The New York Knicks own the best record in the NBA since the calendar turned to 2024.
They have won 12 of 14 games and are coming off a convincing playoff-rematch victory at home over Miami on Saturday.
Not so coincidentally, the 12-2 run started after the trade acquisition of OG Anunoby, whose defense has transformed a middling team into a potential contender.
Since the Anunoby trade, the Knicks lead the NBA in defensive rating, net rating, rebound percentage, opponent field goal percentage and opponent points per game.
(7 p.m. ET, MSG)
The schedule in January hasn’t exactly been murder’s row, but the Knicks have taken care of business regardless of opponent strength, including victories in that stretch over the Timberwolves, 76ers, Nuggets and Heat.
However, New York now faces a new challenge without star forward Julius Randle, who is expected to miss the next several weeks with a dislocated right shoulder. Randle is second on the Knicks in points (24.0) rebounds (9.2) and assists (5.0) this season.
On Monday, the Knicks face the Charlotte Hornets for the fourth and final time this season. They won each of the previous three matchups by double digits.
In somewhat of a scheduling quirk, the Knicks faced the Hornets three times in 16 days in November, but the margin of victory in the three wins was 22, 14 and 24 points.
However, four Knicks who played significant roles in those victories over Charlotte won’t be with the team Monday, including Randle (who averaged 23 points, 6 assists and 10.3 boards in the three Hornets games), Immanuel Quickley (16 points), RJ Barrett (18 points) and Mitchell Robinson (11 rebounds).
Charlotte owns a dreadful 10-34 record, which isn’t bad enough for last place in the Southeast Division (that honor belongs to Washington at 8-37).
A week ago, the Hornets upset Minnesota – one of the top teams in the West – as 14-point underdogs.
However, Charlotte is riding a three-game slide, which includes a loss to the league’s worst team, Detroit and a 12-point home setback to Utah on Saturday.
In January, the Knicks have seen the under cash 12 times in 14 games, including limiting eight opponents to 100 points or fewer. New York has won and covered in three of four opportunities as a road favorite this month, with the lone loss coming at Dallas.
Randle has suited up for all 46 games this season, so this will be a new wrinkle with him out of the lineup.
Although the Hornets have had their struggles all season, this should be a nice motivational spot to try to get their first win in four tries against a reconfigured Knicks team this time around.
Pick: Hornets +9.5 (-114, FanDuel)