The New York Knicks come into Saturday night riding the high of a five-game winning streak. On Saturday, they are hosting the Los Angeles Lakers, who come in looking to spoil the Knicks' success.
Lakers' head coach JJ Redick found himself particularly amped up for the contest. "I'm juiced right now. We're all juiced right now. It's Lakers-Knicks on a Saturday night. Like, c'mon. There's nothing better. I'm juiced. And every time I played in Madison Square Garden, I was juiced. My favorite place to play." Redick said pregame.
As a player, Redick played 18 games in Madison Square Garden. He averaged 14.1 points per game in the building, knocking down at least one three-pointer in each contest he played there, including a four-minute appearance during his rookie season.
Redick had just as much praise for the Knicks' star point guard as he did for the building that he called his "favorite place to play".
Redick called Jalen Brunson "the perfect star for New York City."
"Incredible leader…He's unflappable." Redick told reporters. Over the Knicks' winning streak, Brunson is averaging 25.2 points and 8.4 assists per matchup, while shooting a blistering 55% from both the field and beyond the three-point arc.
Redick is once again without his star big man Anthony Davis, who has been plagued with an abdominal muscle strain.
For the Knicks, they are still without Mitchell Robinson, and rookies Pacome Dadiet, who is out with a toe injury, and Kevin McCullar Jr., who recently made his return from a knee surgery.
The Knicks look to improve their win streak to six, while the Lakers are trying to start a streak of their own after defeating the Washington Wizards on Thursday.
