-in to this team that you don’t see on most losing teams. So the schedule remains the same for Golden State.

“We have to keep batting,” Santos said after the game. “We just have to keep trying to win games when we don’t have other players, because we know when they come back, we’ll be good.”

The Golden State Warriors are scheduled to face the New York Knicks on Sunday night. However, Saturday’s injury report includes a total of 18 players from both the teams. Several players have already been ruled out, while several others are listed as doubtful.

The obvious names like Jimmy Butler (who is out for the season) and Stephen Curry (who is out for at least several more games) are both out for the Warriors. Golden State has a total of eight players ruled out, including Draymond Green and Kristaps Porzingis, while only Quinton Post is listed as questionable. With this, nine names have been included in the injury report of the Warriors.

Meanwhile, Miles McBride is the only player ruled out of the Knicks’ latest injury report. Eight players have been considered questionable, including Josh Hart and Jeremy Sochan. We probably won’t know exactly who will play for New York until just before Sunday’s game.

Here is the full Warriors injury report.

Jimmy Butler – Out: Right ACL; surgery
Seth Curry – out: left adductor; strain
Stephen Curry – Out: Right patellofemoral; pain syndrome
Draymond Green – Out: Left Low Back; injury management
Al Horford – Out: Right soleus; strain
D’Anthony Melton – Out: left knee; injury management
Moses Moody – Outside: Right wrist; Sprain
Kristaps Porzingis – Out: General; disease management
Quentin Post – Questionable: left ankle; Sprain

Here is Knicks’ full injury report.

Pacom Dadiet – Questionable: G League – On Assignment
Josh Hart – Questionable: left knee; agony
Ariel Hookporti – Questionable: G League – On Assignment
Trey Jameson III – Questionable: G League – Two-Way
Dillon Jones – Questionable: G League – Two-Way
Tyler Kolek – Questionable: G League – On Assignment
Miles McBride – Out: Pelvic; core muscle surgery
Kevin McCullers Jr. – Questionable: G League – Two-Way
Jeremy Sochan – Suspected: Illness; Disease

The Warriors and Knicks are scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m. EST. in New York. Golden State aims to snap a four-game losing streak amid injury problems, while New York hopes to win its third straight.

It seems like many scouts and executives around the NBA aren’t too excited about the New York Knicks’ chances of reaching the NBA Finals this spring.

There is no doubt that the NY Knicks are one of the best teams in the NBA at the moment. They have the fifth-best record in the league (42-25) and are in the top 10 in scoring (117.2) and points (110.9). Additionally, they have won over elite teams in the West like the San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets.

But that’s the regular season. The question on many NY Knicks fans’ minds is whether the inconsistent team can put everything together when it matters most in the playoffs. On Friday, SNY Knicks insider Ian Begley spoke with several NBA scouts and executives about how the team stacks up against other playoff teams in the East, and the reactions weren’t good.

Scouts and executives don’t like the NY Knicks’ chances against the East Elite this spring

First up, the Detroit Pistons. “(For the Knicks), how do you slow down (Cade) Cunningham? When he played at MSG (to start the second half of the season) he had his way against entire defenses, including (OG) Anunoby,” one scout said. New York lost the season series against Detroit 3–0 this season, often losing badly.

When it comes to the Boston Celtics, scouts and executives are leaning heavily on superstar Jayson Tatum following his return from rehabbing his torn ACL. He feels, despite being in second place in the Eastern Conference standings, Boston is now the team to beat this spring.

An executive told Begley, “Yes, there will be an adjustment period (from Tatum’s return), but they have won together in the past. I don’t think it will hurt them in any way.” “If Tatum gets his groove back, they’ll be the team to beat in the East. No disrespect to (the Knicks), but they’ve shown during the regular season that they’re the better team. If Tatum gets back to even 80 percent, that makes them obviously better.”

Another interesting opinion coming out of the report is that while the NY Knicks have the third-best record in the conference and will be favorites in the series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, there is a real possibility of an upset if they meet in the conference semi-finals.

“History says you don’t have to worry about (James) Harden in big playoff games, but he’s playing at a high level for them. I wouldn’t want to deal with (Harden and Donovan Mitchell) for seven games,” one scout said.

