Miles McBride gave the Knicks a cleaner answer off the bench on April 18, scoring 6 points and adding two assists as New York beat the Hawks 113-102 in Game 1. He outscored Landry Shamet 6-3 and did it in 21 minutes, a small line that still mattered in a game the Knicks controlled late.
McBride also finished with a 95.2 defensive rating, the best mark on the team in Game 1, underscoring why his minutes may climb if the matchup continues to tilt his way. The Knicks needed that kind of stability from the back end of the rotation because Shamet struggled, going 1-of-6 for 3 points.
That contrast matters because it gives Mike Brown an immediate choice if the bench picture does not change. Jordan Clarkson supplied a more efficient burst in support, scoring 8 points on 4-of-6 shooting in 11 minutes, while the numbers around McBride suggest there is room for more of his role in the next game.
Game 1 did not settle the bench conversation so much as sharpen it. McBride’s production, paired with his defensive rating and the Hawks’ 113-102 loss, put him in position to make a stronger case the next time the Knicks need a steady second-unit guard.
