How much damage the Knicks do in this next stretch could dictate the trade deadline agenda

On Monday, for the first time this season, the Knicks lost in a game they led entering the fourth quarter, falling to 19-1 in that situation after allowing the improved Magic to steal one on MLK Day at the Garden.

The Knicks certainly missed injured point guard Jalen Brunson in the closing minutes as the likely first-time All-Star guard sat out his second consecutive game due to a calf injury.

They will need Brunson back soon in order to take advantage of a section of the schedule that finally is in their favor.

It shouldn’t be overlooked that the Knicks have played the most road games (they’ve gone 12-12) and the fewest home games (11-5) in the NBA through 40 games as they approach the midpoint of the 82-game regular season Wednesday against the Rockets.

Monday’s loss kicked off a stretch in which the Knicks will attempt to load up on some home cooking: Twelve of their next 14 games are at MSG — and one of the two road games comes against the Nets at Barclays Center next Tuesday.

This run also notably will carry the Knicks through the Feb. 8 trade deadline. It will be fascinating to see how aggressive team president Leon Rose will be if the current group thrives in the interim.

In acquiring OG Anunoby as the centerpiece of the late-December trade that shipped RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to the Raptors, Rose already has provided Tom Thibodeau’s squad a perfect two-way complement to its two potential All-Stars, Brunson and Julius Randle.

Despite the loss, the Knicks still are 6-2 since the Anunoby trade, showing that the addition of a versatile complementary player can have as much of an immediate impact as the elusive deal for another star.

Anunoby scored 17 points in 44 minutes Monday and was 3-for-4 from 3-point range.

Rose, still armed with a bevy of first-round picks to deal, might decide the Knicks are better served to wait for the summer for a pursuit of Donovan Mitchell or another star player. He perhaps will seek to add another secondary piece — say, another proven outside shooter such as former Knicks combo guard Alec Burks or Bojan Bogdanovich from the league-worst Pistons — at the deadline.

To this point, Rose has done a solid job of constructing a roster in Thibodeau’s image, dating back to the Josh Hart pickup ahead of last season’s deadline and Donte DiVincenzo’s signing via free agency last summer.

Depth players Isaiah Hartenstein and, in the past two games, Miles McBride, also have thrived as defensively responsible fill-in starters for Mitchell Robinson and Brunson, respectively.

McBride on Monday netted a career high in points for a second straight game, following up his 19-point Saturday in Memphis with 20 against Orlando.

There also is optimism that Robinson could return from ankle surgery late in the season, pushing undersized backup center Precious Achiuwa — another piece of the Anunoby trade — out of the rotation for the playoffs.

With the No. 4 through No. 8 spots in the Eastern Conference separated by just two games, the Knicks (23-17, currently in seventh place) must use their finally favorable schedule to their advantage.

It could determine what they try to do at the deadline.

Today’s back page

A Big East throwback

St. John’s and Seton Hall both are near the top of the Big East standings, and the two Metro-area teams will square off for the first time this season in a nationally televised game Tuesday night (8:30 p.m., FS1) at Prudential Center in Newark.

Both squads are 12-5 overall.

Shaheen Holloway’s Pirates are tied with newly minted No. 1 UConn for the league lead at 5-1, and Rick Pitino’s Red Storm are one game off the pace at 4-2 after dropping a nailbiter Saturday at Creighton.

It’ll be fun to watch the coaching matchup between the 71-year-old Pitino and the 47-year-old Holloway, who led Saint Peter’s to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament in 2022.

Here’s hoping both local schools remain relevant through their next meeting on Feb. 18 at UBS Arena.

Naomi falls Down Under

Naomi Osaka’s return to Grand Slam play didn’t last very long.

The two-time Australian Open champion was bounced in the first round of her first major appearance following a 15-month absence from tennis — in a straight sets loss Monday to No. 16 Carolina Garcia in Melbourne.

The 26-year-old Osaka, who gave birth to her daughter Shai in July, returned to the court two weeks ago at the Brisbane International, losing in the second round to Karolina Pliskova.

“The competitor in me is really frustrated that I’m not winning these matches, of course,” Osaka said after the match. “So I wouldn’t say, like, this comeback is how I thought, because I’m delusional enough to think I could have won the tournament.”

Osaka, who also captured U.S. Open titles in 2018 and 2020, now hasn’t made it out of the first round in her past three Grand Slam events.

She departed early at the French Open and Flushing Meadows in 2022 before taking a break from the sport, but the former world No. 1 insists she’s committed to this comeback attempt.

“I think I just have to keep living day by day and training hard and playing a lot more matches,” Osaka said. “And hopefully my dreams will come true.”

On the men’s side, top-seeded Novak Djokovic plays a second-round match Tuesday as he looks to add to his records of 10 Aussie Open crowns and 24 Grand Slam titles. Ben Shelton, the 21-year-old American who lost to Djokovic in the 2023 U.S. Open semis, also will be in action Tuesday against Australia’s Christopher O’Connell.

The road to Super Bowl 58

Bucs 32, Eagles 9: That’s a disastrous 1-6 close to the season and an offseason full of questions — hey, Nick Sirianni — for the Eagles. Baker Mayfield threw for 337 yards and three touchdowns in the wire-to-wire win for the Bucs, who booked a ticket to Detroit.

Bills 31, Steelers 17: With snow cleared from the field but still piled high in the stands following Sunday’s postponement, the Bills took care of business. Josh Allen accounted for four electric TDs, three through the air and one on a mind-bending 52-yard run. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs visit next. Don’t ask Steelers coach Mike Tomlin about the future, though.

What we’re reading 👀

⚾ The Mets signed the No. 5-ranked international prospect in the class, Venezuelan catcher Yovanny Rodriguez, for a reported $2.85 million, as well as Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s half-brother.

⚾ The Yankees’ moves in the international signing period were highlighted by a $1.7 million deal with Francisco Vilorio, a 17-year-old Dominican outfielder.

🏀 The Nets dropped a heartbreaker to the Heat in overtime, 96-95 (not a typo). That’s 14 losses in 18 games, if you’re still counting.

🏈 The Falcons aren’t messing around: They already interviewed Bill Belichick.

🏈 Former Giants quarterback Norm Snead has died at the age of 84.

🏈 Caleb Williams declared for the NFL Draft. Now can he scare off the Bears?

🏒 The Islanders’ 5-0 loss in Minnesota brought out the f-bombs from Cal Clutterbuck.

🏒 Are the Rangers getting Alexis Lafrenière back on track?

👋 A big change at Barstool.