Knicks Ground Rockets

By Samori Benjamin

For some it does not seem that long ago that Patrick Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon were jostling in the paint at Madison Square Garden, competing to capture their first NBA Championship. It has been thirty years now since the summer of 94’ when the Houston Rockets and New York Knicks met in the NBA Finals. Last night they met at the Garden for their first matchup of 2024 and the Knicks beat their old foe.  Behind 61 combined points from their leading men Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson the Knicks 109-94 win over Houston was a solid bounce back after losing their previous game to Orlando to start a home stretch where 12 of 14 games are in their Arena.  

OG Anunoby had 15 points in his ninth game as a Knick and his plus 24 was the highest plus/minus on the team in his 43 minutes of play. The Knicks are now 7-2 since acquiring Anunoby and now post an overall record of 24-17 which has them tied for the 5^th best record in the Eastern Conference with the Miami Heat who they lost to in six games in last year’s Eastern Conference Semifinals.  The Knicks have lost to one team this season who had a record under .500.  That was the Utah Jazz who now currently have a record of 22-20.

The Knicks host the Wizards tonight before the Toronto Raptors come to MSG Saturday night. They will face RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickly for the first time since they were traded earlier this year.