Spirited Comeback Falls Short

"I don't care about that. If there's no 'W' attached to it, it's a bad night." - KAT after scoring 46 points in a 1-point loss.

Final Score: Knicks 123 - Bulls 124
Record: 5-6

Over the first few weeks of this season, plenty of fans voiced concerns about the Knicks' lack of toughness and grit. They were concerned that the secret sauce flavoring New York's remarkable 50-win 2023-24 campaign had vanished.

Over the first 32 minutes Wednesday night inside MSG, the Knicks gave those same agitated fans even more reasons to believe this team did not have the resolve required to make this a special season.

With less than four minutes remaining in the third quarter, Chicago shooting guard Zach LaVine blocked a fadeaway attempt from OG Anunoby, grabbed the rebound and went the length of the floor for a layup. The bucket ballooned the Bulls' lead to 22 points, 90-68. New York looked lazy and lethargic over those first 2.5 quarters of action. 

Less than 24 hours after registering an inspiring victory over the Sixers, the Knicks came out of the gates flat on both ends of the floor vs. Chicago. They allowed the Bulls, who had lost five of six games heading into Wednesday, countless open looks on the perimeter and in the paint. New York settled for contested jumpers on the other end and exhibited no urgency. 

And then, thanks largely to Karl-Anthony Towns ratcheting up his intensity, the Knicks began to push back.