Knicks at Clippers: How & Who to Watch As NY Seeks California Dream

The New York Knicks entered the west coast as contenders. Now, they could emerge as panickers.

With questions lingering over the health of Jalen Brunson, the Knicks have little time to dwell on such issues as they face a speedy run through Southern California, one that begins on Saturday afternoon against the Los Angeles Clippers.

While on relatively firm ground when it comes to the Eastern Conference playoff picture, the Knicks are looking to stop their first losing streak since the end of January, having dropped consecutive contests to Charlotte and Sacramento. The latter served as the opening leg of their four-game Western Conference tour that features a matchup against the surging Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. New York will once again be without Jalen Brunson, whose brief return from a foot injury ended with an early departure in Thursday's loss to the Kings.

Like the Knicks, the Clippers currently sit in the fifth spot on their conference bracket, though they stand only a half-game above the Play-In Tournament in the jam-packed West. Los Angeles had lost five in a row but recently recovered with wins over Memphis and Toronto earlier this week. This will be the second and final meeting between the Knicks and Clippers this season, with the latter winning the Madison Square Garden portion in overtime on Feb. 4.

What: New York Knicks (39-29) @ Los Angeles Clippers (35-33)

Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles CA

When/Watch: Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, MSG/MSG Go

Who's Favored: LAC -5

IMMANUEL QUICKLEY TAKEOVER 🗣️

36 PTS. KNICKS LEAD BY 3 IN 2OT.

📺: Live on ESPN pic.twitter.com/EPCWW1bokS
— NBA (@NBA) March 6, 2023

Keep An Eye On: Immanuel Quickley

Quickley became a metropolitan folk hero last weekend, subbing for Brunson in a thrilling victory over the Boston Celtics, one that potentially convinced lingering doubters of the Knicks' postseason potential.

In true new century Knicks fashion, they're winless since that epic victory that saw Quickley put up 38 points in 54 minutes (the final seven coming in the sixth and final period). Quickley has struggled since then, averaging only 8.5 points and shooting 22 percent from the field in the immediate aftermath.

Likely poised to start in Brunson's place at point guard again, the Sixth Man of the Year contender could serve as a boost to the team's quest to get back on track, especially in such a congested, miles-racking part of the schedule. Quickley has vowed to be a part of that resurgence in spite of his shooting struggles. Like teammate Josh Hart, he's refusing to blame fatigue.

"I never think that really missing shots (means) you’re struggling,” Quickley said, per Peter Botte of the New York Post. “You can play good without shooting ... (We're) just trying to focus in on defense and other things that can help the team win."

“That’s the power of basketball. Sometimes that ball just doesn’t go in. But I won’t stop shooting, I know that .. I’ll never stop shooting. I was trying to be aggressive, playing for myself and my teammates … but just move on to the next game and get ready for LA."

RUSSELL WESTBROOK TO KAWHI LEONARD LOB
pic.twitter.com/gvzVvwfShW
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) March 3, 2023

Clipper to Watch: Russell Westbrook

Perhaps nothing has made a better MVP case for Brunson than the fact that the Knicks weren't trying to delude themselves into thinking waiver wire rentals like Westbrook were their solution at point guard this time around.

No doubt a favorite target of the ruthless world of NBA social media, Westbrook is obviously far from the height of his powers but there's no doubt he's fulfilled the role of a facilitator in switching locker rooms at the establishment formerly known as Staples Center. Since making the switch, Westbrook has averaged 8.7 assists per game and has posted three double-doubles. The Knicks got a taste of what Westbrook can do when they did battle with his previous employers on Jan. 31, as the tenured point guard had 17 points and eight assists in a Lakers victory.

"What he’s brought to our team has been great just far as we’ve been asking to do a lot of different things and trying to learn on the fly," Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said of what Westbrook has brought to the other side, per Tomer Azarly. "(There's) not a lot of time to really have time to really practice it and go over it. So he’s been doing a lot of things on the fly, but he’s been great.”

Prediction

The Knicks proved that they can at least hang with elite competition without Brunson. With Saturday's game serving as not a must-win, but at least a game with subtly major importance (they'll have to face the Lakers just over 24 hours later), it's time to truly get serious about where this run is going to take the Knicks. They've risen to the occasion at several points this year and could take advantage of a Clippers team still trying to find itself with a new roster after the All-Star break.

Knicks 117, Clippers 113

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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