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[New York Knicks]

Mitchell Robinson: It’s time to go granny-style

The art of the free throw is something that should not be complicated. After all, they’re free for a reason.

The Knicks are, by and large, a great free-throw shooting team. Jalen Brunson shoots 85%, Karl-Anthony Towns shoots 88%, Jordan Clarkson shoots 83%. Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, Landry Shamet, and Deuce McBride all shoot above 75%. All eight Knicks who attempted more than 20 free throws entering Tuesday night were shooting above 75% from the line. As a team, the foul line is a productive place for them.

That’s not the case for Mitchell Robinson. It never has been the case, and it never will be the case. We’ve expected bad free-throw shooting from him for his entire career, as it just does not appear like something he’ll ever be able to fully patch up.

But it’s one thing if you’re hovering between 50 and 60 percent, which Robinson has for much of his career. It’s not a good percentage, but on average, you’re at least splitting your trips to the line. But when you’re 5-for-25 on the season, an unbelievably horrific 20%, you have to change something.

Robinson has never been good at free throws despite some occasional tweaks. For much of his career, he’s mostly shot line drives with little-to-no margin for error. There has to be a reason that Robinson has not tried more arc on his shot, but for the purpose of this exercise, let’s think outside the box.

The greatest free-throw shooter in NBA history is Stephen Curry. His career percentage of 91.1% is remarkable and truly shows what it looks like to master the free throw. Also in the top ten? Names like Steve Nash (90.4%), Mark Price (90.4%), Damian Lillard (89.9%), Ray Allen (89.4%), and… Rick Barry.

Barry is a player who was absolutely spectacular in his heyday, making 12 all-star teams and being in the Hall of Fame, among other accolades. The longtime Golden State Warrior was among the league’s best players from his 1966 Rookie of the Year season to his swansong with the Rockets in 1980.

He was also a unique player. He spent his entire career, in which he shot 89% from the free throw line, shooting underhanded from the stripe. The “granny shot” came to define Barry, and his success in shooting it has been a neat fact in NBA history.

Rick Barry hit 90% of his NBA Free Throws…and he shot “granny style” pic.twitter.com/eaWANhY4AF

— OldTimeHardball (@OleTimeHardball) May 12, 2025

He’s the only player to shoot underhanded for the vast majority of his career. The second-most notable example of the granny shot in the NBA? Wilt Chamberlain tried it for one night on March 2, 1962, the day he scored 100 points.

Chamberlain was a terrible free-throw shooter. One has to wonder if the original Hack-A-Shaq came in the 1960s, with Chamberlain’s offense being unstoppable in his prime. The inner-circle Hall of Famer shot an ugly 51.1% from the line in his career, but he shot 28-for-32 in his 100-point game, and his best season from the stripe was that 1961-62 season (61.3%). He abandoned the idea in totality shortly after, going back to his ghastly shooting.

Since Barry’s retirement, it’s been extremely rare to see any basketball player at any level shoot granny style, but at this point, I think Mitch should try it.

Mitch, if by any chance you have stumbled upon this article, hear me out:

The reason that, despite its long-studied advantages, most NBA players have refused to try out the underhanded free throw is that it’s not masculine, whatever that means. In Wilt’s autobiography, he remarked that he abandoned the style because he felt silly and “like a sissy”. But sure, he was Wilt Chamberlain. Who cares if he couldn’t make free throws?

A professional basketball player’s ego is extremely strong and prevalent, I get it, but please tell me what’s more embarrassing:

• Shooting free throws underhanded
• Shooting 20% from the line as multiple teams intentionally foul you in the first half of games to mitigate your impact and take the ball out of Brunson’s hands, knowing you’ll miss both free throws

Rick Barry might be pushing 80, but he says he’s told the New York Post in the past that he’d personally help Robinson adopt the style. At this point, what do you have to lose?

No, seriously, it cannot get any worse than this. Imagine what things would look like if Mitch was a passable free throw shooter.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...ba-knicks-free-throws-rick-barry-granny-style

 

[New York Knicks]

NBA Cup Semifinal Preview: Knicks vs. Magic, Dec. 13, 2025

With the NBA focused on their in-season Cup tournament today, their slate features just two games, both played in Las Vegas. In the later semifinal matchup, it’s a battle of three-name teams when the Oklahoma City Thunder clash with the San Antonio Spurs. And in the first game of the evening, the New York Knicks (17-7) will square up against the Orlando Magic (15-10).

This is a rematch of last Sunday’s gritty game at Madison Square Garden, which the Knicks won 106-100. The Fightin’ Disneys lead the series season 2-1.

Karl-Anthony Towns is active after returning Tuesday from calf tightness. He delivered a 14-point, 16-rebound performance in a knockout game against the Raptors. The ‘Bockers will be playing without Miles McBride, however, who’s nursing a sprained ankle. Facing a Magic team that is very comfortable with a physical playing style, New York will miss Deuce’s longrange shooting and dogged defense.

On the Orlando side, the absence of Franz Wagner is big. The Magic lost him early in the December 7 game with a high ankle sprain, and without his scoring, playmaking, and connective tissue, their offense stalled for long stretches.

Stepping into the void, Desmond Bane almost single-handedly beat the Heat in their quarterfinal tilt. If the Magic are going to keep pace, Bane will need to penetrate New York’s defense early and often. Expect Knicks coach Mike Brown to assign his Wingstop—OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges—to Dez through the game.

Another potential problem is Paolo Banchero, who scored 16 points on Sunday and then 18 against the Heat in their knockout game. He’ll likely match those numbers today.

Up front, the Knicks finally get to deploy their full strength. Towns alongside Mitchell Robinson gives New York a size and rebounding edge, with the latter grabbing a rebound almost every two minutes in Sunday’s game. Rebounds are one of the keys to defeating the Floridians, and it is telling that New York grabbed 52 boards in their one of the season series.

Finally, the bench minutes loom large. Without McBride, the Knicks will need steady play from Jordan Clarkson, Tyler Kolek, and Guerschon Yabusele to survive the stretches when Jalen Brunson rests.

The NBA Cup itself remains an opportunity and a curiosity. Still a young, sometimes mocked Adam Silver invention, the tournament has yet to prove any connection to playoff success, as the Lakers and Bucks have won it but exited early in the postseason. Doing well in the tournament adds an 83rd game and extra travel, and less rest during an already compressed stretch of the schedule. But for the Knicks, the Cup is less of a gimmick and more of a measuring stick. Jalen Brunson recently made comments about winning it for the organization’s behind-the-scenes staff, while Towns said that the format sharpens everyone’s competitive edge. And hanging a new banner of any kind at MSG is sort of tantalizing, innit?

Prediction​

ESPN.com favors the Knicks at 62%. That seems a tad high, but we’ll take it. Predictions for the day: Brunson and Bane score 30 apiece, Banchero adds 16, Robinson tears down about 15 boards, KAT logs a double-double, and Hart flirts with a triple-double. The teams will take turns going on runs, and the Knicks will balance one massive quarter with on stinker. In the end, the better team clamps down with intense focus in the fourth quarter and advances to the Cup Finals to face (we predict) the Thunder. Go New York, Go New York, Go!

Game Details​

Date: Saturday, December 13, 2025
Time: 5:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. PT)
Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
TV: Amazon Prime Video
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...semifinal-preview-knicks-vs-magic-dec-13-2025

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks Bulletin: ‘Hang something, appreciate us for something’

It’s NBA Cup time!

New York and Orlando will watch from afar as the Knicks and the Magic go against each other in Sin City for a place in the Cup Final next week.

Should whoever wins this thing raise a banner? Should a parade even be held? Those questions, and their answers, are here for you.

Knicks injury report NBA Cup Vegas Semis Saturday vs Magic:

Jalen Brunson AVAILABLE – not on report despite sounding ill

Deuce McBride remains OUT (l ankle sprain)

Landry Shamet remains OUT (r shoulder sprain)

Pacome Dadiet upgraded QUESTIONABLE (l ankle… pic.twitter.com/xWdN7oPBdZ

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) December 13, 2025

Mike Brown​

On what Cup environments provide teams:
“Being in environments like this, they do help you. I’ve been fortunate and blessed to be part of six NBA Finals teams. The media and the distractions are much bigger than this, but this is about as close as you can get, especially during the regular season. So there are some things that you can take from being here that correlate with you being in the Finals or whatever down the road.”

On the Knicks and Magic knowing each other:
“They definitely know who we are, and we know who they are.”

Sick Jalen Brunson sounds like the Godfather of Vegas pic.twitter.com/PrG93X4TZn

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) December 13, 2025

Jalen Brunson​

On the Magic’s physicality:
“Yeah, they are really physical. That’s what Coach [Jamahl Mosley] prides himself on. The way that they have been able to do it makes them very successful. …They are going to be who they are, and they are going to come out here and compete. And so I think for us, we have to be ready to do what we’ve got to do and combat that.”

