New York Knicks at Charlotte Hornets Preview: How, Who to Watch in Another Back-to-Back
The weekend feels like anything but for the New York Knicks.
New York hardly has any time to celebrate its latest victory, the fifth over the last six games, as they'll immediately return to action against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night. Combined with Friday's win in Washington, this will make up the Knicks' fourth back-to-back coupling of the season.
The Knicks have gotten their season back on track with this recent stretch, which includes wins in two of the first three stages of a five-game road trip. New York earned its first In-Season Tournament victory in franchise history on Friday, waxing the Washington Wizards by a 120-99 final without RJ Barrett (migraines) or Quentin Grimes (wrist).
Saturday night will see the Knicks battle the Charlotte Hornets for the second time in a week, having previously earned a one-sided triumph at Madison Square Garden last Sunday afternoon. That tipped off a three-game losing streak for Charlotte, which is also hosting the middle leg of a five-contest homestand. The Hornets have welcomed back Miles Bridges back after a lengthy departure during an investigation and suspension following a domestic violence arrest. Their first game with Bridges in the lineup was a 130-99 loss to Milwaukee on Friday night.
This will also be the second of three meetings between New York and Charlotte this month. The last lands on Nov. 28 at MSG and will conclude In-Season Tournament group play for both sides.
In their packed schedule, the Knicks are 0-3 in the second half of back-to-back sets this season. Monday, for example, saw them fall to Boston in the opener of the aforementioned five-game trip.
What: New York Knicks (7-5) @ Charlotte Hornets (3-8)
Where: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
When/Watch: Saturday, 6 p.m. ET, MSG
Who's Favored: NYK -6.5
Miles McBride (L) guards LaMelo Ball during the 2021-22 season
USA TODAY SPORTS
Keep An Eye On: Miles McBride
McBride simply feels destined to make his impact elsewhere. He's too good of a defender to linger on the bench but Donte DiVincenzo's arrival to an already-crowded backcourt picture has made McBride feel redundant. That being said, McBride is taking advantage of the opportunities afforded to him with Barrett and Grimes out and has amplified a New York defensive effort that has held opponents to sub-100 showings on five occasions so far.
Hornet to Watch: P.J. Washington
Welcoming back Bridges with relatively open arms with the similarly built and skilled Washington enjoying a bit of a breakout. Charlotte's interior endeavors have been paced by Mark Williams but Washington has been a solid, physical complement capable of showcasing an outside game as well. Washington notably shot 6-of-11 from three-point range in Tuesday's IST loss to Miami but the Hornets will likely want him to play more inside on Saturday with the Knicks' dominant rebounding tandems in tow.
They Said It
“We’re gonna say this every single time something happens like this: Next-up mentality. Next man up. It’s not just one person stepping up. It’s everyone stepping up. We have a lot of great pieces on this team. A lot of great individuals that can do a lot of great things. We can put that all together and play together, and that’s something special.’’-Jalen Brunson on winning shorthanded (h/t Steve Popper, Newsday)
Prediction
Facing the reeling Hornets is another dangerous proposition for the Knicks: win, it's what they should've done. Lose, and panic sets in no matter how many understandable excuses (missing injured starters, packed road schedule) may linger, it still stands as an embarrassing indictment of where they stand. Fortunately for New York, the Knicks have managed to right their ship well enough to advantage of opportunities like these rather than fear them. Expect them to come out eager to secure a victorious road trip and keep things rolling.
