WASHINGTON — The Knicks are going to have a troublesome time saying goodbye to December.
They entered the month with the league’s best schedule, in keeping with NBA.com, which tabulated their opponents’ win share at simply 38.6 %.
They’d only one back-to-back, which ended Saturday towards the convention’s worst group, the Wizards.
And the Knicks took care of enterprise. In the event that they beat the Wizards once more Monday within the rematch, they may personal a 13-2 document in December.
It might practically match their 14-2 mark in January of final season, which was celebrated because the franchise’s winningest month since 1994.
The schedule will get somewhat more durable in January, with three units of back-to-backs and video games towards OKC (twice), Milwaukee, Minnesota, Memphis and Denver.
However it’s additionally a home-heavy month with simpler matchups towards Utah, Chicago and Brooklyn.
Essentially the most troublesome months for the Knicks are February and March, with a stretch of 14 video games — together with 11 on the highway — and video games at Cleveland, at Boston, at Memphis, at Miami, at Lakers, at Warriors and at Spurs.
Soreness didn’t decelerate Jalen Brunson within the final sport, however apparently he hasn’t but shaken off his decrease leg harm.
The purpose guard is once more listed as “questionable” for Monday towards the Wizards due to tightness in his proper calf.
He carried that very same designation into Saturday’s contest, warmed up as traditional along with his father/assistant coach Rick Brunson, and dropped 55 factors towards the Wizards.
“I was just reading the game,” Brunson mentioned. “Throughout the game you’re just attacking seams, you’re trying to see where you can be effective. When you have four other guys on the court who space the floor, it’s easy.”
It’s unclear what prompted Brunson’s calf tightness.
He has not missed a sport this season and ranks sixth within the NBA in complete minutes.
Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart and OG Anunoby are within the prime 5 within the league in complete minutes.
The Wizards, in the meantime, will seemingly be returning a minimum of one vital participant.
Kyle Kuzma, who hasn’t performed since November due to sprained rib cartilage, was not listed on the harm report.
The 29-year-old is a commerce candidate earlier than the deadline, however the three years and $60-plus million remaining on his contract make Kuzma troublesome to maneuver.
Jordan Poole, who additionally missed Saturday’s sport, is listed as questionable for Monday due to a hip contusion.
With out Kuzma or Poole, the Wizards nonetheless scored 132 factors towards the Knicks — with Brooklyn product Justin Champagnie going off for a career-high 31.
