With a new roster and little time in the preseason to acclimate and practice due to injuries and off-the-court issues, Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek has struggled to find a consistent rotation of players off the bench so far this season. These things take time, but Wednesday night might have given him a glimpse of something that can work moving forward.
For much of the fourth quarter, the Knicks went with a Euro lineup featuring Kristaps Porzingis, Mindaugas Kuzminskas, Willy Hernangomez and Sasha Vujacic, as well as Brandon Jennings. Courtney Lee and Carmelo Anthony were mixed in late in the period, but it was those five who extended the Knicks’ lead and helped secure the 110-96 win.