Because the NBA season heads in direction of its finish, the New York Knicks and New Orleans Pelicans are conscious of the urgency required within the post-All-Star break stretch, which can depart everybody a lot nearer to the end line. The Knicks and Pelicans are each within the thick of jumbled races of their conferences, with the Knicks in sixth place and the Pelicans tied for seventh within the Western Convention.
On Saturday evening, the Knicks will host the Pelicans within the first recreation of the season between the 2 groups. The Knicks will likely be finishing a back-to-back set, having returned from the break on Friday with a 115-109 win over the Washington Wizards. The Pelicans resumed play on Thursday with a 115-110 loss to the Toronto Raptors, persevering with a four-game highway journey.
The Knicks have been on a sizzling streak, successful their fourth straight recreation and ninth up to now 13 video games. They trailed the Wizards 57-38 simply past the halfway level of the second quarter earlier than Julius Randle scored 16 factors in a 30-7 run that bridged the halves. Within the fourth quarter, they sealed a game-ending 6-0 run with a layup by Jalen Brunson with 42.1 seconds left.
However, the Pelicans have been struggling to search out their footing, and their playoff image is turning into muddier. They’re at the moment in a three-way tie for seventh place within the Western Convention with the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors, two video games behind the fifth-place Los Angeles Clippers.
“Each recreation is essential,” stated Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau. “You possibly can sense the urgency within the gamers. They know what’s at stake.”
Pelicans coach Willie Inexperienced has already made some adjustments to his lineup, benching Trey Murphy III and beginning Josh Richardson, who was acquired from the San Antonio Spurs on Feb. 9, in Thursday’s recreation in opposition to the Raptors. Whereas Richardson was stable in 28 minutes, the Pelicans fell to the Raptors, trailing for the ultimate 38-plus minutes.
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“We now have to play like that — not simply the final couple quarters, however attempt to put that collectively for 48 minutes,” Inexperienced stated of the Pelicans, who shot 53.2 p.c within the second half after capturing 37.8 p.c within the first half.
Because the Knicks and Pelicans look to enhance their playoff positioning, the urgency and significance of each recreation will likely be on the forefront of their minds.