The Knicks won’t be able to ease back into action after the All-Star break.
A loaded schedule awaits the Knicks, beginning with Thursday night’s marquee matchup with the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons at Madison Square Garden.
That kicks off an 11-game gauntlet in which the Knicks face eight teams currently in playoff position and three others within striking distance of a play-in spot.
The opponents include each of the top five teams in the Western Conference standings, as well as three of the top five in the East.
The grueling stretch includes seven road games and two back-to-backs.
All of that offers another pre-playoff litmus test for the Knicks (35-20), who are currently third in the East and seek to build on last year’s trip to the Eastern Conference Finals.
“You never want to look ahead,” Jalen Brunson said during his All-Star press conference in Los Angeles, reflecting on what he learned from last year’s run.
“You want to focus on the task in front of you. I think most importantly, after last year, you can’t just jump right back into where we were. You’ve got to [go through] the journey all over again, so taking it one day at a time.”
First up is Thursday’s heavyweight bout with the Pistons (40-13), who defeated the Knicks in blowout fashion in the teams’ first two meetings, both in Detroit.
The Knicks were without Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby in this month’s 118-80 loss in Motor City, though the Pistons were missing All-Star center Jalen Duren.
Towns has since returned to the Knicks, but Duren — and backup center Isaiah Stewart — will miss Thursday’s rematch as they serve suspensions for their roles in a fight in Charlotte last week.
The Knicks have not said whether Anunoby will return Thursday from the toenail avulsion that’s kept him out since Feb. 4.
On Saturday, the Knicks are set to host the Houston Rockets (33-20) before beginning a three-game road trip against the Chicago Bulls (24-31), Cleveland Cavaliers (34-21) and Milwaukee Bucks (23-30).
The Knicks return home to face Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs (38-16) on March 1 in a rematch of the NBA Cup final.
From there, the Knicks visit the Toronto Raptors (32-23) on March 3 before hosting the NBA-best Oklahoma City Thunder (42-14) on March 4.
The Knicks then head west to begin a five-game road trip, starting with trips to Denver (35-20) and then Los Angeles to face the Lakers (33-21) and Clippers (26-28).
A March 11 visit to Utah is the Knicks’ next game against an NBA cellar-dweller.
“This is a process, and we’re gonna [improve], we’re gonna take a step back, [and] we’ve got to figure it out,” head coach Mike Brown said after the Knicks’ 138-89 win in Philadelphia before the All-Star break.
“That’s why there’s coaching. That’s why there’s practice. That’s why there’s shootaround. That’s why we have those guys in the locker room that we have.”
Thursday could mark the Knicks debut of forward Jeremy Sochan, who signed a minimum contract after being waived by the Spurs last week.
The Spurs selected Sochan, 22, with the No. 9 pick in the 2022 draft, but he fell out of their rotation before they parted ways.
Known for his defense, Sochan is the latest newcomer on a Knicks team that also acquired scrappy point guard Jose Alvarado before this month’s trade deadline.
“I think those two are gonna be real big game-changers for us,” Towns said during his All-Star press conference. “They’re gonna do what they do the best, and I think it’s gonna help us get some wins when it feels like we’re just not gonna get one those nights.”
The Brooklyn-born Alvarado, 27, has already made his presence felt, averaging 14.0 points, 3.7 assists and 2.3 steals off the bench through three games with the Knicks. That includes a 26-point eruption in which Alvarado made eight 3-pointers in Philadelphia.
The Knicks hope for a similarly strong start from the 6-8 Sochan, who averages 10.4 points per game for his career.
“Very excited to see him,” Brunson said. “I think he brings a level of toughness. From what I’ve seen, he’s been a great teammate. Very excited. It’s a great opportunity for us and for him.”
WARREN TO WESTCHESTER
T.J. Warren is back in the Knicks’ organization.
The veteran forward is rejoining the Knicks’ G League affiliate via his returning rights, the team announced Monday.
Warren appeared in 21 games with the Westchester Knicks last season, averaging 22.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game.
The 32-year-old Warren has not appeared in an NBA game since the 2023-24 season, when he was a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Warren has averaged 14.3 points per game over nine NBA seasons with the Phoenix Suns, Indiana Pacers, Nets and T-Wolves.
PAYNE TO PHILLY
A familiar face is set to join a Knicks rival, as guard Cameron Payne is signing a rest-of-season contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
Payne had spent this season with the Serbian team Partizan Belgrade, which confirmed Monday that it reached a buyout with the veteran.
The 31-year-old Payne spent last season with the Knicks, appearing in 72 regular season games and 14 more in the playoffs.
