For the first time in years, the Knicks played an absolutely meaningless game — their position for the playoffs locked in as the #3 team in the East — and lost to Charlotte 110-96 on a Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden.
The game meant a lot to Charlotte — home-court advantage against Miami in the first game of the play-in tournament — so they played their regulars and played to win.
The Knicks played one rotation player — Miles McBride — to get his shooting honed for the playoffs, and one guy on the edge of the rotation — Jose Alvarado. Both excelled, McBride leading NY with 21 pts on 8-15 shooting (4-7 from 3) in 24 minutes. Most of that came in the 1st half; he didn’t play much in the 2nd half.
Jose Alvarado had 16 pts (4-9 from 3) with 7 assists and tremendous defense in 34 minutes. He didn’t play much in the 4th quarter. Kevin McCullar Jr. (14 pts) and Pacome Dadiet (12 pts) excelled in the 4th quarter for NY — both setting career highs. Ariel Hukporti started at center, and scored 8 pts with 9 rebounds and 2 blocks. Jeremy Sochan (12 pts) also played well.
Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Mitchell Robinson and Tyler Kolek (oblique strain) were all out for NY.
Charlotte was led by LaMelo Ball (19 pts), Brandon Miller (19 pts), Coby White (19 pts), and Kon Knueppel (14 pts).
“I’m solid…just getting my wind back, dealing through residual pain, it’s part of the journey,” said Deuce McBride afterwards. “Trying to do anything I can to help the team win.”
After the game, Boston beat Orlando which meant the Knicks will play Atlanta in the 1st round.
About Atlanta, McBride said “They’re a team that defends really well. They have guys who can go get a bucket on the offensive end, but I think their team defense is really something challenging. So it’s going to be an exciting playoff series.”
NY finishes the year 53-29; Charlotte finishes the year 44-38.
1. Lots of Diawara to Start — and a Little of Bridges
Mikal Bridges made a cameo — starting and playing the first 27 seconds to keep his consecutive playing streak alive.
The game started out with lots of Mohamed Diawara, the athletic, 20-year-old, 6’9 Knick rookie who has a lot of skills and a lot of moxie. With all the regulars not playing, this was a chance for Diawara to excel, as he had for most of the season when he was in the rotation. Diawara fell out of the rotation in recent weeks with the re-emergence of Jordan Clarkson, and some players returning from injury.
Diawara has a lot of the skillset of a young Giannis Antetokounmpo, who only scored 6.8 ppg as a 19-yr-old rookie — Greek Freak took 4 years to become a star.
Mo Diawara has shown he is not shy when it comes to taking shots — and this was a game for him to show himself in.
But it didn’t happen. Mo came out firing — and missing. He ended up shooting 2-9 from the floor (0-5 from 3) for 5pts in 34 minutes.
Instead it was Miles McBride who carried the Knicks scoring load from the start — honing his 3 after missing 6 weeks late in the season due to the hernia strain.
DEUCE IS LOOSE‼️ pic.twitter.com/LEjRojvc2x
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) April 12, 2026
Charlotte led 30-20 after 1 quarter.
2. McBride Sharpshoots But Charlotte Leads 57-42 at the Half
McBride continued to carry the Knick scoring load in the 2nd quarter.
DIAWARA ➡️ DEUCE 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/tKEXupVx7q
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) April 12, 2026
Still, Charlotte had more guns — playing their regulars — and they took a 15-pt lead at the half, at 57-42.
3. Alvarado Intense Play Keeps Knicks within Range
Jose Alvarado was exceptional all night for NY — orchestrating, penetrating with that dribble that he never gives up, scoring, and playing intense defense — even against the 6’6 Miles Bridges.
4. McCullar Stars in 4th — But Charlotte Builds Comfortable Lead
Kevin McCullar Jr. took over for NY in the 4th, making heady plays.
Pacome Dadiet and Jeremy Sochan joined him with strong play.
Guys who had been at the end of the bench all season came in to play — Trey Jemison III and Dillon Jones.
Tyler Kolek missed the last 2 games of the regular season with an oblique strain.
5. Eyes on Boston-Orlando Game at the End
Throughout the game, all Knick fan eyes were on the scoreboard — to see who the Knicks’ 1st-round opponent would be. With Toronto easily beating Brooklyn, and Atlanta getting crushed by Miami — it came down to the Orlando-Boston game — an Orlando win would mean NY would face Toronto in the 1st round; a Boston win meant NY would play Atlanta.
Atlanta was the much tougher opponent for NY this year — the Knicks beating them twice, both times by 3 pts in close games, and then losing to them once, by 12 pts.
Orlando led early by double digits — in a game where Boston was playing their reserves. But Boston came back to take a double-digit lead in the 4th quarter. As the Knick game ended, Orlando made a run to tie their game with Boston in the final minute, only to have Boston win it. So NY will play Atlanta in the 1st round.
The Boxscore
https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401811045
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