On how the Knicks should respond to that physicality:
“There’s a lot of ways you combat it, obviously with physicality, but I would move it with space and transition, getting stops and running. I think no matter what, they are going to play their solid basketball. We have to play ours and do it to the best of our abilities. … They do what they do well, and so we have to do what we do well and go from there.”

On the NBA Cup being valuable experience:
“Yeah, definitely. I think that just the atmosphere and what this is capable of being for us can be a huge thing for us. Excited for this opportunity, for sure.”

On competing in Cup games:
“For us, you’re still going out there and competing. It’s part of your regular-season games. It’s part of your journey as a team to go out there and be better than you were the night before. It’s a journey. And regardless of who we are playing, where we are playing, what the circumstances are, Cup games or not, it’s an opportunity for our team to go out there and compete. I think we embrace those challenges.”

Karl-Anthony Towns​

On the Cup games providing playoff-level lessons:
“Yeah, I think it’s a great opportunity for us to be in that kind of playoff atmosphere and understand what’s on the line and go out there and show ourselves, again, how disciplined you need to be to win these kind of games in the NBA Cup. And also, how important execution is. For us to reach the goals that we have for our team, discipline and execution is going to be at the forefront of most important things that we need to build consistency at.”

Should they hang an NBA Cup banner at MSG?

Mikal says no, Mitch says yes, OG says yes but. ….

Plus my take here:https://t.co/irfEtQoQHG

— Stefan Bondy (@SbondyNBA) December 13, 2025

Josh Hart​

On whether the Knicks should hang a banner if they win the Cup:
“Yeah, why not? Obviously it’s a Cup, it’s a title, it’s something that you want to win. So yeah, hang a banner. Obviously, there’s different standards to those, Cups and Finals. But whenever you want to go out there and compete and win a title, that’s what you want to do and celebrate that.”

On celebrating Cup titles:
“I don’t know. Yeah, why not? Obviously, it’s a Cup, it’s a title. It’s something you want to win. So — yeah, hang a banner. Obviously, there are different standards for those with Cups and Finals. But whenever you want to go out there, you want to win and compete for a title, that’s what you want to do. And you want to celebrate that.”

Mikal Bridges​

On hanging a banner for the NBA Cup:
“Nahh, I’m OK. I think you’re searching for something even more than that.”

OG Anunoby at NBA Cup media day pic.twitter.com/Faj059wgAE

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) December 12, 2025

OG Anunoby​

On how to acknowledge a Cup win:
“They can put a banner up. But no parade or something [like that].”

Mitchell Robinson​

On wanting Cup recognition:
“Hang something, appreciate us for something.”

Banchero on Knicks "We don't have Franz…We've won twice they've won once…They're at top of East…Give them their respect"

Bane on Knicks "2 good teams trying to do something big in the East…Any time you have a team standing in the way there should be a little something extra" pic.twitter.com/UqjNQU3nOU

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) December 12, 2025

Paolo Banchero​

On familiarity with the Knicks:
“It’s a team that we’ve played three times already. They are familiar with us. We’re familiar with them.”

On facing the Knicks all season:
“They are a good team. We have won twice. They have won once. They are at the top of the East. So we’re looking forward to kind of seeing them all year.”

Anthony Black​

On how to deal with Jalen Brunson:
“We try to get physical with every team, every player, but definitely star guards. So definitely try to make it tough on him. Get into his jersey and see how he responds.”

"I thought it was a good play…I threw it too hard…chasing down ball, throw it off him…My homeboy said the Reds gonna be giving me a call––if y'all watching, invite me to spring training––yeah but it was no foul play intended"

–– Desmond Bane on throwing ball at OG Anunoby pic.twitter.com/bDQOVhM7Kx

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) December 12, 2025

Desmond Bane​

On the Magic’s playing style:
“One through 15, that’s our goal. To be the most physical team on both ends of the floor every single night. When we win, we usually do that.”

On facing the Knicks in high-stakes games:
“I think that it’s two good basketball teams, two teams that are trying to do something big in the Eastern Conference. I think that any time you have a team that’s standing in the way of what you’re trying to do, it should be a little something extra on the line.”

Jalen Suggs​

On how to stop Brunson:
“He gets tough when he gets to the free-throw line. He’s tough when he gets free rhythm and free buckets there. So, trying to be solid and trying to be aggressive, applying heat. Trying to make it uncomfortable. It’s a tough balance.That’s what the great ones in the league make you do.”

De’Aaron Fox​

On Mike Brown’s impact on the Knicks:
“He brings a level of accountability to, not just a team, but to an organization from top to bottom. Not surprised the way that they are playing. Obviously, they have an extremely talented team, but I think he adds to that dynamic.”

"It's perfectly fitting."

Josh Hart on what it means to have heart… both on the court and in his name.

Knicks/Magic
5:30pm/et Saturday on Prime
@emirates NBA Cup Semifinals pic.twitter.com/9j0TJcMrRP

— NBA (@NBA) December 12, 2025

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...in-hang-something-appreciate-us-for-something

 

[New York Knicks]

Does the NBA need to bag the in-season tournament?

The Knicks are taking on the Magic with a chance to advance and face the winner of the Spurs–Thunder matchup for their first-ever NBA In-Season Tournament championship. But does it really matter? Beyond some added exposure under the bright lights of Las Vegas, is tonight’s game anything more than just another regular-season contest?

Yes, the result does count toward the regular-season standings. However, if the Knicks were to win tonight and advance to their first Cup Final, that final game itself would not. In fact, reaching the championship would actually require the Knicks to play an 83rd regular-season game.

So if the Knicks do move on, how much should fans really care? This is only the third Cup in league history, and neither of the previous winners, the Lakers in 2023 or the Bucks in 2024, went on to win an NBA championship that same season.

In 2023, the Lakers went a perfect 7–0 during the inaugural In-Season Tournament, defeating the Pacers to claim the first Cup championship in league history. They celebrated with champagne and goggles, just as NBA Finals champions do. But once the bottles were empty, reality set back in. Los Angeles stumbled through the remainder of the regular season, finishing 47–35, good for the eighth seed, before being dispatched by the Denver Nuggets in five games in the first round of the playoffs.

Much like the Lakers the year prior, the Milwaukee Bucks also went undefeated during the second annual In-Season Tournament, defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder to claim the Cup.

For the Thunder, the Cup loss proved meaningless. They went home, regrouped, and ultimately captured the first NBA championship in franchise history. The Bucks experienced the opposite fate, mirroring the Lakers before them with a first-round playoff exit once the games truly mattered. Milwaukee claimed the Cup, but Oklahoma City the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

As the Knicks get ready to face the Magic as 5.5-point favorites, a win tonight really only adds one more mark in the win column and earns them a spot in an extra, exhibition-style game, likely as underdogs against a favored Thunder team.

For the players, the stakes are real. There is a $218,000 difference between winning the Cup and finishing second, and that absolutely matters in the locker room. But for fans, it hits differently. What happens if a star player gets hurt in what is, at the end of the day, an exhibition game? The stats will not count, and neither will any individual milestones that happen on that floor.

So if the Knicks do advance to the tournament championship game, how much should fans really care? The game is in Las Vegas. Player health is on the line. It is another night of wear and tear in a long season where the numbers do not matter, but an injury certainly does. And when June rolls around, if the Knicks are not lifting the trophy that actually counts, how much will that cup really mean?

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...oes-the-nba-need-to-bag-the-in-season-tourney

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks Bulletin: ‘Big head, so he has a big brain’

The New York Knicks are Finals* bound, baby!

On the other corner, the Thunder Spurs will be trying to hoist the Mini Larry O’B on Tuesday as the other finalist of the in-season battle royale.

Here’s everything about the Semifinals and the upcmoing championship game. Can’t wait!

James Edwards "Josh factoring in Jalen's height, not the most athletic––"

Jalen "Jesus"

JE "…How many guys score better?"

Josh "He's barely 6ft…not physically impressive"

JB "Ayo"

JH "But figures it out…obv big head, big brain…Inch for inch he's the best"

JB

JH pic.twitter.com/gn12FfA3ry

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) December 14, 2025

Mike Brown​

On Jalen Brunson’s MVP case:
“To me, we’re talking MVP. When you look around the league, and you’re talking about an MVP candidate, you’re talking about probably the top-three teams in each conference. You’ve gotta look at their main guy.”

On Brunson making the game easier:
“When you have an MVP of the league candidate in Jalen Brunson, 16-for-27, 40 points, he makes the game easier for everybody. That’s what MVPs are supposed to do, and he definitely did that tonight.”

On Brunson’s national-stage performance:
“It’s beautiful to be able to see him do what he’s more than capable of doing on a national stage like this in an environment like this. So that hopefully you guys as media and the fans out there can continue talking about him as an MVP of this league because that’s exactly what he is.”