So when it comes to matchups against the three teams that will be the biggest threats in the conference, the game’s scouts and executives aren’t feeling confident about the NY Knicks’ chances in this year’s playoffs.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

The Los Angeles Lakers have quietly played their best basketball of the season, winning three in a row and going 5-1 in March. It is noteworthy that the team has relied on strong defense to defeat the teams. According to a post from The Athletic, coach JJ Redick has been encouraged by the Lakers’ improved defense in wins over the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves.

“We’re not going to be the No. 1 defense in the league. But to be above average, to have two performances in a row against those two teams is really encouraging,” Redick told The Athletic.

The Lakers played strong defense in their 110-97 win over the Timberwolves. He held the Knicks to 42.7% from the field, including 23.5% from beyond the arc. Additionally, the Purple and Gold forced 18 turnovers. The Lakers defeated the Wolves 120-106, holding them to 46.3% from the floor, including 25% from triples. Additionally, they held Anthony Edwards to only 14 points on 2 of 15 shooting, including 1 of 10 from the three-point line.

The Lakers did so without LeBron James, who is dealing with a right hip injury and left foot arthritis. Despite wanting James in the lineup, Redick isn’t worried about him. As for the rest of the team, the Lakers coach highlighted that he wants better rim protection.

“Just the consistency of our low man, you know. We’re one of the worst teams at protecting the rim. It’s not on our big, it’s on everybody. So we had stretches where, I thought, if you look at our defensive plays, our low man is really active, our low man in the paint is producing results.”

Redick and the Lakers will hope to continue the momentum when they host the Chicago Bulls before welcoming the Denver Nuggets to the Crypto.

The Knicks are generally careful with basketball. They average 13.7 turnovers per game, eighth-fewest in the NBA. However, when they turn the ball over their performance obviously suffers.

Knicks must limit bad turnover game

In 25 losses this season, the Knicks are averaging 15.5 turnovers per game. When they commit 14 or fewer turnovers they are 30-12, and when they commit 15 or more turnovers they are 11-13. Granted, this is a problem for most teams, as turning the ball over has a zero-sum effect on a team’s ability to score relative to the chances given to their opponents. But the problem isn’t just that New York performs poorly when turning the ball over, which is essentially the case for most teams; This is how many times they exceed their average.

For context, the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder committed 15 or more turnovers only 17 times last season. And the 2024 NBA champion Boston Celtics did so only 18 times in 2023-24. By comparison, New York has done it 24 times this season with 15 games remaining.

Why does high turnover lead to poor performance?

The Knicks clearly thrive in a low-turnover, high-efficiency model. Under head coach Mike Brown, the Knicks maintain the fourth-lowest turnover rate in the league. They have an average turnover rate of 10.5% in wins this season; However, in losses this figure has increased to 13.1%.

especially, The points they give up from turnovers present a major problem. When New York turns the ball over, it often turns into scoring opportunities for their opponents. And when the Knicks defense is suffering, which was the case. 2-9 expansion in January 2026, their turnover problems become unsustainable, as they begin to bleed points.

Jose Alvarado could be the key to the Knicks taking care of the basketball

One reason for the Knicks’ inconsistent ball security may be their lack of a true backup point guard. The Knicks’ 2025-26 identity is built on being an offensive juggernaut who makes efficient shots, especially corner threes. When they turn the ball over above their season average, they lose possession games. And because they play on one Slow pace (ranked 21st according to ESPN)Every lost property is magnified.

Fortunately, the addition of Jose Alvarado may have solved this problem. Alvarado has helped New York get a more consistent rotation, taking over playmaking duties when Jalen Brunson needs a break. And it does so efficiently and productively. Alvarado has turned the ball over just 11 times in 14 games with the Knicks. And in those 14 games, New York is 10-4. And if you ignore the last two games – in which the Knicks have turned the ball over 39 times – they are averaging just 13 turnovers per game since adding the New York native.

