• Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. – The New York Knicks (20-20) have been playing great basketball in Madison Square Garden this season until Friday night. New York has posted a 13-8 record at home, and have won their last six games in the Garden. During this six home game winning streak, the Knicks have averaged 112.7 points per game and just 12.3 turnovers per game.

The Los Angeles Clippers (27-15) came into a sellout crowd in the Garden Friday night, looking to pick up another blowout victory. In last year’s contest in the Garden, the Clippers won 111-80 and handed New York its 58th loss of the season. That Knick team played without Carmelo Anthony due to season ending knee surgery, and Kristaps Porzingis wasn’t even drafted yet.

This may be a new season, but the same problems can get you beat no matter what personnel you have on the floor. The Clippers dismantled the Knicks last year in the Garden by forcing 20 turnovers and scoring 24 points off of those turnovers. You have to protect the basketball in order to win. If you don’t, “Lob City” will put on a show in transition. Last year, Los Angeles held the Knicks to just 38% shooting, while shooting 56% themselves.

Credit: Barry Holmes/PureSportsNY ... Paul working on his jumper in pre-game warmups.
Credit: Barry Holmes/PureSportsNY … Paul working on his jumper in pre-game warmups.

Friday night, the Knicks were blown out at home 88-116. This 28 point defeat was the worst of this season for New York, since a 27 point loss to the Chicago Bulls on January 1st. Chris Paul led the way for the Clippers with a double-double. Paul tallied 16 points, 13 assists and six rebounds. His physical play led to an altercation resulting in Robin Lopez hitting him in the face. Lopez was ejected for the blows, and was the first Knick player to be ejected since Tyson Chandler back in 2014.

DeAndre Jordan had another great game in the Garden. Last year, Jordan went a perfect 7 for 7 from the field and scored 14 points. Friday night Jordan went a perfect 7 for 7 from the field again, but this time for 20 points.

The Clippers as a team shot 56% from the field, just like in last year’s contest in the Garden. Los Angeles also forced 17 Knick turnovers, and scored 25 points off of those turnovers. Doc Rivers had his team playing great defense, and forced New York into shooting low percentage shots. The Knicks shot just 38%, just like in last year’s contest.

Credit: Barry Holmes/PureSportsNY ... Anthony handling the basketball during Friday night's contest against the Clippers.
Credit: Barry Holmes/PureSportsNY … Anthony handling the basketball during Friday night’s contest against the Clippers.

Anthony led Knick scorers with 16 points, and also had six assists. Porzingis was the next best scorer, tallying 13 points and eight rebounds. Both Anthony (4 for 12) and Porzingis (4 for 17) had rough nights shooting the basketball. Both were due to a combination of good Clipper defense and poor shot selection from Anthony and Porzingis.

When the Knicks stray from the triangle offense, the results are not good. New York posts a 1-11 record when shooting under 40% from the field. The triangle creates high percentage shots, and the Knicks need to consistently trust it.

New York’s next opponent will be the Charlotte Hornets (20-23) Saturday night in Charlotte. This will be the back end of New York’s 10th back-to-back games this season. The Knicks are 3-6 on back ends of back-to-back games.

Credit: Barry Holmes/PureSportsNY ... Pierce played in his final game at the Garden Friday night.
Credit: Barry Holmes/PureSportsNY … Pierce played in his final game at the Garden Friday night.

Stats Of The Game:

  • Paul Pierce is set to retire at the end of the season. Pierce finished with 13 points and four rebounds in his final game in the Garden.
  • In 24 minutes, Jerian Grant finished with 13 points and eight assists.
  • Los Angeles’ 116 point total was the highest by an opponent since the Atlanta Hawks scored 117 points on December 26th.
  • The Knicks are 0-4 when their opponent shoots 50% or better.
  • Aaron Afflalo was a non factor with just 5 points on 1 of 5 shooting from the field.
  • Last year against the Clippers in the Garden, Cole Aldrich scored eight points in 31 minutes. Aldrich started for the Knicks in that game. This season Aldrich came off the bench for Los Angeles, and scored 12 points in 17 minutes of garbage time against the Knicks.

Barry Holmes is a Senior Writer for PureSportsNY.com. Follow him on Twitter @BHO732

(Featured Photo Credit: NBA.com)

 

By Barry Holmes

Graduate of Millersville University, with a BS in Communications focused in Broadcast. Senior Writer & Social Media Manager for PureSportsNY.

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