On pushing Brunson into the MVP talk:
“There’s no campaign speech. I’m just telling the truth, and he has not gotten enough credit. What I have seen, somebody bring up conversations about MVP, and you see a lot of other great candidates that are well-deserving but I don’t ever hear Jalen’s name. When you’re first or second in either conference, and you’re putting up the numbers that he’s putting up, his name’s got to be one of the first names coming out of somebody’s mouth.”

On MVP candidates around the league:
“That boils down to Cade and Jalen, Luka and Shai, and I don’t know who’s third in each conference, but whoever’s third. Those are the names that you start with and end with because somebody’s gotta score, somebody’s gotta rebound, and usually if you’re a team that’s a Play-In team, or you’re out of the playoffs or in the bottom echelon of the playoffs, you’re not impacting [winning] at the level that the guys that I just mentioned are.

“And so for me, Jalen is just doing what he gets paid to do. He’s an MVP candidate in this business, and he’s just showing it again to everybody, and hopefully, you guys and the rest of the world take notice of it.”

On the NBA Cup experience:
“I was one of those guys when they came up with the Cup idea, I was like, ‘Oh, man, for what? In the middle of the season? We are trying to do this and that and practice and blah, blah, blah. It’s a fantastic experience for everybody. You really applaud how the NBA has tried to continue to find ways to make this more meaningful across the board. So it’s a pleasure to be here.”

On Josh Hart’s shooting:
“I tell you, it’s interesting to continue to see teams put their five on him. I think he’s shooting close to 40% from three, if not that, I don’t know exactly. They keep going in and people keep leaving him open, because they’re trying to put their fives on him. Maybe down the road, they might think he can shoot a little bit, but he works really hard at it. It’s no surprise to us that he’s shooting as well as he is. A five is not used to guarding a guy out on the perimeter. A five wants to go help. When we create paint touches with ball reversals, it’s natural for a five to start drifting toward that rim. Our guys did a good job of finding him with sprays and he’s knocking them down.”

On Josh Hart’s overall value:
“He reminds me of Andre Iguodala from the sense that if you don’t really understand basketball, then it’s hard to really appreciate their game. Both those guys, sometimes you look at them and go, ‘He’s not really this. He’s not that. He can’t do this. He can’t do that.’ It’s the opposite. They can do everything. Josh can do everything. There’s just some things he does that are elite and some things that he does pretty good. That’s what Josh is. He does everything that you want him to do, not just offensively, but defensively, too — guarding one through five. Same offensively. When you have a player with the IQ of Andre or Josh, then good things can happen for your whole team and it makes your job easier as a head coach.”

On Brunson’s relentlessness:
“They have a relentlessness to them where they just keep coming and coming. That’s their competitive spirit coming out. They get denied, they get double, they get hit, but they just keep coming. When you have that, you know your team is in good hands because, at the end of the day, no matter what defense you see, no matter how physical your opponent is, he’s going to be right there. And he’s confident. That gives everyone — not just his teammates on the floor but his teammates on the bench, the coaching staff — the confidence he has breathes into everyone else.”

Q "You've been pretty adamant about Jalen Brunson MVP…Do you think he hasn't gotten credit? Seems like campaign speech"

Mike Brown "No campaign speech. I'm just telling the truth. He hasn't gotten enough credit…His name's gotta be one of the first coming out somebody's mouth" pic.twitter.com/tD9voemLSO

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) December 14, 2025

Jalen Brunson​

On matching Orlando’s physicality on Saturday:
“In the first quarter, in the first couple of minutes, they were beating us up physically. Coach Brown basically told us to wake up. We had to match it, exceed it and do what we had to do. I think it was good on our part how we responded to that.”

On his shooting confidence:
“I think the way we’ve been playing, I’ve been able to get a couple more catch and shoots. I have a lot of confidence in my shot. I work way too hard not to be confident. Sometimes it’s going to go in, and when it’s going in I’m just going to keep firing them.”

On finding ways to excell at his size:
“It’s something I had to learn. Obviously I’m not the tallest and I’m not jumping over people… My game’s unique. I play off balance. I’m on balance, but most people wouldn’t be. That’s the stuff I work on, just be deceiving. I’ve done it for a long time and it keeps getting better and better like you said.”

On the Magic’s defense:
“Yeah, [the Magic] are really physical. That’s what [Orlando’s head coach, Jamahl Mosley] prides himself on. The way that they have been able to do it makes them very successful. There’s a lot of ways you combat it. Obviously with physicality. But I would move it, with space and transition, getting stops and running. I think no matter what, they are going to play their solid basketball. We have to play ours and do it to the best of our abilities.”

On Brown supporting his MVP case:
“No, I don’t read into that stuff. It just shows the trust and the faith that he has in me, and I’m very thankful of our relationship over these past couple months. It’s only going to continue to get better. Our communication has been great. It’s a growing experience, a learning experience but I’m really thankful for our relationship.”

On the early development of his footwork:
“I always played against (people) older than my age when I was younger. I had to be deceptive. I had to be crafty. That footwork lasts a long time. It’s (been a focus) since fifth or sixth grade, really. That was the start of it.”

"I work way too hard not to be confident … my game is unique."

Jalen Brunson tells the crew about the parts of his game that keep getting better. pic.twitter.com/D83qzUnMmF

— NBA on Prime (@NBAonPrime) December 14, 2025

Josh Hart​

On Brunson’s physical limitations and smarts:
“He’s barely a 6-foot guard. He’s not physically impressive, not athletic. But he’s able to manipulate the defense. Obviously big head, so he has a big brain. He’s able to figure out these angles and find himself in positions to be successful. You know, inch for inch, I think he’s probably the best [scorer in the NBA].”

On improving his shooting and dealing with finger issues:
“It’s definitely feeling better. I’m working with Pete every day on my shot … I think, I’ve said it before, it was something vital to me to have a shooting coach here on staff that I could work with every single day. I had one before, but he lived in Los Angeles and I was playing 38 minutes a game, so it was tough on those off days to really focus on the mechanics. Now, with Pete, I’m able to work on the mechanics every day, even if it’s just a little bit, but just the feeling, the repetition.”

“Ay one of the best teammates I ever had you already know“

– KAT with Taj Gibson postgame pic.twitter.com/f0lgb3DJCw

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) December 14, 2025

Mikal Bridges​

On Brunson thriving under pressure:
“If there’s something on the line and you know you go home, I think it just brings the best out of him. That’s how he was raised, and it’s just within him. He’s just built for it. Especially when times get tough.”

Bro KAT is not taking off the DPOG it’s not happening pic.twitter.com/HoD05oWUjV

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) December 14, 2025

Karl-Anthony Towns​

On the Knicks’ growth and sacrifice through the NBA Cup:
“I think recently we’ve been playing very good basketball, even though we still could be better. The fact that we are doing this right now, and we are still learning, but we are winning games while learning is a testament to the coaching staff and it’s a testament to these guys in the locker room that are willing to sacrifice and do whatever it takes to win.”

On Tyler Kolek’s performance on Saturday:
“Tyler did a fantastic job today, our young fella, of impacting winning. He did that on a big stage tonight. I think one of his finest games as an NBA player was tonight, and may not show up on the stats sheet, but everybody in our locker room knows how important he was to us tonight. And if you were watching the game as a Knicks fan or just a fan of basketball, he showed what it is to be ready and to be ready for his opportunity, and he maximized it tonight.”

Each Knick now guaranteed $212,000 in NBA Cup prize money pic.twitter.com/fFC0IAk0Lv

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) December 14, 2025

Tyler Kolek​

On closing out the NBA Cup semifinal:
“I think that was the first time in my career I closed it out like that. Obviously, I’ve been in before at the end of the game when we’re up big, but to be able to close it out there with my guys, in Vegas where we can advance to the final game, it’s fun.”

Spike Lee & Josh Hart were extremely locked in #NBAonPrime pic.twitter.com/jUTmjvAQVh

— NBA on Prime (@NBAonPrime) December 14, 2025

Stan Van Gundy​

On Mike Brown following Tom Thibodeau’s foundation:
“I give Mike Brown a ton of credit because he knows that Tom is a helluva coach. He said that in our meeting today. So he didn’t try to change everything. He tried to tinker a little. And then he came back to a lot of the stuff that Thibodeau did. But he’s taking advantage of the continuity they have with their roster rather than throwing everything out, trying to do it differently.”

On Mike Brown checking his ego:
“Tom Thibodeau is a great basketball coach. I think everybody in this league recognizes it. Mike recognizes it. And what I really give Mike credit for is to have your ego that much under control that you don’t feel the need to let everybody see how different you are and everything else. They had a great run last year. He’s trying to build on it. So here we go. Mike’s been great everywhere he’s been. He’s competitive as hell but I don’t think he feels the need individually to prove himself. It’s not a competition between him and Thibs. We’re just trying to take this team as far as we can.”

