The Knicks face a crucial pair of matinee games to close the season, with both wins basically required if they want to have a shot at reclaiming the fourth seed. Can they take care of the Hornets at home?

Each of these last two games are must-wins for the Knicks. It could maybe be argued from the Hornets’ side that it’s a must-win for them as well.

But here’s the difference — the Knicks are good, and the Hornets are not as good. Presumably at full health this game (minus Mitch still, miss ya buddy), New York should be able to go wire to wire and win this game, if they put their minds to it. The Hornets are 3-7 in their last 10 games, and their only wins came against the tanking Pistons twice and the tanking Magic once.

The Hornets will be without Gordon Hayward still, who remains out, as well as Miles Bridges, who just cleared COVID protocols but is going to sit this one out. Both of those guys killed the Knicks previously, so it’s definitely in the Knicks’ favor to not have to face them.

Hopefully the Knicks can survive Elfrid Payton’s minutes to start each half and still come out on top against a pretty dynamic backcourt of LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier. On the other side of that, though, I don’t really think the Hornets have anyone that can bother Julius Randle and RJ Barrett that much, so they should be able to go off and help push the Knicks to victory.

The game’s at 1 PM on MSG. Come hang with us on Twitter if you want!