The Knicks will hold a hearty rest vs. rhythm debate ahead of Sunday’s season finale in Brooklyn.
On one hand, the game at Barclays Center is meaningless.
The Knicks are locked into the third seed after Friday’s 108-102 loss to the Cavaliers, with the Pistons secured as the first-round opponent.
But the Knicks (50-31) are also riding a three-game losing streak with a need for confidence and reps ahead of the playoffs.
Tom Thibodeau wouldn’t commit to playing his regular starters — “we’ll deal with Sunday on Sunday,” he said — but also was clearly disappointed at the current state of the Knicks.
“We need to get rhythm. We need to get better as a team, we need to get a rhythm,” Thibodeau said. “You get the highest seed you possibly can, and then you make those decisions about whether you rest or what you’re doing.”
New York dropped to 1-3 since the return of Jalen Brunson, who missed 15 games — mostly in March — while recovering from a sprained ankle.
The All-Star point guard, who scored a team-high 27 points Friday, seemed eager to play again before the postseason.
“I feel great. I feel better. Just continue to strive for that and just making sure I’m 100 percent myself going into tomorrow and Sunday and going for it,” Brunson said.
Does that mean he’s playing against the Nets?
“I want to win on Sunday,” Brunson said. “It’s just plain and simple.”
On Friday, KAT was out. The rest were in.
On the second night of a back-to-back and with the third seed in the balance, the Knicks started four of their regulars Friday night against the Cavaliers.
Only Karl-Anthony Towns was on the inactive list because of the knee soreness that kept him out of previous contests.
OG Anunoby and Josh Hart, who sat out Thursday’s loss to the Pistons, were always expected to return.
Brunson’s availability, however, was somewhat surprising.
He only recently returned from that 15-game absence because of an ankle sprain and was listed as questionable ahead of Friday’s tipoff.
With Friday’s start, Brunson hit the 65-game threshold for postseason awards eligibility.
Several Knicks players wore T-shirts during warmups celebrating teammate Anuonoby, who is a candidate for an All-Defense selection.
The T-shirts showed Anunoby with glowing eyes with the message, “Demon on defense.”
