CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Knicks made easy work of an easy opponent in their first game without Julius Randle.
The Villanova duo of Jalen Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo combined for 60 points, feasting on the miserable Hornets despite injury absences to Randle and OG Anunoby.
Their 113-92 victory completed a season sweep of Charlotte and pushed New York’s winning streak to a league-best six games.
The Hornets, (10-35), losers of four straight, hung around until halftime as the Knicks (30-17) adjusted to life without their two regular forwards.
Then the Hornets lived up to their reputation by folding, not long after their head coach, Steve Clifford, conceded pregame, “It’s not like we’re playing meaningful games.”
Brunson dropped 32 points in 34 minutes, shooting 13-for-24. DiVincenzo went 42 minutes with 28 points on 22 shots (15 3-point attempts), benefiting from an enormous green light and making up for Randle’s absent points.
The Knicks led by just three at the break and by double digits for the final 18 minutes.
It was another win for the Knicks against a bad team (they’re 20-0 versus teams with records currently under .500) and another sad night for the Hornets.
Clifford, a veteran and capable coach bridging an ownership change, is playing out the string of a lost season.
When asked about LaMelo Ball’s latest absence Monday because of a sore ankle, Clifford responded, tellingly, “It’s not like we’re playing meaningful games.”
Clifford stopped himself quickly — “they’re meaningful and we want to win and all that,” he added — but it’s a hard statement to overlook given the context of the franchise.
The Spectrum Center was empty Monday, and most of the attending fans wore Knicks gear.
It erupted in “Let’s Go Knicks” chants in the fourth quarter with the visitors up 29.
Clifford, unhappy with a subsequent call, was soon after ejected for going at the referee.
Life without Randle would be a cakewalk if the Knicks always played the Hornets.
The more telling tasks will be the upcoming home slate against the Jazz (Tuesday), Pacers (Thursday) and Lakers (Saturday).
In Charlotte, the Knicks got their first glimpse without Randle, whose recovery timeline from a dislocated shoulder remains up in the air despite encouraging signs that he’ll avoid season-ending surgery.
Anunoby was also a late scratch with an inflamed right elbow, prompting the Knicks to start Josh Hart and Precious Achiuwa at the forward spots.
Hart logged 39 minutes and finished with 12 rebounds and seven assists. Achiuwa added nine points in 32 minutes. The Knicks’ bench — led by Miles McBride (11 points) — outscored Charlotte’s, 26-7.