Steve Popper

But with the Knicks feeling a bit of urgency after a miserable loss in Indiana, their third fourth-quarter collapse in the last four

That a foul was called on Towns and then reversed on replay didn't matter as much as the intent and fire that Towns played with in a test of the Knicks young season.

Shortly before game time Friday night, the word came down, bringing gasps from the Madison Square Garden faithful, that Karl-Anthony Towns and Deuce McBride would be sitting out the game against the Nets.

For decades now the cross-river rivalry has mostly amounted to a one-sided affair. The Nets, whether in East Rutherford or Brooklyn (or Long Island or Piscataway or Newark), have been second-citizens to the Knicks.

The Knicks have begun to see the scoring potential of Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, combined with the holdovers, Brunson and Josh Hart, can survive if any one players struggles.

PHOENIX — It's hard to miss Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson. He's on the court working hours before game time readying his son, Jalen Brunson, and the rest of the Knicks for the game.

PHOENIX — Hours before the game began Wednesday night Jalen Brunson was asked if he had fond memories of his last journey to the Footprint Center.

PHOENIX — For Cam Payne, this was a trip home, a journey back to the city where he'd finally gained a solid foothold in the NBA.

PHOENIX — Quick, without scouring the internet, consider these questions. How many points per game did Dave DeBusschere average in the Knicks' championship seasons?

SALT LAKE CITY — During the Knicks four-game winning streak, as the leads grew time was spent scouring the internet and thumbing through history