The Knicks have an opportunity in front of them — a golden stretch of favorable matchups they need to capitalize on if they want to solidify their playoff positioning.
Heading into Saturday evening’s matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans, the Knicks had won 12 of their last 16 games. Their next six contests present a chance to keep the momentum rolling, starting with a battered Pelicans squad missing both Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.
New Orleans holds more losses than any team in the NBA, and the Knicks dominated them by 33 points on Dec. 1 — the same game where Mikal Bridges snapped out of his early-season slump with a 31-point explosion.
But it’s not just the Pelicans. The Knicks are staring at a stretch of games featuring teams with losing records. They have the chance to pad their win total before the schedule takes a brutal turn in January.
For now, the Knicks are taking it one game at a time. However, a peek ahead at the gauntlet awaiting them in the New Year might provide the extra motivation to handle business during the holiday season.
DEC. 21: NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (5-23)
The Pelicans are decimated by injuries, riding a five-game losing streak, and have dropped 20 of their last 22 games. Without Williamson and Ingram, they’ve leaned heavily on C.J. McCollum and offseason acquisition Dejounte Murray.
At 5-23, the Pelicans’ season is effectively over, making this a must-win for the Knicks.
DEC. 23: TORONTO RAPTORS (7-21)
The Raptors own the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference and enter Sunday’s matchup against Houston on a six-game losing streak, likely extending to seven before facing the Knicks.
Toronto will also be playing the second leg of a back-to-back. The Knicks edged them out in an emotional game earlier this month, 113-108, marking OG Anunoby’s first game back at Scotiabank Arena since his trade to New York.
However, Scottie Barnes played just 23 minutes in that game before an injury sidelined him for 10 days. Immanuel Quickley is also unlikely to play due to an elbow injury, and while R.J. Barrett has been battling an illness, he might suit up for a “flu game” at Madison Square Garden.
CHRISTMAS DAY: SAN ANTONIO SPURS (14-13)
This is a sneaky trap game. The Spurs are no longer the basement dwellers they once were. Adding Chris Paul has stabilized their young roster, and Victor Wembanyama continues to turn heads.
The Knicks will host the 7-4 phenom on Christmas Day. Wemby struggled in his first game at MSG, scoring just 14 points on 4-of-14 shooting. However, he bounced back with a 40-point overtime performance against the Knicks in San Antonio.
This time, the Knicks need to be ready to contain him and avoid a holiday letdown.
DEC. 27: ORLANDO MAGIC (17-12)
The Magic are a tough, physical team under head coach Jamahl Mosley. However, with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner sidelined due to oblique injuries, Orlando’s offense has struggled.
The Knicks handled them easily on Dec. 3 with a 121-106 victory and should be able to do so again. Still, the physicality of this game could take a toll — especially with a back-to-back looming.
DEC. 28 & 30: WASHINGTON WIZARDS (4-21)
The Knicks face the Wizards twice in three days, with the first game coming on the second leg of a back-to-back.
Washington, despite a talented roster on paper, has been a disaster all season. The Kyle Kuzma-Jordan Poole pairing has not worked, and the Wizards own the league’s worst record.
These games are prime opportunities for the Knicks to rack up two easy wins.
JAN. 1, 2025: UTAH JAZZ (6-20)
The Jazz embarrassed the Knicks on Nov. 23 with a 121-106 victory in Utah. Since then, Utah has gone just 2-8, sinking to the bottom of the Western Conference.
The Knicks should be eager to avenge that loss in their final “easy” game before the schedule becomes a nightmare in January.
A LOOK DOWN THE ROAD
Once the calendar flips to January, the Knicks’ schedule transforms from manageable to merciless. After wrapping up their six-game stretch with a home matchup against the Jazz on New Year’s Day, they’ll face one of the league’s toughest gauntlets.
It begins with a trip to Oklahoma City to face the Thunder, the West’s top team and a championship contender led by MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Knicks will see the Thunder again just nine days later in Isaiah Hartenstein’s return to The Garden, and right after, they will host Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, followed by the surging Detroit Pistons.
From there, the road doesn’t get any easier.
The Knicks travel to Philadelphia for a showdown with the 76ers, then host the Timberwolves for Julius Randle’s first game back at MSG since the blockbuster trade. Two nights later, they’ll face the Atlanta Hawks, who have proven to be a thorn in New York’s side this season.
And that’s just the beginning.
The Knicks then embark on a brutal stretch against some of the NBA’s elite teams. They’ll see the Sacramento Kings, who now feature De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, and DeMar DeRozan. They’ll face the Memphis Grizzlies with a healthy Ja Morant, the Denver Nuggets with reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, and the Lakers with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
The challenges continue with games against the Rockets, Celtics (twice), Pacers, Cavaliers, Heat, and 76ers.
This murderous row of opponents underscores the urgency for the Knicks to maximize their current window of opportunity.
Wins against struggling teams like the Wizards, Raptors, and Pelicans are crucial to building momentum and a cushion in the standings before the season’s true tests begin.
Come January, the Knicks won’t have the luxury of light nights. Every win they secure now will pay dividends when the grind intensifies.
