Knicks defeat the Hornets 115-91, advance to the quarter finals of the In-Season Tournament

In a decisive 115-91 victory against the Hornets, the Knicks not only clinched the last group game in the In-Season Tournament but also secured a spot in the quarterfinals, facing off against the Milwaukee Bucks in the knockout round.

Julius Randle delivered a stellar performance, notching an impressive 25 points and an outstanding 20 rebounds on 8-15 shooting. Immanuel Quickley, coming off the bench, added 23 points to the Knicks’ tally. The team’s dominance was evident in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Hornets 35-25.

Despite building a substantial lead, coach Tom Thibodeau opted to keep his starters on the floor in crunch time, emphasizing the importance of securing the advance spot. The Knicks qualified as the second-best in their group, behind the Milwaukee Bucks, earning the wildcard entry.

The Knicks faced a brief scare in the third quarter as the Hornets narrowed a 16-point deficit to just one point, cutting the lead to 56-55. However, Josh Hart played a pivotal role, scoring 7 of his total 17 points in the third act, steering the Knicks back on track.

Hart, did felt weird about the need of winning big, questioning the integrity of the game.

“We were focused, at first, just about winning. The last couple of minutes it feels weird. At a certain point, you just start chasing points, doing all that. So it kind of messes with the integrity of the game a little bit.”

– Josh Hart

The team’s early dominance was evident as they took a commanding 16-point lead in the first quarter, with Randle contributing 11 points.

Mitchell Robinson had a great defensive effort, delivering three of his six blocks in the first quarter, along with 6 points and 10 rebounds.

The Knicks strategically forced the three-point line, making 6 threes in the first quarter and 9 more in the subsequent three quarters.

Notably, the Hornets played without LaMelo Ball, impacting their offensive rhythm. Brandon Miller led the Hornets with 18 points, while Miles Bridges and Mark Williams added 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Bridges, who missed last season due to charges of domestic violence, encountered a less-than-welcoming reception from the MSG crowd, especially during his trips to the foul line.

With this convincing win, the Knicks now turn their attention to the upcoming quarterfinal clash against the Milwaukee Bucks, eyeing a successful journey in the In-Season Tournament.

The game is scheduled for December 5th, will be played in Milwaukee and will be on national tv. The winner will advance to the Final Four tournament which will be held in Las Vegas.

Up-next: The Knicks (10-7) will host the Pistons (2-15) on Thursday from 7:30 pm.