The Knicks' Recent Scoring Slump Against Chicago is a Major Concern
Look, when you're a scoring analyst, you notice patterns. And the pattern between the Bulls and Knicks right now? It's messy, especially for New York. Everyone's talking about this matchup, but the raw scoring numbers tell a story the Knicks probably don't want to hear.
The last time these two squared off, on February 22, 2026, the Knicks scraped out a 105-99 win. Karl-Anthony Towns got his double-double, sure, but 105 points against a "sliding" Bulls team isn't exactly setting the world on fire. That's a low-efficiency night in today's NBA, especially when you consider what happened just a few months prior.
The Bulls' October Offensive Explosion
Real talk: The Bulls offense can still catch fire, and the Knicks have felt that burn. On October 31, 2025, Chicago absolutely torched New York, hanging 135 points in a 135-125 victory. Josh Giddey had himself a career night with 32 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. Nikola Vucevic added 26 points. That's not just a good night; that's an offensive clinic where the Bulls shot the lights out and the Knicks' defense, frankly, looked lost.
Thing is, you don't just "accidentally" drop 135 points. That takes concerted effort, smart shot selection, and guys hitting their looks. Giddey's near triple-double shows he was dictating terms, finding open shooters and taking advantage of defensive breakdowns. And for the Knicks to concede that many points? It signals a serious issue with their perimeter containment and interior rotations.
New York's Inconsistent Production
Here's the thing: The Knicks have actually won three of their last five against Chicago, but those wins haven't always been pretty, from a scoring perspective. Their last win was 105-99. Their overall record in the last 10 games against the Bulls is 6-4. It's not dominance; it's just enough. And "just enough" doesn't win you championships in a league that's constantly pushing offensive boundaries.
When you're only putting up 105 points against a team that you previously allowed 135 points to, it shows a fundamental inconsistency in offensive execution or defensive scheme. You can't win consistently in the modern NBA by relying on defensive battles every night, especially when you've proven you can give up big numbers. The Knicks need to find a way to consistently generate higher quality shots and not get bogged down in half-court slogs if they want to truly separate themselves.
My bold prediction? Unless New York finds a more reliable and efficient scoring punch, especially from their role players, the Bulls are going to snag another high-scoring upset before the season is out, making the Knicks' recent trend of lower point totals look even worse.