New York: If it weren’t messy, it wouldn’t be fun

🏀NBA:Despite the Knicks’ 97–113 loss to the Denver Nuggets last night, they’ve still won 12 of their last 14 games and have clinched at least a spot in the play-in tournament. And while that’s already huge, if the Knicks can stay within the top six, they’ll avoid the play-ins altogether.

• Over in Brooklyn, the Nets are headed in the opposite direction after three straight losses, including a pair to the Milwaukee Bucks — who are hot on the Nets’ tail for the East’s second seed. Spare us the stress, and secure that second seed.

⚾️MLB: After losing 4–1 to the St. Louis Cardinals, the Mets benched starting shortstop Franciso Lindor for their next game, which the Mets won 7–2. The high-profile Lindor hasn’t earned a hit in his last 24 at-bats (the fourth longest of any Met in a decade), which might be part of the reason why the Mets fired hitting coaches Chili Davis and Tom Slater on Monday. Interesting.

Over in the Bronx, the Yankees beat the Houston Astros 6–3 in the teams’ second matchup this week. Tuesday’s 7–3 pinstripe win came at the cost of a knee sprain for second baseman Rougned Odor. Womp.