Third's the Word: Shorthanded Knicks Sting Hornets For 7th Straight Win
An absurd third paved the way for the New York Knicks' seventh win in a row on Monday night.
The absence of two starters proved to only delay the inevitable, as the Knicks recovered from a slow start to post a 113-92 victory over the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center, one that extended the NBA's longest active winning streak to seven games.
Jalen Brunson strengthened his All-Star case with 32 points, his 18th game with at least 30 this season. That ties him for the third most in a single campaign by a point guard in Knicks history, trailing only Richie Guerin (36, 1961-62) and Dick Barnett (25, 1965-66). Fellow Villanova alum Donte DiVincenzo was right behind him with 28, most of that tally built by five three-pointers on 15 attempts.
With Julius Randle out due to a dislocated shoulder sustained in Saturday's win over Miami and OG Anunoby (elbow inflammation) a late scratch, the Knicks let the lowly Hornets linger in the first half before a dominant third period allowed them to pull away.
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Up by only three at intermission, the Knicks (30-17) ran away from the pesky Hornets by hitting 17-of-21 from the field en route to 44 points, their most in any period this season. Brunson and DiVincenzo united for 27 of those tallies, each shooting 5-of-6 over the fateful dozen. The second half allowed the Knicks to rediscover their outside game, going 8-of-16 after hitting less than 20 percent in the first 24 (4-of-21).
Monday proved to be a distressing look at the state of the Hornets (10-35), who dropped a four-game set to the Knicks for the first time since the 1991-92 season. The Knicks left little doubt in each game, as the average margin of victory was over 20 points.
Josh Hart took advantage of a rare start, pulling in a game-best 12 rebounds next to eight points and seven assists. Precious Achiuwa appeared in the starting five for the first time as a Knick and had nine scores with five rebounds. The Knicks' bench outscored Charlotte's 26-7, with Miles McBride pacing that effort with 11 in 15 minutes.
Despite an early spirited effort, the equally shorthanded Hornets (missing LaMelo Ball, Gordon Hayward, and Mark Williams) proved to be no long-term match for the Knicks, whose fans made up most of Monday's attendance.
Clad in blue and orange, most garments bearing the famed No. 11, visiting Knicks supporters serenaded Brunson with "MVP" chants whenever he went to the foul line and vocally supported Charlotte's own struggles at the charity stripe, where it hit only half of its 14 attempts. Frustration boiled over in the fourth period when head coach Steve Clifford drew two technical fouls while arguing a no-call on a Miller drive to the rim. Television cameras caught Ball and several teammates laughing after Clifford was forced to the locker room.
In the midst of the sweep's completion, the rookie Miller led Charlotte with 29 points on 11-of-19 shooting, tying a career/season-high previously set on Nov. 18, also against the Knicks. That wasn't enough to alter fate, as the Hornets remained winless in four contests since engaging in a fire sale that shipped Terry Rozier to Miami last week.
The Knicks have an immediate opportunity to earn their eighth win in a row, as they'll return to Madison Square Garden on Tuesday for a visit from the Utah Jazz (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG).
