Game of the week: New York Knicks vs. LA Clippers

Two playoff-bound teams will face off Wednesday at Madison Square Garden, where the New York Knicks will host the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Knicks are the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, while the Clippers will likely participate in the play-in tournament out West. Let’s break down this matchup.

The first meeting between these two teams took place earlier this month, with the Clippers securing a 105-95 victory. That game marked the Knicks’ first without star point guard Jalen Brunson, and the team struggled in his absence.

Miles McBride, filling in for Brunson, had a rough outing, shooting just 2-for-13 from the field and finishing with seven points. The Clippers were also shorthanded, missing Norman Powell, but managed well with Kris Dunn stepping into a starting role.

Bogdan Bogdanović provided productive minutes off the bench, contributing eight points and 12 rebounds.

The Knicks entered the fourth quarter of that game with a one-point lead but quickly lost control. Karl-Anthony Towns led New York with 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Mikal Bridges added 22 points.

Josh Hart had an impressive performance, scoring 14 points and grabbing 20 rebounds. The Clippers, meanwhile, were propelled by Kawhi Leonard’s 20 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, while James Harden led the team with 27 points and seven assists.

Ivica Zubac contributed a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds, and Nicolas Batum chipped in 17 points. New York’s biggest downfall was its poor three-point shooting, as the team went just 9-for-34 from beyond the arc.

Looking ahead to this rematch, the Knicks will once again be without Brunson. They will likely start either McBride or Cameron Payne at point guard. The Clippers, on the other hand, are expected to have a fully healthy roster.

Towns has been playing well as the Knicks’ focal point but has struggled on the boards in recent games. OG Anunoby had a quiet first matchup against Los Angeles but is coming off three consecutive 20-plus-point performances, including a strong showing against Dallas on Tuesday.

The Clippers enter this game following a narrow 103-101 loss to the league-leading Oklahoma City Thunder. Leonard has been in top form, scoring more than 20 points in each of his last five games.

Powell, however, has struggled since returning from injury, with a high of just 14 points over his last four outings—nearly nine points below his season average.

For the Knicks to compete, they must match up well against a Clippers team likely to go big, with Batum playing power forward. That could force either McBride or Payne into a tough defensive assignment.

New York may also try to exploit Powell’s recent struggles by forcing him into difficult defensive matchups. The Clippers, meanwhile, will look to keep the ball out of the hands of Towns, Bridges, and Anunoby, all of whom can score at any moment.

This matchup should be much closer than the first meeting. The Knicks have had more time to adjust to playing without Brunson, and with the advantage of playing at home in Madison Square Garden, they could put up a stronger fight.

The Clippers, however, will have a fully healthy lineup, setting the stage for a compelling contest between two playoff-caliber teams.

Alec Brown is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him please email aeb6680@psu.edu.