On switching back to last year’s lineup:
“The No. 1 being with Mitchell Robinson’s injury history and being in and out of the lineup – I think you’re always going to deal with injuries but the more stability you’re going to have in your starting lineup, I think it helps everybody’s comfort zone. I don’t know if they could’ve ever had that with Mitch starting for a full year because, ‘Alright, he’s not starting in back-to-backs, so now we have a different lineup.’ So I think it was a good move for that reason.”

On Karl-Anthony Towns at center:
“I still think that he gets his best offense when he’s at the 5 spot. Even though a lot of teams are playing their 5s on Josh, he’s in his comfort zone. He’s trailing and at the top of the key. The ball is in his hands more. And I think starting the game that way, even if you play the bigs together later, KAT’s gotten into his rhythm a little easier.”

On Brunson’s defensive challenges and competitiveness:
“There are obviously challenges with the best player being that short. The biggest challenge to the Knicks is at the defensive end of the floor. It was last year. It is this year. And that’s more of a challenge with Jalen and his size because the way today’s NBA game is, with the pace and the 3-point shooting, you want to be as switchable as you can. It’s not as easy with him. So there’s going to be that challenge. But I think that’s offset by his competitiveness. His high level of competitiveness. This is one of the great competitors of our league.”

All about embracing the little things #NBAonPrime pic.twitter.com/PS1JQbX5Yq

— NBA on Prime (@NBAonPrime) December 14, 2025

Dwyane Wade​

On the Knicks as contenders:
“I look at them and say, they’re the favorite to come out of the East. And it’s not just because they were there last year. It’s just the development that’s happened the last couple years in New York. And watching the new coach come in you’re kind of like, how’s he going to be? And you’ve watched them lose the essence of what they’ve built these last few years.”

On Brunson’s size and winning at that level:
“Anything is possible. No one thought that a team shooting a lot of 3s could win a title until Golden State did it. Charles is always talking about, ‘You can’t win shooting 3s.’ So obviously anything is possible. Is it hard? Yes. It’s really, really hard. So that just means for Jalen to be as great as he needs to be, that means everybody else around him needs to get better. But it is yet to be seen. We’ve got to see it, too.”

Happy 59th birthday Anthony Mason RIP pic.twitter.com/oD8jXV6hiE

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) December 14, 2025

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/knicks-news/76443/knicks-bulletin-big-head-so-he-has-a-big-brain

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks 132, Magic 120: The cup final we deserve

June 22, 1994. That’s the last time the New York Knicks played a game with a trophy at stake and the eyes of the league upon them. Until two days from now. In defeating the Orlando Magic 132-120 in last night’s invitation-only (in more ways than one) NBA Cup semifinal, the Knicks advanced to Tuesday’s final against San Antonio. “Meaningful games in December” rings both true and false, but each points to good times — both had and ahead — for the Knickerbockers.

How important is winning the final? Mike Brown is down a Deuce, true, but these are not the minutes you expect to see nightly from a team that fired the last coach in part because he played his starters these kinds of minutes. But Tom Thibodeau would play them this many or more in an NBA Cup semifinal or the proverbial Charlotte in March mundanity. Presumably Brown is doing so because these games matter. Hence the Vegas.

The city’s other professional outfit knows how much these games can matter. The New York Liberty never won a trophy until 2023’s Commissioner’s Cup. Winning that didn’t result in an instant dynasty — they lost the Finals that year to Las Vegas — but no doubt stomping the Aces 50-29 in the second half of the Cup final earned them confidence going into 2024, when the Sea Foam finally won the big one. The Knicks haven’t hoisted a trophy since their current head coach was three years old. Winning something other people wanna win counts as winning, even if it’s a make-believe contest you added to your already made-up contest to squeeze some more money out of the already shorthanded public sphere.

Though I can’t shake the sugar-high quality of it all. Say the Knicks win Tuesday, then lose in gut-wrenching fashion in the ECF or the Finals. Will you be comforted to think “At least we have the NBA Cup!” If Brown’s job security is a hot-button issue 12-18 months from now, will winning this trophy be a convincing argument in favor of keeping him? Maybe I’m focusing on the cocoon too much and not the greater transformation at play. If the Knicks are Cup champs 72 hours from now, it’s going to feel nothing but good. We will laud it over others, harass them with it, make it a pestilence. For what it’s worth.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have some people already ready to throw up their hands and quit the NBA, but you’ll note their absence from the Cup final. That’s because the Spurs are a good team without Victor Wembanyama but with him they’re Thor with Mjolnir, Indiana Jones with his whip, Popeye after some spinach. In his first action in a month, Wemby had 22 points, nine rebounds and a couple of blocks in just 21 minutes. There aren’t many chances for him to pick on someone his own size, but seeing him smother Chet Holmgren, a man who looks like the beanstalk Jack climbed, gives you a sense of what it’d look like if a great white stumbled upon a megalodon.

save us Victor Wembanyama you’re our only hope

— Micah (@rincewind.run) 2025-12-14T04:24:22.117Z

The Thunder are the perfect GOAT-candidate for the silicon-gilded age: a team to point to and hold up as the blueprint for perfection, for every nerd to point to some part of and say “See! That’s how it’s done!”, when the simple truth is, as usual, inheritance. As in sure, Sam Presti and friends have done a lot of things right. But “lucking into the trade of a lifetime” because the Clippers were feening to pair Kawhi Leonard and Paul George is like when you see a video of two darling thirtysomethings who live in a castle where he paints skyscapes and digs for buried treasure while she churns butter and sings arias all day, and you’re wondering how they afford any of it until they casually throw in how his parents founded etsy and hers run some biotech that made $78 billion yesterday and doesn’t pay a dime in taxes. Like, yeah, okay, that’s some life you’re living. But don’t act like you discovered it all on your own, Columbus.

Really, Knicks/Spurs is the final we deserve. Some people criticize people who criticize OKC for being boring. These should be among the first imprisoned when the revolution comes. All of this exists because people — LOADS of them — want to be entertained! Not because there’s some biological imperative to figure out which collective of a dozen basketball players is best-equipped to endure a two-month second season that is in almost all ways nothing like the first season that precedes it, whose results are used to determine the shape of the second.

The Showtime Lakers, the MJ Bulls, the Steph Warriors: these were teams that transcended, that upended our thinking about the concrete by making things we thought abstract real. Much respect to them, but the first three Spurs title-winners didn’t do that. Whereas these Knicks and these Spurs . . . they hint at somethings. Somethings nice and good. And entertaining.

Keeping it parochial, the Knicks and Magic are building the most promising rivalry ‘round these parts since . . . who? When? Knicks/Pacers never really became that, despite the recent playoff meetings. The Knicks all clearly love TJ McConnell, which if it were any kind of real rivalry he’d be the first guy you go after. I’m not complaining, mind you. I don’t need fake beef to make the game matter. But when your best players are fake-fighting in a wrestling ring, we’re done suspending our disbelief.

Since 2023, the Knicks are 8-7 against the Magic. Yesterday’s win, brought to you by another Jalen Brunson 40-piece, magnesium-bright shooting night from Karl-Anthony Towns (9-of-11 from the field, 9-of-1o from the line) plus 52 points and eight stocks care of WingStop keeps Jamal Mohsley’s guys firmly in the rearview, along with much of the league. The Thunder are at least three games ahead of all the other 29 teams. Next best is the Pistons, 23; the Knicks, Spurs and Nuggets are all that clear of 22.

Not only is the NBA Cup invite-only, last night was for viewers, as Tuesday will be too. I don’t have Prime, so I can’t see these games. It’s a choice. I don’t have Prime because Amazon is Skynet if its public face was the world’s biggest gift shop, and I don’t want to be involved in that. As a Knicks fan, I find it especially heinous — though God knows familiar enough by now to be the back of my hand — that after following a team for 35 years, I can’t because the league struck yet another rights deal that materially benefits the owners, materially benefits (some of) the players (in some ways) but makes more material demands of its fans while offering them no benefits.

There is a point where something being wrong is enough reason not to do it. You can point out Prime isn’t all that expensive, that I could suck it up and just pay (or stream it somewhere). I’d answer the guy who owns Prime isn’t all that poor, nor the NBA’s 30 owners, and they could all of them suck it up and not need another revenue stream. Tomato, tomahto.

It’s a good day in Knicksville. Enjoy the high. Hopefully a couple of days from now, we’re enjoying the novelty of processing how meaningful a Cup championship is.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...knicks-132-magic-120-the-cup-final-we-deserve

 

[New York Knicks]

More than 75 NBA players just became available. Will the Knicks fish?

The New York Knicks have two more pieces now available for dangling in the NBA trade market: Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele.

These two, who signed with the Knicks last offseason, are part of a humongous group of performers who did the same across the Association and thus weren’t available for trade until the NBA lifted that on Monday, Dec. 15, adding a whole lot of dudes to the fold.

