Knicks Defense Comes Up Big in 106-100 Win Over Clippers

The Knicks made a big statement yesterday defeating one of the NBA’s best teams and breaking an eight game losing streak against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center.

One of the leagues best defenses held the Clippers to 100 points and relied on the bench play of Derrick Rose with 25 points and sharp shooter Reggie Bullock with 24, RJ Barrett also contributed with 18 in a much-needed win.

The Knicks came off back-to-back loses against the Denver Nuggets and the Phoenix Suns, and needed a win to stay at the number four position in the Eastern Conference

New York (38-30) is battling for position in the NBA’s new playoff structured format, which includes teams 7 through 10 in a play in to compete the 8 team best of series.

They are currently a game ahead of both the Atlanta Hawks and the Miami Heat, and just two games ahead of the Boston Celtics, with just four games left in the regular season.

The teams that finish 1 through 6 will not have to compete in a play in game.

Here is how the play in works; Teams 7 and 8 will play each other and the winner of that game will take the 7^th position, the loser will have to play the winner of the 9 and 10 teams play in game, with that winner taking the 8^th position.

The Knicks will finish up their 6-game road trip in LA to take on the Lakers tomorrow night, before heading home to play the final three games at Madison Square Garden.

If you’re a Knick fan, you’re probably just happy that the team is actually winning this season, and speaking personally as a lifelong fan, I like the direction of this young team, they have build from the draft and if they steer the course we could be seeing more post season battles for the next several years.

Go Knicks!

[NBA.com]