New York Knicks vs. Charlotte Hornets Preview: How, Who to Watch in In-Season Tournament Group Finale

The New York Knicks have a chance to play for a championship berth in November as they face the reeling Charlotte Hornets.

There's a championship buzz around the New York Knicks.

Friday night's comeback from 21 points down en route to a 100-98 victory over the Miami Heat not only kept the Knicks alive at an outside shot for the East Group B victory in the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament, but it also put them in the driver's seat for the wild card afforded to the top runner-up. Tuesday thus features a crucial game on the Knicks' timeline, as they can clinch a berth in the eight-team knockout tournament with a victory over the reeling Charlotte Hornets at Madison Square Garden.

With a plus-18 point differential in their first three group games, the Knicks have developed a healthy advantage over their pursuers. They've also had Charlotte's number in the early stages of this season: Tuesday will feature the last of three meetings between the Knicks and Hornets this month and the former won each of the prior couple by a combined 36 points. The previous meeting at MSG was a 129-107 final paced by 24 points from RJ Barrett.

Charlotte has been reeling since they last hooked up: the Nov. 12 loss at Spectrum Center kicked off a streak of losses in five of their last seven, including a 130-117 defeat at the hands of the Orlando Magic on Sunday. The game was particularly costly for the Hornets, who lost franchise face LaMelo Ball to an ankle injury that required assistance off the floor. Ball is officially listed as out for Tuesday's visit.

What: Charlotte Hornets (5-10, 1-2) @ New York Knicks (9-7, 2-1)

Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

When/Watch: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. ET, MSG

Who's Favored: NYK -12

Keep An Eye On: Jalen Brunson

From a Knicks perspective, the best thing the In-Season Tournament has brought is further vindication for handing Brunson a nine-figure check two summers ago. Brunson has returned to form in November after a shaky start and has been particularly impressive in the trio of group games so far. As it stands, Brunson is the third-leading scorer among group play participants (min. 3 games played), averaging 33.7 in the trio. With the Knicks facing a major opportunity to press forward, Brunson has a major stage for yet another MVP performance, a bookend of sorts after he had 45 in the group-opening loss to Milwaukee. 

Hornet to Watch: Brandon Miller

With Ball down, it might officially be Miller time in Charlotte. The Hornets' young season, which many foresee spent away from the playoff picture, has been packed with subplots of both the charming (Mark Williams' interior breakout) and ugly (the team's continued dedication to Miles Bridges despite PJ Washington's prescienc ) variety. The development of Miller, the newest second overall pick, will certainly be worth keeping an eye on, especially if he's required to take on a larger offensive role with Ball out. Miller's first visit to MSG (which saw him endure an ankle injury) was a painful one but he put in 29 when the Knicks visited North Carolina on Nov. 18. In the four games since then, Miller has averaged 18.3 on 54 percent shooting, including 55 percent with an extra point on the line.

They Said It

"I think the In-Season Tournament brings a little extra juice. I don’t know. It was fun, it was good to get a win. It was the first one for the in-season on our home court so it was cool. Yeah, it felt like we were fighting for the playoffs, it was cool.”-Julius Randle on Friday's win in Miami with the added In-Season Tournament caveats (h/t Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News)

Every Knicks In-Season Tournament Clinching Scenario

Prediction

Let's be honest: tournament or no tournament, if the Knicks can't beat this Hornets group missing its young star, they have bigger issues. As long as they don't succumb to a new brand of pressure, unknown to any NBA in the maiden voyage of the In-Season Tournament, they should be able to take care of business ... as has been tradition in the early stages of this campaign.

Knicks 114, Hornets 93