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Knicks Open Preseason Hunting Answers, Not Wins

Brown uses the trip to Philadelphia to size up the kids while two contract clocks keep ticking.

0-0Record entering tonight
By the Knicks Nightly Desk · Monday, October 5

The Knicks open their preseason slate tonight in Philadelphia, with Mike Brown using the game to evaluate youngsters and newcomers, the Post reported. Mohamed Diawara and the guard rotation behind Jalen Brunson are the clearest things to watch, while Towns and McBride still have no new contract after weeks of talk.

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Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Tip-Off Tonight

Brown singled out tonight's trip to Philadelphia as a chance to see where Mohamed Diawara stands entering his second season, after a rookie year that didn't deliver the jump the Knicks wanted, the Post reported. An October 4 rumor report from Jared Schwartz also flagged Jose Alvarado and the other guards as a storyline worth watching, though it offered no specifics on minutes or roles.

Clock To Home Opener

Preseason continues Thursday against Washington, then Minnesota on October 12 and a trip to Toronto on October 13, all before the Knicks open the regular season October 20 against this same Philadelphia team, this time at the Garden. Every game until then is about health and roles, not the standings.

Money Still Unsettled

Towns and Miles McBride both raised extension talk at Media Day on September 28, and neither has a new deal since. McBride called himself disappointed by where those conversations stood on September 26, and an October 1 report still grouped Towns with an open starting-lineup question.

Health Notes

Drew Eubanks remains without a timetable on his left thumb and arm injury, unchanged since September 28. Mohamed Diawara, previously questionable, was cleared on October 3 and should be available tonight.

Bottom Line

Tonight settles nothing permanent, but it starts separating real rotation pieces from camp bodies, with the regular-season opener against this same Philadelphia team just fifteen days away.

When do the Knicks play their first preseason game?

Tonight, October 5, on the road against the Philadelphia 76ers, airing on NBA TV.

When does the Knicks regular season start?

October 20 at home against the 76ers, airing on NBC and Peacock.

By the Knicks Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.

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