One loss dropped the Knicks from 5th to 20th in the power rankings, and Boston brought the stronger ratings out of last season. These are the numbers that matter before tonight, and what each one cannot tell you.
Seven Is Alarming
Brunson scored 7 points in the 100-106 opening loss to Philadelphia. That is the number that stings. He averaged 26.0 across 74 games last season and walked off with Finals MVP. One night is not a trend. It does turn tonight into a test of whether the offense still runs through him. Drummond put up 10 points and 12 rebounds in the opener, so the second unit did its job.
Boston Was Better
The Celtics finished last season at 120.0 on offense and 111.7 on defense, a net of 8.3. New York went 118.7 and 112.3, a net of 6.4. Boston won on both ends and won 56 games to New York's 53. The Knicks took the title anyway, and no rating captures that part. Boston also opened 0-1, so nobody gets to call this a mismatch.
The $57.1M Man
Towns is the biggest contract on the books at $57.1M, and extension talks are still on pause. He said on October 11 that the pause left him very disappointed, and nothing has moved since. Last season he gave New York 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds in 31.0 minutes. Jared Schwartz of the New York Post wrote that his continued foul trouble is no laughing matter. The fouls matter more than the money. A center in foul trouble is a center on the bench, and behind him sit Drummond and Wiseman.
Twenty Million Over
Payroll stands at $220.4M against a luxury tax line of $200.4M. The 2027 and 2029 first-round picks belong to Brooklyn, and 2028 carries only a swap. Hoops Rumors, citing Ian Begley, reported the Knicks are interested in Dalton Knecht. Interest is not a deal. With this bill and those picks gone, every move costs the front office more than it should.
Bottom Line
Eighth seed, 0-1, one game behind the sixth-place Hornets with 81 to play. The standings mean nothing yet. The drop from 5th to 20th means even less. What counts is whether the champions look like champions in Boston tonight, then against Orlando on October 25.
When do the Knicks play the Celtics?
Tonight, October 23, in Boston. Both teams come in 0-1.
Has Towns signed an extension with the Knicks?
No. Talks are paused, and no decision has been reported since Towns said on October 11 that he was very disappointed.