Mind you, there are still a few high-level players out there who won’t be eligible for trade until Jan. 15—due to re-signing under Bird or Early-Bird rules—including the likes of Jonathan Kuminga, Naz Reid, Josh Giddey, or old Knicks pal Quentin Grimes.

There are some other teeny-tiny details out there impacting other A-Tier players, such as our own Mikal Bridgers (Feb. 1 eligibility), Devin Booker (Jan. 10), De’Aaron Fox (Feb. 4), and Jaren Jackson Jr. (Jan. 13, Happy B-Day to me in advance!) that are spread all across the calendar leading up to the Feb. 5 trade deadline, but it’s not that New York will aim to land any of those.

The other bunch of mid-to-low level players, though? There’s a lot to go through in that list of players, which follows, organized by position and ordered by salary.

Should the Knicks try and trade for any of those? Who would you target if you were Leon Rose? Let us know in the comments section below!

Newly-Available Point Guards​

• James Harden — $39,182,693 — Los Angeles Clippers
• Kyrie Irving — $36,566,002 — Dallas Mavericks
• Fred VanVleet — $25,000,000 — Houston Rockets
• Damian Lillard — $14,104,000 — Portland Trail Blazers
• Dennis Schroder — $14,104,000 — Sacramento Kings
• Ty Jerome — $8,781,000 — Memphis Grizzlies
• Tre Jones — $8,000,000 — Chicago Bulls
• D’Angelo Russell — $5,685,000 — Dallas Mavericks
• Marcus Smart — $5,134,000 — Los Angeles Lakers
• Chris Paul — $2,296,274 — Los Angeles Clippers
• Kyle Lowry — $2,296,274 — Philadelphia 76ers
• Cole Anthony — $2,296,274 — Milwaukee Bucks
• Aaron Holiday — $2,296,274 — Houston Rockets
• Jordan McLaughlin — $2,296,274 — San Antonio Spurs
• Collin Gillespie — $2,296,274 — Phoenix Suns
• Ajay Mitchell — $3,000,000 — Oklahoma City Thunder
• Blake Wesley — $2,296,274 — Portland Trail Blazers

---

Newly-Available Shooting Guards​

• Bradley Beal — $5,354,000 — Los Angeles Clippers
• Gary Trent Jr. — $3,697,105 — Milwaukee Bucks
• Gary Harris — $3,634,153 — Milwaukee Bucks
• Luke Kennard — $11,000,000 — Atlanta Hawks
• Cam Thomas — $5,993,172 — Brooklyn Nets
• Eric Gordon — $2,296,274 — Philadelphia 76ers
• Bones Hyland — $2,296,274 — Minnesota Timberwolves
• Cam Spencer — $2,537,989 — Memphis Grizzlies

---

Newly-Available Small Forwards​

• Duncan Robinson — $16,834,692 — Detroit Pistons
• Dorian Finney-Smith — $12,700,000 — Houston Rockets
• Caris LeVert — $14,104,000 — Detroit Pistons
• Taurean Prince — $3,303,774 — Milwaukee Bucks
• Josh Okogie — $2,296,274 — Houston Rockets
• Joe Ingles — $2,296,274 — Minnesota Timberwolves
• Doug McDermott — $2,296,274 — Sacramento Kings
• Justin Edwards — $2,048,494 — Philadelphia 76ers
• Nigel Hayes-Davis — $2,048,494 — Phoenix Suns
• Lindy Waters III — $2,296,274 — San Antonio Spurs

---

Newly-Available Power Forwards​

• Julius Randle — $30,864,198 — Minnesota Timberwolves
• Bobby Portis — $13,445,754 — Milwaukee Bucks
• Nicolas Batum — $5,601,600 — Los Angeles Clippers
• Chris Boucher — $2,296,274 — Boston Celtics
• Jeff Green — $2,296,274 — Houston Rockets
• Larry Nance Jr. — $2,296,274 — Cleveland Cavaliers
• Marvin Bagley III — $2,296,274 — Washington Wizards
• Anthony Gill — $2,296,274 — Washington Wizards
• Jae’Sean Tate — $2,296,274 — Houston Rockets
• Sandro Mamukelashvili — $2,461,463 — Toronto Raptors
• Amir Coffey — $2,296,274 — Milwaukee Bucks
• Thanasis Antetokounmpo — $2,296,274 — Milwaukee Bucks
• Josh Minott — $2,378,870 — Boston Celtics

---

Newly-Available Centers​

• Myles Turner — $25,318,251 — Milwaukee Bucks
• Brook Lopez — $8,750,000 — Los Angeles Clippers
• Deandre Ayton — $8,104,000 — Los Angeles Lakers
• Kevon Looney — $8,000,000 — New Orleans Pelicans
• Clint Capela — $6,700,000 — Houston Rockets
• Day’Ron Sharpe — $6,250,000 — Brooklyn Nets
• Ziaire Williams — $6,250,000 — Brooklyn Nets
• Moritz Wagner — $5,000,000 — Orlando Magic
• Mason Plumlee — $2,296,274 — Charlotte Hornets
• Jaxson Hayes — $3,449,323 — Los Angeles Lakers
• Luke Kornet — $11,000,000 — San Antonio Spurs
• Jericho Sims — $2,461,463 — Milwaukee Bucks
• Drew Eubanks — $2,296,274 — Sacramento Kings
• Bismack Biyombo — $2,296,274 — San Antonio Spurs
• Jock Landale — $2,296,274 — Memphis Grizzlies
• N’Faly Dante — $2,048,494 — Atlanta Hawks
• Luka Garza — $2,461,463 — Boston Celtics

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...rs-just-became-available-will-the-knicks-fish

 

[New York Knicks]

Jalen Brunson breaks the modern NBA mold

The modern NBA increasingly prioritizes big ballhandlers and creators, which makes diminutive scoring guards like Jalen Brunson increasingly rare. Spitting in the eye of the trend, the future mayor of New York’s 40-point performance in the NBA Cup semifinal against Orlando gave us further proof of his basketball genius.

“He’s got good pace, and he’s really smart,” says Orlando guard Jalen Suggs in a recent Athletic article by James L. Edwards III. “He doesn’t get too bored keeping it simple. He challenges you every possession.”

Per Edwards, Brunson has not averaged fewer than 24 points since joining the Knicks four years ago. Only seven players in the league currently score more, and most of them are significantly bigger or more athletic. Brunson regularly produces against defenders who are tall enough to check him for bald spots.

Brunson’s secret formula is footwork, balance, and deception. “I always played against (people) older than my age when I was younger,” Brunson says in Edwards’ article. “I had to be deceptive. I had to be crafty. That footwork lasts a long time. It’s (been a focus) since fifth or sixth grade, really. That was the start of it.”

Suggs likes the challenge that Brunson presents. Of his fellow Jalen, he adds, “I love the fact that we get to play him four times a year. I’ve gotten better from our battles.”

Scoring a season-high 40 PTS in the Cup semifinal, Brunson passed Richie Guerin (87) for the third-most 30-point games in franchise history, trailing only Patrick Ewing and Carmelo Anthony. His ascent in New York—and the league—continues to reshape how his early career is remembered.

Brunson was the 33rd pick in the 2018 draft out of Villanova, where he won two national titles and took home National Player of the Year honors. Even then, his résumé didn’t quiet the doubts and, given his height, plenty of people still questioned how high his NBA ceiling could really be. Dirk Nowitzki recently acknowledged having doubted Brunson’s ability to become a franchise centerpiece after leaving Dallas in 2022.

After the Knicks beat the Disneys to advance to the Cup finals, the Mavs legend admitted to Brunson that he’d been skeptical. “When you left for New York, I wasn’t sure if this was going to work,” said Dirk. “So I’m super proud of you, super happy for you. I saw how hard you worked and how much it means to you, how much time you put in when nobody is watching.”

"When you left for New York I wasn't sure…I'm super proud of you. I saw how hard you work, how much it means to you, how much time you put in when nobody's watching…I'm so happy the way you're leading this franchise"

–– Dirk Nowitzki to former Mavs teammate Jalen Brunson pic.twitter.com/Ja0hSls9G3

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) December 14, 2025

That skepticism was common across the league, given Brunson’s size and understated athleticism. Captain Clutch has since responded with All-NBA honors, two All-Star appearances, back-to-back 50-win seasons, and a trip to the Eastern Conference finals.

This season is already shaping up to be Brunson’s best yet. One significant difference from recent years is replacement of Tom Thibodeau with Mike Brown. As Edwards explains in another article for The Athletic, the new coach has changed how the Knicks use Jalen Brunson. This time out, the strategy is to emphasize quicker decisions, more movement, and increased off-ball involvement.

“Jalen is getting off the ball a bit more, coming back to get it,” Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley says in the piece. “Now, you’re playing against closeouts and playing against a shifted defense as opposed to being able to load up on him.”

