Knicks rest starters in loss to Hornets in regular-season finale
NEW YORK — The New York Knicks’ inactive list for Sunday night’s regular-season finale against the Charlotte Hornets featured four starters and two key rotation players. Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart and OG Anunoby were among those who sat out. Mikal Bridges joined them on the bench 23 seconds into the first quarter after extending his NBA-long consecutive-games streak to 638.
That was the Knicks’ (53-29) reward for having already clinched the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, making Sunday’s outcome meaningless to them in the standings. But there was still a game to play at Madison Square Garden, and while Miles “Deuce” McBride flashed in a featured role, the Knicks’ makeshift lineup didn’t have enough firepower in a 110-96 loss to the full-strength Hornets.
McBride led the Knicks with 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting, headlining a starting five that also included Jose Alvarado, Mohamed Diawara, Ariel Hukporti and – for exactly one offensive possession – Bridges. Jordan Clarkson, Jeremy Sochan, Trey Jemison III, Kevin McCullar Jr. , Pacome Dadiet and Dillon Jones were among the Knicks who played real minutes Sunday.
Charlotte (44-38), meanwhile, deployed its full rotation, needing a win for seeding purposes in this week’s NBA play-in tournament. Still, McBride got the Knicks out to an early lead, scoring 10 quick points to help them go up 16-15 in the first quarter. McBride added eight more points in the second, including a transition dunk that electrified the crowd on Fan Appreciation Day.
It was an encouraging showing, considering McBride missed two months due to hernia surgery before returning late last month. Sunday’s loss was McBride’s sixth game back, and he hadn’t eclipsed six points in any of the previous five. But the Hornets caught fire from 3-point range, starting the game 8 of 20 from deep as they built a double-digit lead in the second quarter.