The final dress rehearsal looked a lot like the Knicks’ last exhibition game. 

Three projected starters — Mitchell Robinson, Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby — were out, along with Josh Hart. So that meant the Knicks finished the preseason without being at full strength for any of their five games. 

According to coach Mike Brown, the Knicks were simply resting Robinson, while Towns (quad), Anunoby (ankle) and Hart (back) are all day to day with minor injuries. 

“Mitch is out, load management, and then the other three guys we’re just being a little cautious with,” Brown said after the Knicks beat the Hornets 113-98 behind 31 points, seven rebounds and six assists from Jalen Brunson. 

New York Knicks center/forward Karl-Anthony Towns on the bench during the first quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

It’s obviously not a positive that the Knicks will enter the regular season with a few players dealing with injuries, especially since they have a new coach and are learning a different system. 

“We weren’t going to be a finished product by the end of preseason anyway,” Brunson said. “We’re going to continue to get better. We’re going to hopefully play a long season.” 

There were positives from the evening, as the Knicks finished the preseason at 4-1. Brunson logged 34 minutes and Mikal Bridges had 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists in 33 minutes. Miles McBride and Landry Shamet combined for seven 3-pointers and 26 points off the bench. 

“Don’t tell the players you said this, there was a part of me that hoped the game was a little close,” Brown said. “If it was a blowout, if we were getting our behind kicked or we were kicking their behind, then I would’ve been in a dilemma. I wanted Jalen and Mikal to play 34 minutes regardless. So it was a good enough game on our part and Charlotte’s part for it to happen.” 

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson reacts after hitting a 3-point shot in the first half at Madison Square Garden in New York, Friday, October 17, 2025. JASON SZENES/ NY POST

Mikal Bridges makes a jumping pass in the first half at Madison Square Garden in New York, Friday, October 17, 2025. JASON SZENES/ NY POST

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The Knicks have until 5 p.m. Saturday to get down to 14 players. They have six cuts to make. The Post’s Stefan Bondy reported that the Knicks informed Garrison Mathews they plan to waive him and keep Shamet for the last roster spot. Mathews didn’t play Friday night. 

“I went in wanting to play 10 guys, to take a look at 10 guys,” Brown said. “I have a minutes sheet I did, and I wanted to try to play the guys that I wanted to just take a look at.”