Edwards notes that Brunson’s off-ball role has expanded, with his catch-and-shoot attempts increasing from 1.9 per game last season to 3.2 this year. The captain is holding the ball for less time and his dribbles per touch are down, too.

Coaches have noticed more half-court motion and earlier ball movement before actions begin. “It just seems like that (Villanova) action that they’re running with the DHOs and then all of a sudden they’re swinging it around,” Hornets coach Charles Lee opines. That adds some complexity to the offense and the early ball movement makes the defenders do more cardio.

And sometimes, Jalen just breaks ankles.

Raptors coach Darko Rajaković notes that after experimenting to start the season, the ‘Bockers have returned to the tried-and-true Brunson–Karl-Anthony Towns pick-and-roll action while still incorporating movement. “The first 10 or 12 games, it felt like they were running more,” Rajaković explains. “[Now] they’re playing a little bit more to the strengths of their main players, but at the same time try to implement ball movement and body movement.”

The Knicks have won five straight and nine of their last 10. They rank second in the NBA in offensive rating and seventh in defensive rating over that 10-game stretch. Tomorrow, they enter the NBA Cup final against the San Antonio Spurs. It’s obvious to make David and Goliath comparisons, with Brunson, standing at six-foot-mumble, taking on the NBA’s tallest player, the 7’4” (at least) Victor Wembanyama.

Are the Knicks concerned to be facing the red-hot Spurs and the mighty Wemby? Nope. They have Jalen Brunson, Captain Clutch, the Brunson Burner—the guy who got 29 write-in votes for Mayor. As his roommate and teammate Josh Hart recently, reluctantly, admitted, “Inch for inch, I think he’s probably the best.”

We do to. Go Knicks.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/knicks-analysis/76519/jalen-brunson-breaks-the-modern-nba-mold

 

[New York Knicks]

Two paths, one trophy: Knicks and Spurs meet in Las Vegas

Two 18-7 teams meet in Las Vegas at the T-Mobile Arena tonight when the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs face off in the Emirates NBA Cup Final.

The paths that brought them here could not look more different. Practically everyone predicted New York to dominate the Eastern Conference, while most pundits had much lower expectations for San Antonio in the West. The Knicks make their bones with balance, discipline, and late-game control. The Spurs benefit from having the game’s most disruptive force in Victor Wembanyama, who may or may not be a chess-playing alien. From France.

New York is having one of its strongest starts in years. They have won five straight games and nine of their last 10, raising them to second place in the Eastern Conference, behind the 21-5 Detroit Pistons. Over their recent successful stretch, the ‘Bockers rank second in the NBA in offensive rating and seventh in defensive rating, pairing elite scoring efficiency with improved defensive consistency.

The secret to the Knicks’ success? Their locker room chemistry

KAT shares how his teammates’ selfless play and clutch moments have fueled New York’s offensive growth this season. pic.twitter.com/Mge6w2m7eW

— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 15, 2025

The best basketball team out of New York reached the Cup Final by defeating the pesky, punchy Orlando Magic.

They remain a little thin without Miles McBride, nursing a sore ankle. Picking up extra minutes in the meantime, Tyler Kolek—although not the microwave scorer Deuce is—has been a positive playmaker off the bench. The core rotation remains intact heading into the final, however, which perhaps gives us a sneak peek of what’s to come in the postseason.

San Antonio has surprised the league, rocking off on one of the franchise’s strongest starts since the Tim Duncan era. The Spurs hadn’t had a winning season since the 2018-19 campaign, which was also their last postseason appearance (they lost in the first round). That sorry stretch included back-to-back 22-win seasons (2022-24) and the end of the Gregg Popovich era. Today, the winds of change are blowing through the Alamo. Compared to last season’s lottery profile, these Texans have become a solid playoff contender with potential to push for home-court advantage if health and development hold.

Mitch Johnson’s club advanced to the final by upsetting Oklahoma City, ending the Thunder’s winning streak and delivering them just their second loss of the season. In the semifinal tilt, Wembanyama returned from a 12-game calf injury absence, scoring 15 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, and finishing plus-21 in limited minutes.

The season has been defined by Wembanyama’s leap from emerging star to top-tier impact player. The 7’4” Wemby is averaging roughly 26 points, 13 rebounds, and nearly four blocks per game, anchoring his squad on both ends with elite rim protection.

One pleasant surprise in the Lone Star State has been Stephon Castle. The fourth-pick in the 2024 Draft is having an impressive year, operating as a primary creator and putting up near “big guard” numbers across the board. Through the early part of the season, the 6’6” guard has become central to the Spurs’ offense, averaging 18 points and nearly seven assists. In his expanded role, he turns the ball over more often, and he still can’t shoot 30% from the perimeter. He’s capable of a 30 point game, though, so the Knicks would be wise not to take him for granted.

Devin Vassell continues to provide wing scoring for San Antonio, who had added veterans De’Aaron Fox (24 PPG, 6 APG) and Harrison Barnes (13 PPG, 3 RPG) to stabilize late-game offense. New Knicks coach Mike Brown might be the best-suited of all NBA coaches for scheming against Barnes and Fox. He coached both in Sacramento when skippering for the Kings.

Mike Brown: "I wanna thank the Kings…Vivek gave me an opportunity…We enjoyed Sacramento, fans fabulous…Change happens…feel blessed to be in this situation with Knicks"

On his former Kings on the Spurs: "I'm so happy for Fox…& Harrison Barnes…Both tremendous human beings…" pic.twitter.com/dYLtgmSpKc

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) December 15, 2025

While the game won’t count toward their season records, it will award the team a financial prize and bragging rights. The NBA Cup-winning team’s players each receive a prize of $530,933, although two-way players earn half the standard amount. The players on the team that loses the NBA Cup final still get around $212,373.

“We have a lot of guys and coaches who don’t make as much as some guys on this team, so it’s an added bonus for them as well,” said Jalen Brunson about the prize. “You’re not just playing for yourself, you’re playing for an entire team.”

Cap also admitted that players intend to take care of others in the organization with their earnings.

For lower-paid players, the prize money can represent a meaningful portion of annual income. Kolek previously used his NBA Cup bonus to buy his mother a car. Jordan Clarkson, currently on a veteran minimum contract, has a simpler goal.

“I’m going to pay my rent, fa’ sho,” Clarkson said. “They can just have the whole thing.”

Some players have altruistic goals. Karl-Anthony Towns, for example, plans to donate his potential earnings to organizations supporting children in the Dominican Republic.

Other players are Josh Hart. . . . He said the timing of the Cup run is useful after losing watches and jewelry worth approximately $185,000 in a hotel robbery. “I’ll buy a watch,” Hart said. “I lost three watches, so I have to start replacing those. We’re in Vegas. If I put it on a hand of blackjack, I might be able to double it and get more watches.”

To each their own, man. Before they start counting their winnings, they first must beat the Spurs—no easy task.

While the Spurs have a top-ten offense, they are a middle-of-the-pack defensive team. They are built to score, not to strangle games. The Knicks’ strengths (half-court defense, shot discipline, possession control) match well with San Antonio’s weakest areas. New York just needs to win Wemby’s minutes.

Easier said than done. Go Knicks.

Jalen Brunson on the NBA Cup Championship not counting toward regular season standings:

"You're going out there and competing. You're playing for more than just yourself. You're playing for your team, the organization, your city. It's a lot at stake besides the record" pic.twitter.com/lt2DGvDKUG

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) December 16, 2025

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...one-trophy-knicks-and-spurs-meet-in-las-vegas

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks 124, Spurs 113: Mitch, Clarkson, and Kolek earn their bonuses in NBA Cup win

The New York Knicks have won the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup! Maybe it means nothing to you, but some of us are reveling in it. To finally add another trophy to the case (and another banner in the rafters), to beat the San Antonio Spurs 124-113, and to see our Knickerbockers celebrating with confetti on a national stage? That’s some sweet stuff right there.

At the neutral location of T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the teams were neck-and-neck through the first, closing the quarter 30-28, and the trend continued through to halftime, with the Knicks on the wrong side of a 61-59 score. The Knicks got decked to start the third but managed to escape the quarter down by only five. And in the fourth quarter, Mitchell Robinson generated more second looks, Jordan Clarkson hit a bunch of timely buckets, and Tyler Kolek earned every penny of his Cup winnings, pushing the lead to 12 and closing out the win.

Jalen Brunson won the Cup MVP honors. He played great, scoring 25 points on 11-of-27 shooting, dishing eight dimes, and posting a team-best +15 in 41 minutes. You could make a fair case for the MVP to go to OG Anunoby, too. He led all scorers with 28 points on 10-of-17 shooting, knocking down 5-of-10 from three while adding nine rebounds and a +7. Karl-Anthony Towns recorded a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double, and added two steals; and Josh Hart contributed 11 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and a block.

