The New York Knicks marked their NBA Cup championship with a fan ovation at Madison Square Garden on Friday, despite opting not to hang a commemorative banner. The celebration preceded a 116-107 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, as the team grappled with fatigue from a grueling schedule following their Tuesday triumph over the San Antonio Spurs.
The New York Knicks' first home game since their December 7 win over Orlando featured a bittersweet return after their NBA Cup victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Las Vegas. Before tipoff against the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday, the scoreboard replayed tournament highlights, and fans gave a standing ovation at the announcer's urging.
Unlike prior winners—the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks—the Knicks skipped a commemorative banner, as the Las Vegas-hosted semifinals and finals extended their road trip.
The mood soured with a demanding schedule: after the Cup final, they edged the Indiana Pacers on Thursday before the 116-107 loss to Philadelphia—their third game in four days. Forward Josh Hart, who sat out against Indiana but logged 34 minutes versus the 76ers (5 points, 10 rebounds on 2-of-7 shooting), said: “We weren't really looking too far ahead, so we didn't realize how challenging going right into a back-to-back and then an earlier game on Sunday.”
First-year coach Mike Brown recounted a lighthearted post-trip mishap amid a snowstorm north of New York City. Housesitting sister-in-law called in panic over snow-clogged walkways blocking Amazon deliveries: “We had snow in our driveway and our walkway and my sister-in-law called us and she was panicked... She was like, ‘Somebody’s going to slip. I need a shovel,’” Brown recalled. “I was like, ‘Shovel? Oh my god, who do I call?’” He called their builder for assistance.
A day off precedes Sunday's matchup with the Miami Heat, offering recovery time.
