10 NBA things to watch for on Christmas Day

HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 7: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets handles the ball against Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 7, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 1: Kevin Knox #20 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks on December 1, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

9. Can Kevin Knox stay hot?

The legend of Kevin Knox got off to a sizzling start at summer league, but it came careening to a halt when the regular season began.

In the Knicks’ third game of the season, Knox suffered a left ankle sprain that wound up sidelining him through early November. Upon his return, he began to fluctuate between promising outings and no-shows on a near nightly basis, in no small part due to head coach David Fizdale’s constantly shifting rotations.

Starting with his 26-point night against the Bucks on Dec. 1, however, Knox has begun to get into a rhythm.

In the five-game stretch from Dec. 9 through Dec. 17, the rookie averaged 19.4 points on 41.9 percent shooting, 6.8 rebounds, 3.0 triples and 1.0 assists in a whopping 37.7 minutes. He started the last four of those games, and with the Knicks barreling toward the lottery for the sixth straight season, there’s no reason for them not to play him heavy minutes and let him take his lumps now.

Facing the likes of Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton is no easy task for anyone, let alone a rookie with less than 30 games of experience under his belt, but that didn’t deter Knox earlier this month. If he can help the Knicks steal yet another game from the Bucks, he’ll carve his way further into the hearts of New York fans everywhere.

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