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Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks

The New York Knicks have clinched the No. 3 seed in the East at 53-28, but their season finale against the Charlotte Hornets carries upset risk.

With health and injury concerns, a rested lineup could expose bench weaknesses to a desperate Charlotte squad eyeing play-in glory.

Mike Brown’s Starter Dilemma

Knicks coach Mike Brown faces a clear choice after Friday’s 112-95 win over Toronto. Opening the door to rest, he said postgame: “I’m not sure we’ll talk about it, probably. You want to try to go into the playoffs as healthy as possible, but we’ll discuss it as a staff here in the next day or so. And then we’ll see what happens.”

Coach​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Brown’s careful strategy is really highlighted by the latest injuries. Leading scorer OG Anunoby had to be taken off the court after the Raptors game in the 2nd quarter due to a left ankle sprain, and he did not come back.

Brown only mentioned that Anunoby had “tweaked his ankle” and that he hadn’t spoken to the trainers about it yet.

With Anunoby’s status uncertain and Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Karl-Anthony Towns all possible players to sit, Brown doesn’t really have a reason to risk playing his main players in a completely irrelevant match.

The Hornets Will Exploit Weakness

GettyKnicks could lose against the Hornets

Charlotte​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ understands perfectly what they are up against: a Knicks team low on players and playing a game without any stakes. So, they’ll give it their all.

The Hornets will push tempo relentlessly. Having averaged 116.1 points per game this season, Charlotte is a team that greatly benefits from playing fast. Considering a Knicks’ bench that is defensively disorganized, it will be the Hornets’ prey for stretches of time before the defense can even get set.

LaMelo Ball will be the one to initiate the fast breaks, and the rookie Kon Knueppel will be the one to sprint down the floor for easy buckets.

Ball will focus on pick-and-rolls with Miles McBride and Jordan Clarkson. Both guards have been small and defensive in the past. A big, smart, and great passer like Ball will always be a problem for the opposing defense. Expect the Hornets to use switches to confuse the Knicks’ bench.

Brandon Miller is going to have the ball a lot outside the key. With OG Anunoby probably out of the game and the first-string wings getting a rest, whoever is guarding Miller, be it Landry Shamet or a backup forward, will be unable to cope physically. Miller’s ability to score from all three levels makes him a nightmare matchup for New York’s depleted rotation.

Charlotte will be aggressive in going inside to score. Besides Mitchell Robinson, the Knicks lack a reliable rim protector. If he ends up with two fouls in a short span, the Hornets will keep driving. Bridges and Miller will be on the receiving end of a lot of drives, while Ball will be the one making short passes to those who break through.

The Hornets are going to come out on top in this contest based on their athleticism, pace, and targeted aggression – all things that the Knicks’ bench just cannot consistently ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌defend.