Isaiah Hartenstein demonstrated what the role could be at its peak. The job as the Knicks’ backup center — at the time occupying the spot behind an injury-prone Mitchell Robinson on the depth chart — could serve as a launchpad to an $87 million deal in free agency. To pricing out of the Knicks’ maximum offer due to the early Bird rights.

Towns earned 1.1 million votes, the third-highest amount in the Eastern Conference behind Boston Celtics champion Jayson Tatum and Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. His teammate, who plays in a big market like New York, noticed the difference.

It was a happy return to Manhattan for Isaiah Hartenstein, whose Oklahoma City Thunder dismantled the Knicks by a 126-101 final on Friday night at Madison Square Garden. The Western Conference-leading Thunder earned a two-game sweep of the Knicks after previously prevailing in a 117-107 home win last weekend.

The New York Knicks: don't knock them until you've tried them. Isaiah Hartenstein has spent the past three seasons at the opposite ends of the NBA rotation mana

If the Knicks’ first Thunder test spiraled into a collapse, then this was a flop. A shellacking. And a drastic one, too.

Jalen Brunson had 27 points and five assists. He shot 12-of-12 from the free-throw line. Karl-Anthony Towns turned in a 23-point and 10-rebound double-double. Josh Hart had a 16-point and 10-rebound double-double. Bridges and OG Anunoby combined for four points.

Jalen Brunson had 26 points and Cam Payne scored all 18 of his points in a span of 4:17, but the Knicks couldn't keep up with the Timberwolves.

Friday night marked Randle’s first game back at Madison Square Garden since the Knicks traded him and Donte DiVincenzo to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the three-team blockbuster that brought center Karl-Anthony Towns to New York.

Eric Moody breaks down Friday's games and offers his top fantasy streamers and favorite bets for the nine-game slate.

As we approach the midpoint of the season, some teams have surprised and others have disappointed. And then there are the Lakers.

It doesn’t get much better than Wednesday night when it comes to my NBA Best Bets, as a sweep – including a Josh Hart rebound ladder – pushed this season’s reco

“It’s weird,” Hartenstein said, speaking as if he was having a revelation. “It feels like he’s not forcing it. He's not going out there thinking about himself, he's going out there trying to help the team, and he's still getting 40.