As soon as it felt like Karl-Anthony Towns was adjusting to Mike Brown’s system – and yes, it looked that way against Houston and Chicago – he and his teammates laid a massive egg in Cleveland. Before tip-off, the Cavaliers sat one game behind the Knicks in the standings.

Aaron Boone must treat the ABS system carefully. It will be an important test for the Yankees when they find themselves in high-pressure situations in a few months. Players like Jazz Chisholm Jr., who tends to express all his emotions, must be especially selective with their challenges.

For the second time in as many nights, Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks in scoring. His 28-point effort in Chicago helped his team secure a 105-99 win over the Bulls. He shone especially brightly in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter, scoring six of the Knicks’ final 11 points as they escaped a Chicago comeback.

Karl-Anthony Towns can only thank Alvarado for his emergence in the final frame. He scored seven points, including a key triple, as part of a team-leading 25-point night. For three quarters, especially coming off Thursday’s disappointing performance, it didn’t look like Towns had it in him to lead the Knicks in scoring.

While the Pistons thrive in the face of adversity, the Knicks seem to struggle. Because of their success against Detroit last year and their consistent playoff success throughout the last few seasons, they seem to feel a sense of entitlement whenever they play Detroit.

Tenacity and grit. These two words will define the rest of the Knicks’ season. They will not be able to reach the promised land without those traits. Currently, nobody on the team is embodying that mindset better than the newest Knick, Jose Alvarado.

Last night at the Garden, fans watched a masquerade ball unfold as the Pacers of Old returned to the Mecca, beating the Knickerbockers in overtime, 137-134. Jalen and the KAT were no match for Pesky Pascal and Numbing Nembhard, who combined for 54 points as Indiana torched the Knicks from downtown, draining 18 three-pointers.

Jose Alvarado is going to be an amazing Knick. Yesterday in Boston, Grand Theft Alvarado excelled in his orange-and-blue debut as the Knicks blew out the Celtics, 111-89. After a rough loss to Detroit on Friday, yesterday’s game was as much of a must-win contest as the Knicks have played all season.

The 40-year-old Jonathan Quick was marvelous yesterday, but unfortunately, he can’t score goals. Apparently, neither can his teammates. Carolina outshot the Rangers 43-16, whose abysmal performance throughout the game fueled a loud chorus of “Fire Drury” chants from the Garden Faithful.

The Knicks were simply sensational last night. They put on a show at the World’s Most Famous Arena, earning a double-overtime victory over Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and the Denver Nuggets. The win marked the Knicks’ eighth in a row, and they survived two overtime frames without Josh Hart or Miles McBride.

The Rangers’ star forward, one of the best players in the NHL, was traded to Los Angeles for what feels like pennies. In return for Panarin, the Rangers acquired a conditional third-round draft pick and the Kings’ top prospect, Liam Greentree. This return is far from worthy of a top-five NHL forward.

In what might have been his final game at the Garden, LeBron James did not get to have his way with the Knicks. He scored 22 points, unable to best the 33 he posted at the Garden last season. Although Luca Doncic broke loose for 30 points and 15 rebounds, it was not enough to combat the Knicks’ production.

The Rangers’ embarrassment never seems to end. Last night at the Garden, they fell 2-1 to the Islanders, marking the first time in eight years the Islanders have swept them in the season series. The Rangers were outscored 14-3, including two shutout losses, across four games against the Islanders this season.

This game will be remembered as the night Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby carried their shorthanded team to a victory. And in many ways, they were the cover athletes of the night. But none of their achievements would have been possible without Landry Shamet.

It wasn’t pretty, but the Knicks earned their third consecutive victory yesterday, beating the bottom-feeding Sacramento Kings 103-87 at Madison Square Garden. DeMar DeRozan was the no-namer selected to explode, and his 34 points accounted for 42.5% of his team’s total scoring.

In front of several Legendary Blueshirts from the 1994 Stanley Cup-winning team, rookie defenseman Matthew Robertson played hero yesterday as the Rangers overcame a 3-2 deficit to defeat the Boston Bruins in overtime.

The Knicks were lucky to escape Philadelphia alive on Saturday. Leading by 17 points with 8:17 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Knicks looked like they had put the 76ers to bed. But an 18-4 run by Philadelphia put them within three points with two minutes remaining.

There always seems to be one team that helps an ailing opponent get a much-needed win. For the Knicks, their best friends live right across the East River. In their 13th consecutive win over Brooklyn, the Knicks achieved their highest margin of victory in franchise history, winning by 54 points.

Cody Bellinger is returning to the Yankees on a five-year, $162.5 million contract. The deal includes a $20 million signing bonus, a full no-trade clause, and opt-outs after the first and second seasons.

Boos. That was all the Knicks have been hearing for weeks. Two duds in one weekend, in which they scored fewer than 100 points at home, did not help. In any other season in the Jalen Brunson era, the Knicks would be fighting flesh and bone for their lives. This year, with nine losses in their past 11 games, they seem perfectly content with sucking.