LOS ANGELES — To make the rest of the week easier on themselves, to ease the trade talk and push aside the reminders of a tough five-game road trip that began Saturday night, what the Knicks needed to do was simple.
Win.
And for 24 minutes, the Knicks suddenly seemed to reach the potential that has rarely been hinted at this season, with RJ Barrett and Julius Randle leading an energetic and dominating performance. But just as they are facing a long road trip, they were facing a long game, and in the second half the tables turned.