Malik Beasley ends the Knicks

On By Littum

We already said that in the pre-match preview. Be careful with Malik Beasley and his streaks. And said and done. The veteran Pistons guard finished off the Knicks with two consecutive three-pointers with 42 seconds left in the game.

The New Yorkers focused on Cunningham in the final moments, but forgot about Beasley, who shot all alone to win 124-119.

The Pistons are already a reality, winning 7 of their last 8 meetings and 10 of their last 12.

The aforementioned Beasley finished with 22 points on 6/8 three-pointers in just 18 minutes of play. Maximum efficiency for him.

“We’re losing games that I feel like we shouldn’t be losing,” said an exasperated Josh Hart in the locker room.

“We’ve got to start putting things right. We’re halfway through the season. But if we want to be the team we’re trying to be at the end of the season, we’ve got to start putting things right now,” he said.

Hart’s comments make it seem like another crisis is brewing for the Knicks, but the reality is quite different. They are in third place in the East with a 26-15 record, and at this point in the season, that is Thibodeau’s best record ever.

Last year they had a 24-17 record. In 2022-23 a record of 22-19 and in 2021-22 a negative record of 20-21.

Last night they scored 119 points and shot quite efficiently: 50% on field goals and 40% on three pointers.

But it wasn’t enough as they struggled defensively. Their offense is currently the second most efficient in the league, but their defense is 15th. An unusual problem for a team coached by Thibodeau.

“We’ve definitely got to be better,” Josh Hart concluded.

Other highlights

stamps: Cade Cunningham scored just 7 points in the first half due to foul trouble. But he exploded in the second with 29 points, 18 of them in the third quarter alone.

The star point guard finished on 14/27 shooting, including 4/8 on triples.

Knicks: Jalen Brunson had 31 points and 11 assists, KAT had 26 points and 12 rebounds and Hart added 12 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists.

(Cover photo: Imagn Images)