The New York Knicks returned to Madison Square Garden on Friday night and hoped to look like themselves again.
A recent west coast road trip began with promise as the team beat Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco. The joy was short-lived as the Knicks then turned in sluggish efforts in Sacramento, Portland, and Utah.
Guard Austin Rivers attributed the struggles to fatigue, but even so. The New York Knicks entered Friday’s tilt against the Cleveland Cavaliers on the back of an awful effort in Utah on Tuesday. It didn’t help that the Knicks also collapsed in their last matchup with the Cavs earlier this month.