NBA

Proving that the stifling defense they played 24 hours earlier in Boston wasn’t a fluke, the New York Knicks did again. Reggie Bullock and RJ Barrett combined on a defensive gem late in the game and the Knicks (7-8) held on for an 91-84 win over the Orlando Magic on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Madison Square Garden.

If ever there was a day for New York to play huge, today was it. On coach Tom Thibodeau’s 63rd birthday the Knicks were playing the rival Celtics in Boston. The Knicks took control early and blew out Boston 105-75 at TD Garden. The surprising win snapped a five-game New York losing skid.

Fans of the New York Knicks have been clamoring for the team to sign or draft a quality point guard for serveral years. After suffering through seasons of watching Emmanuel Mudiay, Frank Ntlikina, Dennis Smith Jr. and Elfrid Payton among others, the Knicks may have finally found their guy. Rookie point guard Immanuel Quickley has shown flashes of potential as New York’s back up. In my opinion it is time for Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau to hand Quickley the keys to the car as the team’s starter.

Andre Drummond dominated the paint, and Damyean Dotson tormented his former teammates down the stretch as the Cleveland Cavaliers edged New York 106-103 Friday night Rocket Mortgage Arena. The loss was the fifth straight for the Knicks (5-8).

Kyrie Irving out. James Harden not yet available. On the heels of the blockbuster trade that brought Harden to the Barclays Center, the shorthanded Nets fought off a late New York rally to edge the Knicks116-109. Kevin Durant was still there, and he was more than Brooklyn needed as he powered the Nets with 26 points. It was the fourth loss in a row for the Knicks (5-7) after a promising 5-3 start.