New York

Knicks

The good news for fantasy managers is that Towns didn’t miss a shot from the field. However, he attempted only five shots and matched that with five turnovers. Give Cleveland credit for its work on the defensive end, but this was a disappointing effort from KAT. While Towns has probably been too much of a lightning rod this season, there are still nights when he puts forth maddening performances like the one he produced in Cleveland. He and the Knicks will look to bounce back on Friday in Milwaukee.

The good news for category league managers is that Bridges recorded a complete stat line on Tuesday. However, he shot 5-of-14 from inside the arc, including a 1-of-6 effort during a third quarter in which the Knicks scored 11 points. Bridges doesn’t need to be a prolific scorer to provide reliable fantasy value, but it would help fantasy managers if he were more consistent on that end of the floor. That can also be said of OG Anunoby (five points, three rebounds, two assists, one block and one three-pointer), who shot 2-of-9 from the field on Tuesday.

Brunson and the Knicks had a rough night, with things getting especially bad during the third quarter. As a team, New York scored 11 points, and Brunson shot 0-of-5 from the field while scoring just one point. While he’s shot 44.3 percent from the field over the past week, Brunson’s fantasy value has taken a hit, regardless of league format. The Knicks play two more games in Week 18, starting with the Bucks on Friday.

Bridges got off to a slow start against the Bulls, shooting 1-of-5 from beyond the arc in the first three quarters. However, he hit a critical three-pointer with 26.6 seconds remaining to extend New York’s lead to six and essentially end the game. The good news for fantasy managers is that Bridges provided solid value in the assist, steal and blocked shot categories. Over the last month, his fantasy value has slipped due to a decrease in three-point production, but Bridges remains a valuable option in category leagues.

Brunson didn’t score much in Chicago, but he did dish out 9 assists. The last was on a Mikal Bridges three-pointer with 26.6 seconds remaining that extended New York’s lead to six. Brunson, who made one of his six three-point attempts, didn’t shoot the ball efficiently, but he was good at making plays for others. The Knicks begin a three-game Week 18 on Tuesday against Cleveland in what will be a vital game for tiebreaker purposes.

For the second straight night, Towns picked up the slack offensively when some of his Knicks teammates could not get going offensively. Having scored at least 21 points in five straight, KAT’s 28 on Sunday were the most in a game for him since he dropped 37 on the Hawks on December 27. The Knicks play three games in Week 18, starting with a critical matchup with the new-look Cavaliers on Tuesday.

Knicks head coach Mike Brown said before Saturday’s win over the Rockets that he did not expect Robinson to play in Chicago, an unsurprising statement given how the center’s availability has been handled this season. Robinson played 18 minutes on Saturday, finishing with six points and four rebounds. His absence on Sunday frees up minutes for Ariel Hukporti and possibly Jeremy Sochan as well.

The Rockets did an excellent job of keeping Brunson under wraps for the first three quarters, with the Knicks point guard shooting 2-of-8 from the field. Brunson came to life in the fourth, making all four of his shots to help New York erase a deficit that grew to as large as 18 points. He also added three more charges drawn to his league-high tally, showing off his skill as a “below-the-rim rim protector.” Brunson and the Knicks play once more in Week 17, as they visit the Bulls on Sunday.

Anunoby had a brutal night in his first game back from a toe injury, scoring eight points on 3-of-13 shooting in Thursday’s loss to the Pistons. He was much sharper against the Rockets, shooting 50 percent from the field while also recording four steals. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns may be the headliners, but the Knicks are at their best when Anunoby is aggressive and efficient as a scorer. He’ll look to end Week 17 on a high note when the Knicks visit the Bulls on Sunday.

On a night when Jalen Brunson didn’t get going offensively until the fourth quarter, Towns shot 7-of-10 from the field in the first three quarters. KAT was more engaged from the start than he was in Thursday’s loss to the Pistons, a welcome step forward for the 7-footer. Sunday’s matchup with the Bulls should be a good one for Towns and those who have him rostered, but only if he’s aggressive from the start.