Hornets 109, Knicks 88: Scenes from at least Gordon Hayward didn’t score 50

The Knicks are bad again, folks.

At least they battled back from a quick 17-point first-quarter deficit to take a second-quarter lead in Charlotte against the Hornets. Things would go downhill pretty rapidly from there, however, as the Hornets quickly retook the lead and piled on until it turned into a rout.

Kevin Knox kept them in the game with 17 first-half points.

He would only score 2 in the second half, as the Knicks went ice cold from beyond the arc. They also struggled with the Hornets’ pestering defense. It was not a fun game.

One positive to take away from tonight: Gordon Hayward had 28 points in the first half, and finished the game with only 34. Sure, it was because Hayward’s teammates heated up in the second half, and he didn’t really need to play that much, but I was not emotionally prepared to give up a 50-piece to freakin’ Gordon Hayward.

Matt Miranda will have the recap.