They say a New York minute is gone in the blink of an eye. Turns out, when you play in the Mecca, double-digit leads can suffer the same fate.

Today’s Lineup

🎉 Happy birthday Jamal Murray, Andrew Wiggins, D’Angelo Russell, Donovan Clingan, and Pelle Larsson! 🎉

Game Recaps

Knicks overcome 18-point 4Q deficit to down Rockets 108-106

If New York knows anything, it’s how to put on a show.

On Saturday, the Knicks did just that, erasing an 18-point deficit in the final frame against the visiting Rockets to claim a rousing home victory. New York was buoyed by big quarters from its big two— Jalen Brunson went 4/4 from the field including the tying and go-ahead buckets, while Karl-Anthony Towns scored 7 of his team-high 27 PTS.

The comeback win marked the latest chapter in an up-and-down season for the Knicks, who suffered a double-digit home loss to the Pistons two nights earlier. At every point you think New York is through, they’ve found a way to battle back. And after following the Houston effort with a 105-99 road win in Chicago, they’ve won three of their last four and hold a one-game lead on the East’s third seed. Never a dull moment!

Jalen Green calls game in Suns’ 113-110 2OT win over Magic; Dillon Brooks breaks hand

On a shooting night to forget, Jalen Green delivered a game-winner to remember.

At the end of a back-and-forth double OT duel in the desert, JG ensured the night went out with a bang, connecting on a fallaway buzzer-beater to send Orlando packing. Though it came at the end of a 6/26 shooting night for the former No. 2 overall pick, Phoenix got enough contributions from Grayson Allen (27 PTS, 7 REB), Collin Gillespie (19 PTS, 6 AST), and Jordan Goodwin (17 PTS, 6 REB) to survive the absence of Devin Booker, who’s out for at least a week with a hip strain. Orlando got 34 PTS from Desmond Bane and 26 from Paolo Banchero, but shot just 25.6% from three as a team.

Another Suns star was also injured in the win— Dillon Brooks, who’s in the midst of a career-year, suffered a broken left hand, and there’s currently no timetable for his return. At 33-25, the Suns currently sit seventh in the West, but after a Sunday night loss to Portland in which they scored just 77 PTS, it’s clear Phoenix will have to adapt in order to survive without its top dogs.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

• Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe have been giving opposing defenses fits since opening night, but their performance in Minnesota was a special one. The young backcourt combined for 63 PTS (Maxey: 39 PTS, 8 AST/Edgecombe: 24 PTS, 6/7 3P) to lead a 135-108 Philly blowout, with the Sixers as a whole connecting on 21 threes.

• Charlotte resumed its midseason surge thanks to a big night from LaMelo Ball, who scored 37 PTS and hit a career-high 10 triples to key the Hornets’ 129-112 win over Washington. Buzz City had lost three of its last four since its nine-game win streak was snapped, but there’s nothing like a hot shooting night from your best player to get a team back on track.

• Golden State fans are used to late-game scoring takeovers from guards, but the jersey usually bears the #30. This time, it was #2, as Brandon Podziemski racked up 12 PTS in the final five minutes to propel the Warriors past Denver 128-117. Nikola Jokic moved one step closer to the all-time triple-double lead with a casual 35-20-12 night, but the Nugs were unable to overcome a Dubs squad that was missing Steph Curry, Kristaps Porzingis, and Draymond Green.

• No Shai, no J-Dub, no problem for OKC, who snapped Cleveland’s seven-game win streak with a 121-113 win. Isaiah Joe led the way with 22 PTS and six threes for the reigning champs, who also got 20 from Cason Wallace and a 17-point, 15-rebound, 3-block performance from Chet Holmgren. Can’t wait to see this squad back at full strength!

Stock Market

With the All-Star break in the rearview, let’s break down the league’s top trends as the season nears its homestretch.

📈 Surging Spurs + Wemby’s Wow Factor

As if Victor Wembanyama’s career highlight tape hadn’t already reached a critical mass, his performance against the Kings added another set of jaw-dropping clips. The 7-foot-4 phenom demonstrated total dominance on both sides of the ball, effortlessly switching between craft dribble moves, windmill slams, and nasty rejections. San Antonio has now won eight straight and trails OKC for the West’s top seed by just three games.

📈 Mathurin’s New Home

The Clippers got significantly younger at the deadline, swapping out James Harden and Ivica Zubac for Darius Garland and Bennedict Mathurin. While Garland has yet to suit up in red and blue, Mathurin has made the most of his early opportunities, scoring 21+ PTS in each of the Clips’ last three games, including a 38-point gem in last week’s win over Denver. The former Arizona stud was a pivotal piece in Indiana’s Finals run last season, and now he’ll get an even greater chance to shine.

📈 Offseason Intrigue

While there’s still plenty of ground to cover this regular season, some key summer storylines have already begun to take shape. Some are obvious, like the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo, but other potential headlines include where/if LeBron James will play next season, which teams will secure top odds in a stacked draft class, and extension decisions for guys like Peyton Watson, Amen Thompson, and Brandon Miller. Stay tuned!

Three in the Key

Signing Off

And we out! Thanks for spending a portion of your day with us. This week, consider calling someone you haven’t talked to in a while. Whether it’s an old friend, a relative, or anyone else you miss, you just might make both your days! See you soon.

Walker Carnathan