It was just last Wednesday in Charlotte that the Knicks ran up a 129-101 margin, the game effectively over by halftime as NY had cruised to a 72-46 lead. Jalen Brunson scored 33 despite taking off most of the 4th Q as Mike Brown's troops shot 57% from the floor. The Knicks continue to effectively compensate for the absence of OJ Anunoby, out since mid-November. Note, too, how NY (lost at Boston last night) has also won immediately after its previous four losses. Meanwhile, the Hornets' road trip got off to a bad start on Monday when whipped by the Nets in Newark. Prior to the preceding 2-game mini-uptick, Charlotte had dropped seven in a row, and LaMelo Ball's numbers remain decidedly down. Play Knicks

Miles McBride has scored at least 14 points in three of his last four games. In each of those matchups, he started and played at least 33 minutes. OG Anunoby (hamstring) and Landry Shamet (shoulder) are currently out. This is also the second game of a back-to-back set, so Mitchell Robinson could sit out for rest. McBride should play at least 30 minutes against a Hornets team that has the seventh-worst defensive rating in the league, so I like this over.