Wins don’t help the New York Knicks’ lottery chances, but that didn’t matter much on Thursday. The Knicks needed a win in the worst possible way after losing a franchise-record 18-straight games. The Knicks were able to knock off the Atlanta Hawks with a balanced offense and suffocating defense. This was the team’s first win since Jan. 4.
Obviously, each loss improves the chance that the Knicks stay near the top of the lottery. If the team hopes to add Zion Williamson this summer, losses help more than wins.
That being said, a historic losing streak isn’t going to help build the “winning culture” that is a constant buzzword around rebuilding teams.