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The angst had dissipated somewhat in recent days. But it came roaring back.
After two games breezing past lowly opposition in the Wizards and shorthanded Mavericks, the Knicks stepped back up in weight class Wednesday night.
And they failed yet another test against teams in playoff contention, falling 126-113 to the Clippers at Madison Square Garden.
They fell to 5-5 without Jalen Brunson, with their five wins all coming against teams outside the playoff picture.
It continues a worrying season-long inability to beat quality foes, which has only been exacerbated without Brunson.
James Harden turned back the clock and torched the Knicks for 29 points and 10 assists, including scoring 11 straight Clippers points late in the third quarter.
It sparked a 16-6 run for Los Angeles, taking a tied game to a double-digit lead entering the fourth quarter.
Kawhi Leonard took it from there, scoring the first 10 Clippers points of the fourth quarter as the Los Angeles lead ballooned to 18. He finished with 27 points, seven assists and 10 rebounds.
The Knicks defense fell apart in the second half, giving up 40 points in the third quarter and 32 in the fourth. They had no answers for Harden nor Leonard, and Norman Powell also chipped in 19 points for the Clippers.
Karl-Anthony Towns did everything he could to keep the Knicks in it, following up his triple-double showing with 34 points and 13 rebounds. Josh Hart was much quieter than Tuesday, recording seven points, six assists and six rebounds.
And the Knicks offense struggled when Cam Payne exited with a left ankle sprain, leaving Tyler Kolek as the only healthy true point guard available. It prompted playing time for little-used Delon Wright, though he did little with it, failing to score.
The Knicks’ lack of depth, which has been a season-long theme, was exposed as well.
The Clippers outscored the Knicks 24-12 in bench points.
Friday provides another opportunity against a playoff-bound opponent in the Bucks.
