We all know the danger of looking too far ahead. The reminders are scattered across the NBA. Just the other day, Nikola Jokic banged up his knee, and for a dozen or so long hours the Nuggets could see the entire season flash before their eyes. Turns out it was just a hyperextension, not a tear. Denver will survive. But they’re going to lose some games while he’s out.
Injury luck is the only luck that matters in the NBA. The Knicks, thus far, have been pretty lucky with injuries. Only Landry Shamet’s shoulder has meant an extended stay in civvies, so far. There’s been a sprain here, a strain there, a flu bug over yonder, that kind of stuff. It’s the gamble of every NBA game. You play hard every night, sometimes you’ll pay for the effort.
The Knicks play hard every night anyway. Better, they have developed two additional superpowers a third of the way into the season that augment that fundamental asset.
They are excellent closers. So far this season the Knicks have led 19 times after three quarters. They are 19-0 in those games. That’s not an especially small sample size, either. So far in 2025, when they have you after three, they have you for good.
