The Knicks are embracing the chance for a potential trip to Las Vegas later this week, but contingencies needed to be in place for the alternate scheduling possibilities should they get bounced from the NBA’s In-Season Tournament on Tuesday night in Milwaukee.
With the Celtics getting knocked out by the Pacers on Monday night, a Knicks loss to the Bucks would result in a visit to Boston on Friday.
Under that scenario, that would make the Knicks’ reward for reaching the knockout stage two added road games that count in the regular-season standings against the top two teams in the Eastern Conference.
Adding another game against the Celtics also would mean that the Knicks would play 42 road games and 40 at home this season.
Of course, a win over the Bucks now would set up a semifinal meeting Thursday in Vegas with Tyrese Haliburton, Obi Toppin and the Pacers.
The Knicks and Pacers would have faced each other at the Garden on Wednesday if both teams lost their tournament knockout games.
Julius Randle has averaged 25.5 points, 11.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists over the Knicks’ past four games and has been named NBA Player of the Week for the Eastern Conference.
He fell two assists shy of a triple-double Thursday against the Pistons and one shy Saturday against the Raptors.
Tom Thibodeau said the Knicks “knew it was gonna take time,” but Randle said he’s feeling more in rhythm following a slow start after undergoing offseason ankle surgery.
For me it is an everyday process of continuing to get better,” the two-time All-Star said. “Build more stamina in my legs, get my rhythm, my touch and all that different type of stuff.
It was a process and it’s a never-ending process for me. Even when I improve, I want to improve more. It’s not like I get somewhere and it’s like, ‘Good, I’m there. I’m finally there, whatever.’ Every day the building blocks are to continue to get better as a basketball player.”
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