Day: December 26, 2017

Fair warning: If you texted Enes Kanter on Monday to tell him what a great job he did, there is a very high likelihood that he didn’t and won’t get back to you. Don’t be offended. He’s a bottom-line kind of guy.

On paper, the Knicks had almost everything going for them — a raucous Christmas Day crowd in the friendly confines of Madison Square Garden, a 76ers team that practically limped into New York after losing nine of its previous 10, and Enes Kanter, who — despite entering the game being overshadowed by a certain other big man — was about to have one of the best games of his career.

Joel Embiid waited a long time for a chance to make a first impression at Madison Square Garden.

Now we’re about to see if the Knicks are for real or not.

Entering this season, the fear for the Knicks was their point-guard play. The fear was realized on Christmas. Starting point guard Jarrett Jack went scoreless, going 0-for-5, and committed an ill-advised flagrant foul on Joel Embiid in the third quarter with the score tied at 52. Rookie Frank Ntilikina looked lost on defense for one…

Joel Embiid said his family wasn’t around for Christmas. So maybe that’s why he decided to play Grinch and steal the Knicks holiday spirit. This was supposed to be a nationally televised celebration of all the progress the Knicks have made this season, especially at the Garden, where they have been rather dominant — at…

It was another subpar shooting performance for Kristaps Porzingis, who wasn’t as big of a factor as he needed to be in the Knicks’ 105-98 loss to the Sixers on Christmas Day at the Garden. Porzingis was 6-of-19 from the field and was just 9-of-14 from the free-throw line to finish with 22 points. In…

Knicks starting center Enes Kanter got a slew of Christmas texts congratulating him for his 30-20 game. But Kanter has his 20/20 vision trained on the big picture and he will not return many of those good-natured messages because the Knicks suffered a damaging 105-98 defeat to the Sixers in Monday’s Garden holiday matinee. Kanter…

This was no Merry Kristaps for the Knicks. In fact, Monday’s holiday could foreshadow something grim — as it did a year ago. Knicks center Enes Kanter was sensational with a 31-point, 22-rebound explosion, but Kristaps Porzingis didn’t have one of his stronger games. That allowed the 76ers’ Joel Embiid and his flock of hot-shooting…

The Christmas Day showdown was sort of scruffy, with both Stephen Curry and Isaiah Thomas missing. But the result was an apt reminder that the Warriors remain No. 1.

After Monday’s loss, New York was 17-16 and facing a long, tough stretch on the road. And the Knicks have been weak away from home this season.

Durant delivered a towering performance on both ends of the floor, defending LeBron James and scoring 25 points.

In the Knicks’ 105-98 Christmas Day loss to the Sixers, all eyes were on Kristaps Porzingis and Joel Embiid. So who won the matchup?

Enes Kanter made history on Christmas Day, but doesn’t care because his team lost.

The Knicks fell to the Sixers on Christmas Day despite 31 points and 22 rebounds from Enes Kanter.

Kristaps Porzingis gifted the media Zing Bars on Christmas Day against the Sixers.

After Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy said the NBA gave the Knicks a favorable home schedule through the first couple months of the season, New York head coach Jeff Hornacek said he didn’t see it in Van Gundy’s eyes.

Knicks forwards Kyle O’Quinn and Joakim Noah are both active for Monday’s game against the 76ers, while Philadelphia forward Joel Embiid and guard J.J. Redick are also active.

Kristaps Porzingis and the Knicks face Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers on Christmas at noon.