Knicks’ win streak comes to abrupt end with discouraging loss to Hornets

CHARLOTTE — The Knicks faced their toughest test, by far, in two weeks. 

And they failed. 

Their defense, ranked No. 1 in the NBA since Jan. 21, turned into a porous mess for much of a 114-103 ugly defeat to the Hornets.

The Knicks allowed a younger and faster opponent to run rampant, and their seven straight wins entering Thursday felt like a paper streak when it ended Thursday with a thud. 

Kon Knueppel, a real threat to snatch Rookie of the Year from Cooper Flagg, scored 25 points in 37 minutes for the Hornets, knocking down 6 of 10 3-pointers.

Four of his teammates had at least 17 points as the Hornets shot 53 percent overall and 39 percent on treys. 

The Knicks, meanwhile, got little offensively outside of Jalen Brunson, who had a spectacular first quarter but otherwise fizzled while finishing with 26 points and 13 assists.

Kon Knueppel (L.) drives to the rim during the Hornets-Knicks game on March 26, 2026. AP

Karl-Anthony Towns logged just 22 minutes with eight shot attempts, scoring 13 points. 

By the time the Knicks turned up the intensity late in the fourth quarter, it was too late.

LaMelo Ball iced the game with two foul shots to put the Hornets up by 12 with two minutes left, and Miles Bridges’ tomahawk jam in the final seconds was the final insult. 

Jalen Brunson (L.) shoots during the Knicks-Hornets game on March 26, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images

It was a discouraging start to a four-game road slate for New York, with tougher games upcoming at OKC and Houston. 

Before this, the Knicks feasted on lesser opponents — including a slew of tankers — having toppled seven straight teams currently with losing records. 

The Hornets are trending in the opposite direction of tanking.

They’re sharpshooting and surging, riding Knueppel and a revived Ball to a legitimate hope for the playoffs. 

In fact, Thursday was the first time since 2001 that the Knicks and Hornets faced off this late in a season with both teams sporting records above .500.

It’s also a potential first-round playoff matchup, depending on how the jumbled conference standings shake out in the final two-plus weeks. 

The Knicks (48-26) are now third in the East, and the Hornets (39-34), winners of five straight, are tied for eighth with the Heat. 

The Knicks could’ve clinched a playoff spot with a win. That’ll have to wait.