Ultimately, it seems as if the Knicks’ path to a championship depends on maintaining elite ball protection. If they can take care of the basketball regularly, they will have very few problems in the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Conversely, if they fall victim to poor play – as they have recently on a two-game losing streak – it could be a challenging spring for everyone involved.

The LA Clippers have been one of the league’s best teams since Dec. 20, but Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland are still content with one month remaining in the NBA’s 2025-26 regular season.

After starting the season 6–21, the Clippers have bounced back and are 26–11, reaching .500 for the first time since the early parts of the season. The Clippers moved to a 32-32 record with a win over the New York Knicks on Monday night to move past the Golden State Warriors for the eighth seed in the Western Conference.

But Kawhi Leonard wasn’t ready to celebrate anything just yet.

“It’s nice, you know, but the job’s not done,” Kawhi Leonard admitted after the game. “The season isn’t over. That’s to be expected. Like I tell the guys, you don’t train to lose, you train to win, so yeah, it’s OK.”

Kawhi Leonard scored 29 points, including seven rebounds, eight assists and two steals, in the Clippers’ win over the Knicks, while making 10 of 19 shots from the field in 35 minutes of play.

After the game Leonard spoke with several Clippers players about the importance of maintaining their focus throughout the remainder of this regular season.

“We just talked to some players about it,” Leonard said. “Today, when I heard we were .500. Like I said, the job’s not done, we’ve still got games to play, so there’s nothing to be happy about.”

In his fourth game with the Clippers since returning from a foot injury, Darius Garland played a strong game as he worked his way through the minutes restriction. Garland scored 23 points with seven assists and two steals in 30 minutes of play, knocking down five three-pointers in the process.

He echoed Kawhi Leonard’s sentiments after the game, saying there is still more work to be done.

“I’m just here to win games,” Darius Garland said after the win over the Knicks. “That’s what we do, work in the offseason to win games so it’s exciting to get back to .500, but we still have a lot more work to do. We’re not done yet.

“[Being .500] Just a number. As I said before, we’re not done yet. There are still a lot of games left, and hopefully we’ll win some of them so keep trying, keep working on yourself, don’t worry about anyone else. We have to get better as a team, especially with our new guys getting acclimated and everything like that, so yeah, we’re just worried about the Clippers here.

Head coach Tyronn Lue acknowledged that reaching .500 after being 15 games behind and deep in trouble is an accomplishment in itself.

“It means a lot,” head coach Tyronn Lue explained. “Our guys in the locker room stuck with it, kept fighting, kept competing. We thought we should have been better and could have been better. Injuries hurt us, but this team, since I’ve been here six years, our guys always keep fighting when our backs are against the wall.”

“I give credit to our coaching staff they did a great job sticking with it, staying positive, continuing to help these guys get better. Starting 6-21 and getting to .500 right now is huge for us.”

The Clippers still face an uphill battle as they try to continue their lead in the Western Conference standings. As of Tuesday night, the Clippers are the eighth seed despite having the same 32-32 record as the Golden State Warriors as they currently lead the season series 2-1 with one game remaining on the final night of the regular season.

The Phoenix Suns have played five games on the Clippers, and have continued to play well despite missing players like Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Grayson Allen, and Mark Williams all year.

In recent weeks, Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic’s interactions with officials have been much discussed. Doncic committed his 15th technical foul of the season during the Lakers’ loss to the Denver Nuggets on Thursday, and was then fined by the NBA following the team’s win against the New York Knicks on Sunday.

The NBA announced Tuesday that Luka Doncic was fined $50,000 for making an inappropriate gesture toward officials during the Lakers’ game against the Knicks. The incident occurred when Doncic attempted to take a charge against Knicks forward Mohamed Diawara. As soon as Doncic hit the floor, no call was made and the Knicks easily got two points.

Doncic immediately turned toward the nearest referee and made a symbol with his hands that has been used jokingly by NBA players in the past to suggest that officials get paid when they don’t make certain calls.

The Lakers still have to win, and they have another big game against a good team on Tuesday as they host the Minnesota Timberwolves. But Doncic’s standoff with officials will clearly be worth monitoring. Another technical foul and he is automatically suspended for one game.