The bench, though. The bench. Often maligned, they came through huge tonight. Clarkson scored 15 points on 6-of-15 shooting with three threes and finished +15. Tyler Kolek delivered a stellar all-around performance with 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting, five assists, and a +14. And Mitchell Robinson, the human cheat code, controlled the glass with 15 rebounds, including 10(!) offensive boards, added two blocks, and finished +9 despite scoring.

The Knicks shot 49-of-105 (47%) from the field and 15-of-40 (38%) from three, and finished with 32 second-chance points. They won the glass 59-42 and the points in the paint 56-44.

The Spurs finished shooting 41-of-99 (41%) from the field and 14-of-39 (36%) from three. Dylan Harper led them with 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting, hitting 5-of-7 from three and adding seven rebounds, though he finished –15 in 28 minutes. Victor Wembanyama scored 18 points on 7-of-17 shooting, hitting 2-of-6 from deep, with six rebounds, 2 blocks, and a –18 plus-minus in 25 minutes. De’Aaron Fox contributed 16 points and a team-high nine assists, but also committed five turnovers and finished –4.

Our heroes won something. Enjoy it, fans.

Jalen Brunson immediately credits his teammates after being announced the NBA Cup MVP

“Without Tyler Kolek, OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson and Jordan Clarkson, we don’t win this game.” pic.twitter.com/uDo4Hd0WpO

— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) December 17, 2025

First Half​

Through the opening possessions, Jalen Brunson attempted to draw contact, but the refs swallowed their whistles. It seemed to be a let-em-play kinda game. Spreading the ball around, the Knicks took an early lead, but a few one-and-dones resulted in buckets going away. As the Knicks bricked, the Texans went on a 9-0 run to claim an 11-7 lead before OG drilled a corner three to slow the bleeding.

Around the seven-minute mark, the 7’4” Wembanyama checked into the game. Thanks to alert play by Anunoby (getting open in the paint for an uncontested dunk; striking again from the other side of the court), the Knicks mounted a 9-5 run to briefly reclaim the lead.

The quarter was evenly played, with both teams shooting 50% from the field and San Antonio holding a slight lead on the glass. Thanks to two late free throws by De’Aaron Fox and a Brunson miss at the buzzer, the Spurs took a 30-28 lead into the second.

Karl-Anthony Towns is an excellent passer.

Tyler Kolek was on the floor to start the quarter, and his 29-footer trimmed a six-point Spurs lead. Buckets from Bridges and Anunoby helped space the floor, but San Antonio (who hit less than 30% from deep in the first frame) answered with improved perimeter shooting. Wembanyama’s minutes stabilized San Antonio defensively, and the Knicks missed six straight shots. Unsurprisingly, Wemby was a problem, intercepting a pass from Brunson to Hart that became an assist to a breaking Castle. The Knicks were down by seven at the five-minute mark.

Missed bunnies! Blame the nerves. Towns missed a layup, Bridges missed a 13-foot chip shot, and Wemby bricked a dunk that he tried to reverse. The Knicks needed a steady hand, and Jalen stepped into the void. He scored at the rim and then blocked Luke Kornet (you read that right) at the other end. The Knicks cut their deficit to one. T-Mobile Arena might be a neutral site, but the MVP chants were loud when Jalen stepped to the charity stripe. He’d finish the half with 15 points.

Anunoby scored back-to-back buckets and tied the game with 27 seconds on the clock, but Fox hit a jumper to put San Antonio up 61-59 at the break.

Through the half, the Spurs shot 20-of-37 (54%) overall and scored 24 points in the paint, while also getting to the line more often (5-of-8 FT) and committing only three turnovers. They dished out 15 assists and spent 53% of the half in front, despite shooting 5-of-15 (33%) from the field.

The Knicks won the rebounding battle (20–18, 8 O-Boards) and sank 6-of-16 threes (38%), but they shot just 18-of-41 (44%) overall, got to the line only four times, and committed five turnovers. Anunoby led the Knicks with 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting, while Vassell topped the Spurs’ scoresheet with 12 points.

Second Half​

While the Knicks thought they were still warming up, the Spurs rattled off six unanswered points. With a 17-9 run, the villains took their first double-digit lead of the evening by the midway point. Luckily for them, they have a talented seven-footer of their own, and KAT lined up a tree to slow down what was starting to feel like a runaway train. One of the biggest concerns about the Cup Final is the potential for injury in a non-consequential (to the standings at least) game. You could almost hear the told-you-so’s from here to Vegas when Towns injured his leg in the third and limped to the bench. This wasn’t Towns hamming it up for the refs; he was in obvious pain.

With Towns out, the Knicks clipped the deficit to five, but Wemby drilled a pair from yard and alley-ooped a to temper New York’s momentum. Needing help, Jordan Clarkson dropped two triples to keep this from becoming a blowout. And thanks to a driving layup by Brunson, New York was down only 94-89 heading into the final frame.

The Knicks seized control early in the fourth quarter behind back-to-back triples from Clarkson and incredible play by Robinson and Kolek. The latter would have finished with more assists if Mitch hadn’t fumbled an inside pass and Bridges hadn’t whiffed on a wide-open three. Robinson was great, though, and dominated the glass as only he can. Meanwhile, the Spurs forgot how to put the ball in the net. When Brunson scored four unanswered, the Knicks were up by seven with just under eight minutes to go.

Towns returned, at last. The Knicks weathered a late push by the Spurs by leaning on timely scoring and defense. Hart delivered on both ends with a deep three and a key block on Fox, while Brunson, Towns, and Anunoby scored and chased down loose balls.

The Spurs tried to close the gap behind long-range shooting from Dylan Harper and free throws from Victor Wembanyama, but more turnovers and missed shots killed their energy. When Anunoby drained another triple with just under two minutes to go, New York’s eight-point lead had all the shine of that NBA Cup trophy. With under a minute to go, the Spurs had opportunities, but Fox bricked, and Kolek added four more points and an assist to put the cherry on top.

Knicks storm the court to celebrate winning the NBA Cup.

Jalen Brunson, however, acknowledged every Spurs player before joining in.

Victor Wembanyama wanted no part of him. Barely acknowledged Brunson, who big bro’d him this time with some taps and a W. pic.twitter.com/igEkMB1MNS

— Kris Pursiainen (@krispursiainen) December 17, 2025

Up Next​

The Knicks jet to Indiana to face the Pacers on Thursday. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.

Box Score

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...n-and-kolek-earn-their-bonuses-in-nba-cup-win

 

[New York Knicks]

Tyler Kolek grew up in Vegas

If you asked men between the ages of 18 and 20 what one place they want to go when they turn 21, you would undoubtedly get a lot of the same responses.

Las Vegas.

The gambling capital of the world, Vegas is the quintessential place for debauchery and a place where men come of age, even if it’s through unscrupulous actions.

Tyler Kolek has already turned 21, but the 24-year-old still used Las Vegas to come of age.

Entering the NBA Cup semifinal on Saturday, Kolek’s role had been limited off the bench. He re-emerged from a several-week benching after injuries to Deuce McBride and Landry Shamet opened up bench minutes, but failed to make an impact right away.

Despite occasional flashes, the Knicks struggled mightily when he was on the court. In the five games prior to NBA Cup knockout play, Kolek had managed to be a minus-43 in a stretch where the Knicks went a dominant 4-1:

On court: -43 (64 min)
Off court: +114 (176 min)

This included a mind-boggling minus-23 in under 15 minutes in a six-point loss in Boston. He also had a negative plus/minus in the team’s 34-point blowout of the Jazz. It’s fair to say it’s not entirely on him, as the lineups that had him sharing the floor with Jalen Brunson and Jordan Clarkson were historically bad, but it spoke to the Knicks’ lack of playable depth.

Enter the knockout round.

While not in Vegas, the tide began to turn here. Kolek only scored two points and had one assist in an extremely brief 7:31 stint, but he was on the court when the Knicks blitzed the Raptors and took firm control of the game in the second quarter.

View Link

When the games moved to Las Vegas, you saw an increased confidence from the young player who was having to earn every opportunity that came his way. He registered three consecutive assists in the second quarter and was rewarded with an extended run in the second half.

Tyler Kolek steals the ball straight off an inbounds for back-to-back NY buckets pic.twitter.com/QnSJdFMX5F

— r/nba_highlights (@rNBAHighlights) December 13, 2025

Even more notable? He was out there alongside Brunson, a pairing that had previously been devastating for the Knicks on both sides of the ball. He provided the secondary playmaking that Leon Rose and company dreamed he could provide when he was drafted No. 38 overall in June 2024.

View Link

After two strong games leading into Tuesday’s final against the Spurs, Kolek’s strong play showed up on the statsheet. In a season-high 20 minutes, he scored a career-high 14 points with five assists, five rebounds, and just one turnover*

y'all asked for tyler kolek highlights???

