Securing victory in nine consecutive games despite frequently having an undermanned roster sparked hopes of a playoff run for the New York Knicks.
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Securing victory in nine consecutive games despite frequently having an undermanned roster sparked hopes of a playoff run for the New York Knicks, something the Big Apple hasn’t witnessed in this century. However, a defeat in their tenth game served as a stark reminder of how slim the margin for error is for the Knicks in the competitive Eastern Conference playoff race.
Seeking to return to the win column, the Knicks are set to host the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night, marking the final encounter between the two teams this season.
Having had a break since Saturday’s 113-105 defeat to the visiting Los Angeles Lakers, the Knicks aim to rebound. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies come into the game following their fifth consecutive loss, a resounding 131-91 defeat at the hands of the Boston Celtics on Sunday night.
For the Knicks, Grimes (knee injury), Randle (shoulder injury), and Robinson (ankle injury) will not be playing the game. Besides, Anunoby (elbow injury) and Washington (finger injury) could miss the game. For the Grizzlies, Aldama (lower-body injury), Bane (ankle injury), Jackson (hip injury), LaRavia (ankle injury), Morant (shoulder injury), and Rose (hamstring injury) will miss out on the game.
The setback denied the Knicks the opportunity to achieve a 10-game winning streak, a feat they haven’t accomplished since their 13-game run in the 2012-13 season. Additionally, it led to New York slipping into the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference standings. They are now one game behind the second-seeded Milwaukee Bucks and half a game behind the third-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, pending the outcome of the Cavaliers’ game against the Sacramento Kings on Monday night.
The Knicks are currently leading by a game over the fifth-place Philadelphia 76ers, who were set to face the Dallas Mavericks on Monday. Securing a spot in the top four is crucial, as it grants home-court advantage in the initial playoff round.
For the Knicks to maintain their position, their success hinges on the challenge of holding ground even without an ideal starting five.
Few NBA teams comprehend the Knicks’ challenges as well as the Grizzlies do, having seen their own postseason aspirations dashed for a fourth consecutive year due to a string of injuries.
While the Grizzlies retained five of their seven double-digit scorers from the previous season, the collective playing time of key players like Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr., Luke Kennard, and Brandon Clarke amounts to just 116 games. Consequently, Memphis currently resides in the 13th position in the Western Conference.
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