The Knicks enter tonight's game at Madison Square Garden as losers of FIFTEEN in a row to their friends from Philadelphia, the Sixers. The Knicks haven't beaten them since the final day of the 2016-17 season. On that night, the Knicks got big baskets down the stretch from Marshall Plumlee, Ron Baker, Justin Holiday, and the game-winning basket with 18 seconds left by Maurice NDour. Know any of those guys? Yeah, they're all long gone, and so are most Knicks fans recollections of what it feels like to watch their team beat Philly.
Last season, the two teams met the day after Christmas, which as you'll recall was actually the second day of the Covid-shortened regular season. The Knicks were non-competitive in a 109-89 home loss. They didn't get their next shot at the Sixers until two and a half months later in Philadelphia. The Knicks tried hard in that game, and took an 82-73 lead into the 4th, but the Sixers "tightened the defensive screws" and held them to just 14 points in a 99-96 escape as 7-point home favorites. Just five days later back in Manhattan, the two teams played an even closer game. The Knicks buried a three to go up 100-96 with just over a minute left in overtime, but lost 101-100 after Julius Randle was whistled for a loose ball foul with 5 seconds left. Tobias Harris made both free throws for the final points of the game and Randle then clanked the potential game-winner. Afterwards, Randle complained that the zebras had decided the outcome of the game, and added "They have to do a better job. It's too many games like this." That was tough luck for Randle and his teammates, and a 15th consecutive loss to this nearby rival.
Last week, the Knicks got the season started out right with a thrilling double overtime victory over the Celtics in their home opener. Their next stop was in Orlando to play what is possibly the worst team in the NBA. The Knicks led the Magic by 20 after one, by 30 at the half, and cruised to a 121-96 win. It was the kind of road win that normally has fans leaving the arena in droves, but droves of people did not attend this game. Given the ease of that triumph, you might not blame the Knicks for not giving their all in a quick rematch this past Sunday night at the Garden against the Magic. Rather than making quick work of Orlando as they had just two nights earlier, the Knicks let this lottery team hang around. The Knicks led 80-74 at the end of three, and it was in the 4th quarter that the Knicks got Terrence Ross'd upon. Ross, a 9-year veteran, had played 19 minutes in the first three quarters but hadn't scored a single point. In the 4th quarter, he tore up the uninspired Knicks for 22 points, scoring six baskets and making 8 of 9 from the line to lead his winless team to its first win of the season. Afterward, a dejected Julius Randle, who scored 30 points but shot a very poor 8-24, admitted "They just played harder than us."
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