NBA Cup Bringing Different Energy for Knicks

The New York Knicks have started NBA Cup action.

Jeremy Brener | 21 Hours Ago

Nov 12, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) dribbles the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images / Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

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New York Knicks

The New York Knicks are towards the top of Group A in the Emirates NBA Cup after a 111-99 win against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday night.

The win puts the Knicks in a tie for first place along with the Orlando Magic, but the team from central Florida has the tiebreaker after winning their game against the Charlotte Hornets by a wider margin than New York.

Knicks wing Josh Hart, who had a triple-double in the win against the Sixers, shared his thoughts on what he likes and doesn't like about the NBA Cup.

“It’s fun," Hart said h/t Posting and Toasting. "It gives these games a little bit of a different energy. For the crowd, players have a little bit of a different energy. There’s some extra money on the line. So it’s fun. It’s something that’s a really good idea. The only thing I hate about it is the point-differential element. I think in our last game against Charlotte (last season, a 24-point win) you had some of your main guys in there when you’re up 25 with four minutes left. So that’s the only thing I hate about it. But it’s fun. It brings a good energy to the start of the season.”

The Knicks are in a winnable group for the NBA Cup and doing well in the tournament could allow the team to gain some momentum after a slow start.

Last year, the Knicks reached the quarterfinals of the tournament, only to lose to Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Bucks eventually lost to the surprise Indiana Pacers, who parlayed their tournament success into a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals, so there is potential to build from the early-season intensity.

The Knicks are back in action for the NBA Cup on Friday against the Brooklyn Nets.

Make sure you bookmark Knicks on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

Published 21 Hours Ago

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.