The Knicks have a chance to extend their winning streak to ten against the Hornets
The New York Knicks continue to shock the world. Currently riding their best nine-game winning streak, they have a real chance to extend it to 10 games on Tuesday when they take on the Charlotte Hornets at Madison Square Garden.
A win on Tuesday would give the Knicks their 40th win of the season, and with 16 games left, 50 wins is a real possibility going into the Final Phase.
But for now, they’ll face a struggling Hornets who won’t have their star player PG LaMelo Ball after he fractured his season-ending ankle last week. Therefore, this game is highly favored by Knicks.
The Knicks have an excellent chance of keeping it going:
The Knicks’ last four games have been very impressive wins against the Heat, Nets and Celtics twice, including their last win without Jalen Brunson on the floor.
These victories put a statement to the league that this Knicks team is no slouch and that they can handle anyone they encounter.
The Hornets’ season was nothing short of disastrous, and Ball’s season-ending injury was the cherry on top. Charlotte is 20-46 in the regular season, good enough for 14th in the Eastern Conference.
They rank near the bottom of the league in almost every major statistic category, including dead last in three-point percentage (32.7%), offensive rating (108.7), and TS% (54.7%).
Despite the lopsided matchup, the Knicks could still cut their work out as they may still be without Bronson, who is currently listed as questionable with a sore left foot.
Emmanuel Kwekley stepped up big, starting in place of an injured Bronson in New York’s final game against Boston, scoring 38 points in 55 minutes of action.
If Bronson can’t bounce back, there’s reason to expect Quickley to play another big game, especially given the significantly weaker opponent. RJ Barrett is another one to watch, as he’s coming off one of his best games in recent months, putting up a 11/29/3 shooting streak of 10-22 in Sunday’s win over the Celtics.
Given the injuries, Bronson (a sore left foot) remains a doubt for the Knicks. For the Hornets, the ball (broken ankle) is out, and Cody Martin (knee) is questionable.
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