Game Day: Knicks @ Suns, 5/7/21

Can the Knicks rebound from one of their more embarrassing losses of the season? They get a prime chance in the Valley of the Sun against a team that beat them with some late game heroics just a couple weeks ago.

How will these Knicks rebound?

No, I don’t mean, like, the actual basketball. We all knew the good vibes of handily beating/competing with teams every single game would end eventually. All teams have bad nights. But will these Knicks let the bad night in Denver get them down before tonight’s game against Phoenix?

Recent history might actually suggest they won’t fold in this game. In fact, they’re probably somewhat likely to come out in a furor. A sampling of some embarrassing losses by the Knicks and the following game:

Dec. 26: Lost 109-89 to the Sixers, next game beat the Bucks 130-110

Dec. 31: Lost 100-83 to the Raptors, next game beat the Pacers 106-102

Feb. 17: Lost 107-89 to the Magic, next game beat the T-Wolves 103-99

March 2: Lost 119-93 to the Spurs, next game beat the Pistons 114-104

…embarrassing Knicks losses are kinda a scarce statistic this year!

At any rate, these Knicks don’t really take kindly to being embarrassed, and as a result, I feel like they’re going to have fires in their bellies tonight to beat the Suns — not just to avenge the loss to the Nuggets, but also to avenge the Chris Paul-powered loss to the Suns at MSG.

That said, it’s not gonna be easy. The Knicks are without Immanuel Quickley and Alec Burks — rather unexpectedly, honestly. That means there’s going to be a lot of guard minutes open tonight, so… Frank Ntilikina? Maybe? Could be a good guy to use “situationally” to try to deal with Devin Booker!

Guess we’ll see tonight. Also, count on Julius Randle to bounce back. He didn’t have a great game against Phoenix last time AND didn’t have a good game against the Nuggets. He, like the team, is primed for double revenge in this game. Get out of the way of the bull.

Of course, the Knicks are going to need to stop Booker and Paul, somehow. Nevermind that they now have home cooking, which will treat them even better than the officiating at MSG. Hopefully RJ Barrett draws Booker, it would be nice to give him an opportunity for redemption on that end of the floor after he got out-muscled by Aaron Gordon the other night.

The game is at 10 PM on MSG, get your coffee brewing now. Come hang out with us on Twitter!