CHARLOTTE — The Knicks better hope this is the low point because the playoffs are coming soon and they looked Thursday night like a lifeless first-round knockout.
Tom Thibodeau’s squad was overmatched all evening by the sad-sack Hornets, a team with just 18 wins that coasted to a 115-98 victory.
The Knicks’ bench, an issue all season, was a no-show while getting outscored by Charlotte’s reserves, 37-11.
In fact, New York’s bench was scoreless until the fourth quarter.
Precious Achiuwa, Landry Shamet and Cam Payne combined to shoot just 3 for 16.
Concerns about depth weren’t alleviated.
And without Jalen Brunson, the offense continues to sputter.
The Knicks (43-26), who dropped to 3-4 since Brunson turned his ankle against the Lakers, trailed for the final three quarters and by double-digits for the entire final period.
