Knicks Struggle Again, Fall to Clippers in Crucial Matchup

NEW YORK, NY — The New York Knicks faced yet another setback on Wednesday night as they fell 126-113 to the Los Angeles Clippers at Madison Square Garden. The defeat marks the Knicks’ continued struggle against playoff-contending teams, particularly as they navigated the game without star player Jalen Brunson.

Brunson’s absence—now spanning five games—has been felt deeply, with the Knicks now 5-5 during this stretch, having won only against teams under the .500 mark. Overall, New York’s record against teams with a winning record has plummeted to 11-18, compared to 34-9 against underperforming opponents.

“It’s tough,” said guard Josh Hart. “We started off playing well, got the ball moving. That team’s playing extremely well right now. You’ve got to give them credit.”

The Clippers’ James Harden proved to be a significant obstacle for the Knicks, scoring 29 points along with 10 assists. His late third-quarter streak, where he scored 11 consecutive points, helped propel Los Angeles ahead after a tightly contested game. Kawhi Leonard supplemented Harden’s performance with 27 points, seven assists, and 10 rebounds.

The Knicks struggled to secure rebounds, allowing the Clippers to dominate on the offensive glass, registering 13 offensive rebounds compared to the Knicks’ seven. This advantage translated into 19 second-chance points for the Clippers, while the Knicks managed only nine.

“We had good movement; the turnovers weren’t high,” said Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau. “But the points we gave up off turnovers were high. When you’re shorthanded, that’s probably the difference.”

New York also wrestled with ball security, committing 10 turnovers that the Clippers converted into 18 points. In contrast, the Knicks were only able to capitalize on five Clippers turnovers for a mere nine points.

Trailing amidst injuries, the Knicks relied further on forward Karl-Anthony Towns, who delivered a standout performance with 34 points and 13 rebounds. However, the team’s lack of depth was glaringly exposed, particularly as Cam Payne exited the game with a right ankle sprain after a promising start where he scored 15 points.

With Miles McBride also sidelined due to a groin contusion, rookie Tyler Kolek became the only healthy point guard available, contributing seven assists but notably failing to score. This situation intensified pressure on the Knicks as they head towards the final stretch before the playoffs.

“You don’t wish for injuries, but you gotta be ready,” Kolek remarked after the game. “I feel like I just gotta be better getting us organized.”

As the Knicks face the last 10 games of the regular season, the urgency to solve their ongoing depth issues and improve performance against competitive teams is paramount. With the playoffs fast approaching, New York is running out of time to build momentum and confidence heading into the postseason.