Before the Lakers’ win against the Indiana Pacers last Friday, head coach JJ Redick defended his superstar’s competitive fire during his recent conversation with officials.

Amidst all this, Doncic has been on a tear this season, averaging a league-leading 32.5 points. He is also leading the league in shot attempts at 22.0, 3-point attempts at 10.4, 3-pointers at 3.8 and free-throw attempts at 10.3.

The Los Angeles Lakers took care of business against the New York Knicks on Sunday despite missing LeBron James due to left elbow and left foot injuries.

The Lakers won a hard-fought 110–97 victory and improved to 39–25. The Knicks were held under 100 points for only the second time in 13 games, underscoring the Lakers’ commitment to defense.

Marcus Smart expressed the Purple and Gold’s determination against New York. Although he shot poorly with 1 of 10 field goals, including 0 of 5 from three-point range, he was weak on defense.

Spectrum Sportsnet’s Mike Bresnahan stressed that Smart’s value may not be easily seen, but he can set the tone even without scoring. he registered a game-high plus-27 Despite only making one basket vs. the Knicks.

“Marcus Smart, 1 of 10, I don’t even care about that. (Especially) when you’re plus-27 despite a terrible shooting night,” Bresnahan said.

“There was a lot of aggressiveness on his part, and that’s why the Lakers went out and got him. They needed that toughness on the perimeter.”

Marcus Smart sets the tone defensively in win over Knicks, finishing at +27 🔒@Mike_Bresnahan ‘Access Sportsnet: Breaks Down His Impact on the Lakers’. pic.twitter.com/O8eoeYXjJx

– Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) 10 March 2026

The 32-year-old Smart, who also had three rebounds, four assists and two steals, faced criticism for attempting back-to-back three-pointers instead of passing the ball to James or Luka Doncic during a key stretch in Thursday’s loss to the Denver Nuggets.

However, Smart never lacks confidence, even in pressure-filled moments. Bresnahan said the former Defensive Player of the Year has regained his feeling with the Lakers.

“He’s healthy, and I’ll keep saying that because I think he’s been good for years. We didn’t get to see that the last two years. He was working hard in Memphis (Grizzlies), and then he got traded to the (Washington) Wizards,” Bresnahan said.

“It’s good to see him healthy and playing like the old Marcus Smart on defense.”

The Lakers signed Smart to a two-year, $11 million contract in the offseason. He had a slow start, but has since carved out a regular starting role due to his overall impact.

Luka Doncic always wears his heart on his sleeve in every minute he spends on the hardwood, and that was certainly the case during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 110-97 win over the New York Knicks at home on Sunday.

While everything ended well and in good spirits for the Lakers, Doncic had some distinct moments of frustration towards the officiating – even appearing to point money towards the referees at one point, indicating they were on his opponents’ payroll.

Doncic isn’t the most skilled defensive player, so when he tries, he wants to get the least amount of reward. With about 4:30 remaining in the third quarter of Sunday’s game, he tried to charge rookie forward Mohamed Diarra on a three-on-two fastbreak, but the officials did not blow their whistle. He made the above provocative gesture immediately after that no-call.

Immediately after the game, the Lakers star made it known He told ESPN’s Malika Andrews that he faced two charges that night – one that counted, and one that didn’t.

(Fast forward to 0:20 of the video.)

Official fee charged? 1. But records show Luca faced 2 charges (according to him ???).

Now how can the Lakers turn what they showed against New York into a consistent defensive identity?

Fun post-game interview with Luca pic.twitter.com/qd96xgVsYO

– Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) 8 March 2026

Charges and blocks can be some of the most blatant calls in basketball, so there is always uncertainty in such games. But let’s say: Doncic is at least willing to put his body on the line in keeping with the Lakers’ defensive principles.

Luka Doncic leads Lakers to big win without LeBron James

LeBron James has been battling arthritis, which kept him out of the Lakers’ lineup on Sunday. not to worry; The Lakers still won comfortably, with Doncic recording 35 points and Austin Reaves supporting him with his 25 points.

The Lakers did a good job of forcing turnovers (the Knicks had 18 on the night), and they also kept them quiet from beyond the arc, allowing only eight triples on the night.