After breaking a four-game losing streak that was “embraced” by coach Mike Brown, the New York Knicks open a four-game Western Conference trip at the Phoenix Suns on Friday.
The Knicks stopped their season-long skid with a 123-111 home victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, when Jalen Brunson was one of three 20-point scorers and they outscored the Clippers 72-55 in the second half.
“When you go through what we went through, it’s tough,” Brown said. “Nobody wants to lose, but I embraced it because it helps me be better. And I felt our group embraced it.”
The Suns enter after making a season-high 22 3-pointers in their 117-98 victory at Memphis on Wednesday. They have won three of four and seven of nine as they open a short two-game homestand.
The Knicks lost three games by double-digits during their skid. The 121-90 loss to Detroit on Monday was their largest of the season and their fewest points scored.
“The biggest thing is that they stay together,” Brown said. “They stay with it. We tweaked some stuff here, tweaked some stuff there. The guys responded fantastically.”
With Josh Hart (ankle) still out, Brown inserted Miles McBride into the starting lineup for the second time in six games since he returned from a left ankle injury, aiming to disrupt Clippers’ guard James Harden.
McBride had 16 points on 6-of-15 shooting and made 4 of 11 3-point attempts. Harden had 23 points on 6 of 17 shooting, with four threes.
“Deuce (McBride) ended up being the defensive player of the game,” Brown said. “He’s an extremely good on-ball defender, especially when it comes to the pick-and-roll game. You know you are not going to stop him (Harden). You just hope he misses some shots.”
Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby had 20 points for the Knicks, who have won three in a row and four of five against the Suns.
New York and Phoenix are two of nine teams with at least 21 wins since Oct. 31, when the Suns began their comeback from a 1-4 start. The NBA Cup-winning Knicks are 22-11 since then; the Suns are 21-11.
“They pose a lot of problems, especially with their offense,” Suns coach Jordan Ott said. “They space the floor. They are able to get to the free-throw line. It’ll be a new challenge, and that’s what it is in the NBA. There is no let-up in this thing.”
Dillon Brooks and Grayson Allen, both former Grizzlies, each had five 3-pointers Wednesday, when the Suns also attempted a season-high 56 from distance.
Brooks scored 21 points, Allen added 19 off the bench and Devin Booker contributed 13 points and eight assists, effectively passing out of double-teams he often encounters. Allen played his second game after missing nine with a knee injury.
“They were giving us a lot of (outside) shots,” Brooks said. “They were in the paint. We were making the passes and knocking them down. I think we can get more than 22 (threes). We made the right plays.”
The Knicks were without Hart and Landry Shamet (right shoulder) against the Clippers. Suns reserve guard Jamaree Bouyea (concussion) did not play against Memphis.
