Knicks ready for tough home court against Western Conference standouts

On By Littum

The Knicks will play their next five games at home, but all will be against formidable Western Conference opponents, starting with Saturday’s matchup against the surging Kings.

Sacramento has won 10 of 12 under Doug Christie after Mike Brown was fired in late December with a 13-18 mark.

The Knicks’ next four games will be against the top six teams currently in the West: Grizzlies, Nuggets, Lakers and Rockets.


Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks reacts on the court in the second half.
Jalen Brunson was named the Eastern Conference starter for the 2025 All-Star Game. Jason Szenes / New York Post

“Obviously they had a little bit of a slow start, but they’ve been playing well,” newly named All-Star starter Jalen Brunson said of the Kings. “Most importantly, we have to maintain our consistency. Our mental approach has to be the same every game. We have to be ready to go.

“It’s going to be a dogfight when we get out there, no matter who we play. Any given night, something can happen, so we’ve got to be ready to go.”

The Knicks enter Saturday’s game at MSG with a slightly better record on the road (15-8) than they have managed at home.

Josh Hart is listed as questionable for the Knicks with right knee soreness. De’Aaron Fox (sprained right thumb) is questionable for the Kings.


De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings goes backwards during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on January 14, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
De’Aaron Fox is averaging 25.4 points and 6.2 assists per game this season. Getty Images

New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin joined New York AG Letitia James and Connecticut AG William Tong and other government officials in “asking Altice USA and MSG Networks to reach an agreement” to resolve its dispute that has removed the networks’ programming from Optimum’s lineup since Jan. 1, according to a statement Friday released by MSG.

“MSG Networks agrees with the Attorneys General,” the statement read. “We don’t want Optimum subscribers to miss another Knicks, Rangers, Islanders or Devils game. That’s why we offered to submit the case to binding arbitration.

“If Altice USA agrees, MSG Networks can immediately bring back the games that Optimum subscribers are desperately missing while MSG Networks remains off the air.”

The Knicks ranked third in the NBA in team merchandise sold in the first half of the season via the league’s website — behind the Celtics and Lakers. Brunson is fourth in individual jersey sales behind Steph Curry, LeBron James and Jayson Tatum.

Brunson was also named the league-wide recipient of the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award for December.