The Garden was loud. It’s always loud when the Knicks are actually playing defense, but last night felt a bit different because the stakes in the Eastern Conference standings are getting ridiculously tight. If you’re looking for the short answer: The New York Knicks won the game last night, beating the Charlotte Hornets with a final score of 114-106.
It wasn't easy. Not even close.
For three quarters, it looked like Charlotte might actually pull off the upset and silence the Manhattan crowd. LaMelo Ball was doing LaMelo things—hitting deep threes and finding passing lanes that don’t actually exist for most human beings. But the Knicks have this weird, gritty identity under Tom Thibodeau where they just refuse to go away, even when their shots aren't falling. They grind you down. They hit the glass. They make you regret ever stepping into the paint.
The Turning Point in the Fourth
New York entered the final frame trailing by four. Honestly, the energy in the building was getting a little nervous. You could feel that collective "here we go again" vibe that Knicks fans know all too well. But then Jalen Brunson decided he’d seen enough.
Brunson is fascinating because he doesn't look like a superstar in the traditional sense. He’s not jumping over anyone. He’s not the fastest guy on the court. But his footwork? It’s basically art. He spent the first six minutes of the fourth quarter putting the Hornets' defenders in a blender, drawing fouls, and hitting those tough, contested mid-range jumpers that have become his signature. He finished the night with 32 points and 7 assists, but it was his ability to control the tempo when Charlotte tried to speed things up that really won the game.
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Josh Hart was the other hero nobody talks about enough. He finished with a stat line that looks like a typo: 12 points, 15 rebounds, and 6 assists. Keep in mind, the guy is a guard. He was out-jumping centers for offensive boards and immediately kicking it out to the perimeter. That’s the "Knicks basketball" everyone keeps raving about this season. It's not always pretty, but it’s effective as hell.
Why the Knicks Won the Game Last Night
If you look at the box score, the disparity in second-chance points tells the whole story. The Knicks finished with 22 second-chance points compared to Charlotte’s 8. That is purely a result of effort. Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein (before his foul trouble) were relentless.
- Offensive Rebounding: New York grabbed 16 offensive boards.
- Turnover Margin: They forced 14 Charlotte turnovers while only committing 9 themselves.
- Free Throw Consistency: Brunson and Randle went a combined 14-of-16 from the charity stripe.
Julius Randle had a "quiet" 24 points. I say quiet because he didn't have those explosive bursts we sometimes see, but he was incredibly efficient in the post. When Charlotte went small to try and match the Knicks' speed, Randle just bullied his way to the rim. It forced Charlotte to double-team him, which opened up the corners for Donte DiVincenzo. "The Big Ragù" knocked down four triples, including a massive one from the wing with about two minutes left that effectively iced the game.
Defensive Masterclass or Hornet Collapse?
It’s probably a bit of both. Charlotte shot nearly 55% from the field in the first half. You can't sustain that against a Thibodeau-coached team. In the second half, the Knicks switched their defensive coverage on LaMelo, putting OG Anunoby on him more frequently. Anunoby’s wingspan is a nightmare. He didn't just stop Ball from scoring; he disrupted the entire flow of the Hornets' offense.
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By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, Charlotte looked gassed. They were settling for long, contested twos instead of attacking the rim. Brandon Miller had a decent showing with 20 points, showing exactly why he was a top pick, but he lacked the veteran poise to navigate the Knicks' late-game physical pressure.
The Playoff Picture Reality
This win keeps the Knicks firmly in the hunt for a top-four seed. In the East, every single game feels like a playoff preview. If they had dropped this one to a sub-.500 team like the Hornets, the media narratives this morning would have been brutal. Instead, they showed they can win even when they aren't playing their "A" game offensively.
The depth of this roster is its greatest strength. Even when the bench players like Miles McBride come in, there is no drop-off in defensive intensity. McBride only had 8 points, but his plus-minus was a +11. That tells you everything you need to know about how he impacted the game without needing the ball in his hands.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Bettors
If you’re following the Knicks’ trajectory for the rest of the season, there are a few things to keep a very close eye on.
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First, watch the injury reports regarding the frontcourt rotation. The Knicks win by being physical, and if they lose even one of their primary rebounders, their system starts to show cracks. Second, pay attention to the three-point shooting percentages. They won last night despite shooting only 34% from deep, which isn't sustainable against elite teams like the Celtics or the Bucks.
For those looking ahead to the next matchup, check the fatigue levels. The Knicks play a high-minutes style under Thibs. Brunson played 41 minutes last night. That’s a heavy load. If you’re looking at betting lines or fantasy projections, expect a slight dip in efficiency if they are on the back end of a back-to-back.
Next Steps for Following the Season:
- Track the Standings: Monitor the 3-6 seeds in the East daily; the gap is often less than a game.
- Watch the Minutes: Keep an eye on Brunson’s usage rate; if it stays above 35%, look for fatigue-related turnovers in the fourth quarter of future games.
- Review Defensive Ratings: See how the Knicks perform against "run and gun" teams versus half-court defensive teams; they struggle more when the game is played at a breakneck pace.