This was a true test for the New York Knicks on Thursday night at the United Center.

The Chicago Bulls were 4-0 coming into the game against the 3-1 Knicks and it had that 1993 Eastern Conference Playoffs feeling to it when Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing were battling it out.

Only this time, itā€™s Julius Randle and Lonzo Ball in the 2021 version of this rivalry. And on Thursday night, the Knicks got the better end of the game.

Although, the Knicks nearly gave the game back to the Bulls and almost gave it away, as Julius Randle missed two crucial free throws that would have put the Knicks up 106-103, but instead, missed them both and the game remained a one-point contest.

DeMar DeRozan had a chance to win the game for the Bulls, but got locked up by RJ Barrett and missed the game-winner.

Barrett finished with 20 points and Kemba Walker had 21 points, leading the Knicks scorers. Randle, the Knicks lone All Star from a year ago, had 13 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists; one shy of a triple-double.

In years past, the Knicks would have found a way to lose that game. Even last year, the Knicks likely donā€™t win against a loaded Chicago team full of talent.

Three Bulls players; DeRozan, Zach LeVine and Nikola Vucevic, all had 20-plus points. And yet, the scrappy Knicks came out of Chicago with a win.

With all of the talk in New York about the Brooklyn Nets being championship contenders, everyone else forgot about the team who plays in Madison Square Garden that actually looks like a contender in the Eastern Conference.

While itā€™s still early at 4-1, itā€™s a great sign for the Knicks moving forward that they are tough enough to not only face the best teams in the league, but can win and come away with a win on the road.

Make no mistake about it, though. The Knicks are as legit as any team in the East.

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