The 2014-15 season was one both the Knicks and the Lakers would rather forget.
Two of the league’s cornerstone franchises, both teams struggled heavily last season. On Sunday the two rebuilding squads met up at Madison Square Garden, with the Knicks coming back late for a 99-95 win.
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The win gave the Knicks a 3-4 record. For a team that won just 17 games all last season, that's not bad for less than two weeks of work. They also happen to play in the Eastern Conference, which means the road isn't so littered with powerhouse teams to hurdle.
Meanwhile, the Lakers dropped to 1-5, with a struggling and aging Kobe Bryant clinging to his reign as the team's "best player," for better or worse, in the rough and tumble Western Conference.
There's a long way to go in the season, and anything can happen. But it looks like things will turn around more quickly in the Big Apple before they do in Hollywood.
Tweet of the Night
Andre Drummond was just too good Sunday night.
NOOOOOOPE https://t.co/onVBjFiBkX
— Zach Harper (@talkhoops) November 9, 2015Stud of the Night
Nights like this are about to make Drummond a rich young man. Detroit's center poured in 29 points and 27 rebounds as the Pistons improved to 5-1 by beating the Trail Blazers 120-103. He also added three blocks and two steals.
Dud of the Night
The Heat got the win on Saturday, but Dwyane Wade was not efficient at all. Wade was just 4 for 13 and finished with 12 points as the Heat bested the Raptors, 96-76.
Looking Ahead
Pistons (5-1) at Warriors (7-0), 10:30 p.m.: An up-and-coming Pistons squad will get the chance to find out how they measure up against the NBA's elite Monday night in Oakland. The Pistons guards will have their hands full with the Splash Brothers, but the Warriors big men will have to contend with a rising star in Drummond.