Jordan Clarkson made his return to Salt Lake City a memorable one, lighting up the scoreboard with a season-high 27 points as the Knicks triumphed over the Jazz, 134-117. Clarkson, who once called Utah home, seized the moment with 26 minutes on the floor-his most since Christmas Day. Prior to this breakout, he'd logged just 20 minutes across three March games.
Coach Mike Brown couldn't have been more pleased with Clarkson's performance, highlighting the veteran's readiness both physically and mentally. "For him to go out and perform the way he did, you couldn’t ask for anything better," Brown noted. Clarkson's ability to step up, especially when the team was down by 18 in the first half, was a testament to his professionalism and preparedness.
With free agency looming, Clarkson's standout game couldn't have come at a better time.
The Knicks, who had dropped their last two games, found a spark during halftime. They outscored the Jazz 78-52 in the second half, thanks to some candid locker room conversations.
Clarkson shared, "It was our halftime speech, in terms of how we came at each other, where we tried to hold each other accountable. And then just came out here and wanted to win."
However, slow starts have been a recurring issue since the All-Star break. The usual starting five has struggled, posting a net rating of minus-15.3 in the first quarters of the last 11 games.
Even with Landry Shamet stepping in for the injured Josh Hart, the early-game woes persisted. Some argue that shuffling the lineup with players like Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns might not solve the problem, nor would adding Mitchell Robinson due to his load management plan.
As the playoffs approach, ESPN's Vince Goodwill highlights key challenges for the Knicks, including maximizing Karl-Anthony Towns' impact and getting Jalen Brunson back to peak performance. These factors will be crucial for the Knicks as they gear up for the postseason.