Frank the tank stopper with career night
THE TANK stops here. At least for one game.
The Knicks demolished the Hornets on Saturday at the Garden, 124-101, snap- ping their season-high ninegame losing streak behind Frank Ntilikina’s career-high 15 points.
It was a forceful effort from the Knicks (25-45), but also one that could hurt their lottery chances. As a result of their first home win since January, they went from eighth to ninth in the lottery standings because the Bulls (24-45) lost to the Cavs.
Interestingly, the Knicks host the Bulls on Monday. Most encouraging against the Hornets was the confident performance from Ntilikina, who came off the bench and unleashed this stat line — 15 points, 5-of-8 shooting, three assists, three rebounds. His previous career-high was 13 points.
“It means something to me, of course,” Ntilikina said. “It shows improvement. Now I feel more comfortable than the beginning of the season. It gives me motivation to get more.”
Tim Hardaway Jr. dropped a game-high 25 points on 7-of-15 shooting.
The win snapped an eight-game losing streak at home, representing just their second victory in the last 19 games.
With Courtney Lee out to attend the funeral of a family member, Jeff Hornacek started Lance Thomas and kept Ntilikina out of the lineup. But it was the bench that carried the Knicks on Saturday, especially when they ended the third quarter on a 32-7 run to assure the blowout.
It reached the point in the fourth quarter where Hornacek turned to Jarrett Jack for garbage minutes. Jack had logged 10 consecutive DNPs as the Knicks shifted to prioritizing youth.
The Hornets (30-40) started the day talking about making an improbable playoff push but should kill that talk after Saturday’s showing. They shot just 27 percent, with Dwight Howard — normally an efficient scorer (if nothing else these days) — missing 11 of his 17 attempts.
All-Star Kemba Walker added just 10 points in the Hornets’ pitiful night.
Former Knick Willy Hernangomez, who was traded to the Hornets for two secondround picks, played 13 garbage-time minutes and scored nine points with seven rebounds.