14 PTS | 5 AST | 5 REB pic.twitter.com/ZdjovOwoOW

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 17, 2025

(*Technically, these stats do not count, but I’m sure it’ll count for him.)

Ultimately, the Marquette graduate completely flipped the script with how the team played with him on the court:

Tyler Kolek in the three NBA Cup knockout games:

On court: +45 (43 min)
Off court: -6 (101 min)

It wasn’t just his playmaking that stood out in these games, but his defensive intensity. It’s abundantly clear that the biggest thing that holds Kolek back from being an established rotation player is his physical limitations, but he plays with a similar Big East undersized guard who’s made it work with effort, and he appears to be learning.

A lot of it was just pure hustle. He hustled to grab a rebound off a missed free throw, he hustled to seal off a larger Spur to allow Mitchell Robinson to gobble up a rebound, he moved around off the ball, and when he did have the ball, he allowed Brunson to move off of it.

Speaking of Brunson, entering the NBA Cup knockout rounds, Kolek and Brunson had shared the floor for 20 total minutes, and the Knicks got obliterated to a minus-65.0 net rating.

In the last three games? They played together for 20 minutes and obliterated their opponents to the tune of a plus-70.7 net rating. It’s a stark reversal, and it has nothing to do with the personnel. The same three-man group of Kolek-Brunson-Clarkson that was getting smacked around was suddenly providing the energy against sturdy opponents.

It’s entirely possible that this is just a young player on a second-round salary being heavily motivated by a massive bonus, but it’s also possible that the Knicks are figuring out how to utilize one of their young players to create further depth.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...tyler-kolek-nba-cup-knicks-mike-brown-brunson

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks Bulletin: ‘We can be special. Now we have to keep proving it’

There’s one and only one thing to say: believe the hype, fam.

Whether you love or hate the NBA Cup, out of 30 teams hooping out there, only one could win Game 83, and that’s your New York Knicks.

Here’s everything from yesterday’s historic night in Sin City:

"The most positive is being able to hang a banner up in MSG, the most iconic arena in the league"

Mike Brown was asked if the Knicks' NBA Cup championship can help propel them to new heights pic.twitter.com/QTlWAy9RTo

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) December 17, 2025

Mike Brown​

On competitiveness and leadership:

“So that competitive spirit exists throughout the organization. And then having a guy like Jalen as your leader, who embraces the work, embraces the process, more importantly embraces the details of what you need to do to go out there and win, at his size and his athleticism, he doesn’t have a lot of margin for error, so he embraces the little things. That feeds off to everybody else. So for us, we feel like we deserve to be here. We want to take advantage of being here by going out and trying to get this win.”

On creating pressure during the season:

“Throughout the course of the year, you try to find situations to put pressure on your group. We divvy the season up into five-game segments. We tell the guys we’d like to go 5–0. 4–1 is pretty good. We’ll take 3–2. To manufacture it during the regular season is tough because there’s so many games, but this is a single-elimination tournament. Every game counts. There’s pressure on every game if you expect to be who you think you are.”

On pressure created by the NBA Cup:

“This is a single-elimination tournament when you get to a certain point. Every game counts. There’s pressure on every game if you expect to be who you think you are.”

On manufactured pressure and confidence:

“That pressure is manufactured without you as a coach having to try to do it all the time. When you’re able to have success doing it, it breeds confidence in everybody within the organization. That can propel you come the right time when you’re in that environment to be able to handle the pressure because you’ve already been through it.”

On lineup decisions late:

“All those guys brought something to the table. And it was an easy decision for me going down the stretch that ‘Hey, these are the guys that had given us a lift, so we’re gonna stay with them.’ That’s what it’s about.”

On Mitchell Robinson’s rebounding:

“Mitch’s ability to challenge Wemby’s shots and then put pressure on Wemby and Luke Kornet on the other end of the floor, offensive rebounding, that changed the game.”

On offensive rebounding impact:

“Mitchell Robinson, he had 10 offensive rebounds in 18 minutes. That’s unbelievable. We had 23 offensive rebounds for the game. He had 10. OG had four. KAT had four. That was probably the biggest difference in the game when you’re scoring 32 second-chance points.”

On taking the NBA Cup seriously:

“Any time you can participate in an event where you can be the last team standing you take it seriously. These guys took it seriously.”

On hanging a banner at MSG:

“The most positive is being able to hang a banner up at MSG, the most iconic arena in the league.”

On Jalen Brunson’s MVP case:

“I hope on this stage, you guys, when you start talking about MVP candidates, his name is one of the first to come out of your mouth. Because on this stage, to go get it done while winning is what, in my opinion, what the MVP is about. So you guys do your job.”

On his postgame beer moment:

“Excuse me, I just had a beer. Usually when I have a beer, it kind of sits in my throat a little bit, so sorry about that. Excuse me mom.”

"We're gonna find a way to win. That's gonna be our motto…Things aren't always how you planned…Stay connected, focused…We're gonna fight…not gonna quit, not gonna lay down. The game may be ugly…We're not afraid of failure, big-time thing about us"

– Jalen Brunson on Knicks pic.twitter.com/gB0JOyzzzK

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) December 17, 2025

Jalen Brunson​

On winning the NBA Cup:

“It’s a goal of ours that we get to check off. It’s an important stepping stone for us. We can still learn from this game and get better, as well. I’m very thankful for the opportunity we got and how we presented ourselves.”

On resilience and mindset:

“We’re gonna find a way. We’re gonna fight. We’re not gonna quit. We’re gonna go out there and do what we gotta do. When we fail in those moments, we tip our hats and we respect the other team and we move forward. But we’re not gonna quit, we’re not gonna lay down. We’re gonna find a way.”

On the game environment:

“A game like this, an environment like this, you don’t really see around the NBA too often. We got to take advantage of the experience that we got here. Being down 10 in the third and them kind of controlling the game throughout the game. Us just finding a way. Going on the run in the fourth with the help of our bench, it was big-time.”

On teammates stepping up:

“OG Anunoby, Tyler Kolek, Jordan Clarkson, Mitch Robinson, they played their ass off tonight. We don’t win this s–t.”

On Tyler Kolek:

“He played big time. I’m very happy for him. It may be a surprise to a bunch of people, but none of you see how hard this kid works. Just very happy for him and the way he played tonight. Helped us, for sure. We needed him.”

On OG Anunoby:

“The way he’s shooting the ball is fantastic. He’s making plays and he has confidence.”

On winning simply:

“We got down and we found a way to win. That’s it. We’re gonna find a way.”

On bench contributions when he struggled:

“You have guys who step up and pick up the slack for a person like me who wasn’t shooting the ball well. It gives us even more confidence. That excites me more than anything.”

Brunson and KAT walk off the floor as @emirates NBA Cup Champs! pic.twitter.com/dNffUL2HUZ

— NBA (@NBA) December 17, 2025

Karl-Anthony Towns​

On winning the Cup:

“Damn, don’t it look good to see ‘Champions’ on a shirt?”

On celebrating postgame:

“Don’t it look good when it says Knicks champions on the shirt.”

On Mitchell Robinson:

“That’s what Mitch does. I knew playing against him just how much he impacts the game. To be his teammate now and to see what he does, he’s impacted the game how many times. Shout-out to Mitch, hell of a day at the office.”

On Robinson’s performance:

“Shout-out to Mitch, man. Hell of a day at the office for him.”

Josh Hart was asked for his thoughts on an NBA Cup championship banner:

"I don't know. Y'all decide that. Someone's gonna be mad whatever we do. I'll let them figure that one out" pic.twitter.com/KLE7SgeKZ4

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) December 17, 2025

Josh Hart​

On hanging a banner:

“It’s a cup. It’s a title. It’s something that you want to win. Hang a banner. Obviously, there are different standards to the Cup and Finals, but whenever you go out there, you want to compete and win. That’s what you want to do, and then you want to celebrate that.”

On Tyler Kolek as an example for neophytes:

“If you’re a rookie, if you’re a young guy, if you appreciate the game, you should be looking at what he’s doing and how he’s finding his ability to get on the court and stay on the court. And you should model yourself off of that.”

On the team’s ceiling:

“We can be special. Now we have to keep proving it.”

Mitchell Robinson on Facebook: pic.twitter.com/NsTKKJ9QBE

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) December 17, 2025

Mitchell Robinson​

On offensive rebounding:

“They’re shot-blockers. They want to block everything so I’m in perfect position. If you ain’t boxing me out, you know what’s going to happen. You know how that goes.”

On celebrating the win:

“If I don’t remember tomorrow, it is what it is.”

On tenure with the Knicks:

“Been here eight years, longest-tenured Knick here. This is a huge accomplishment in the rebuild and the growth. Been here with four different coaches. Seen it all.”

On creating extra possessions:

“They shoot the ball, they miss, I get the offensive rebound and that’s another chance of us scoring. I did that, what, ten times tonight? We missed some but the chance is there. It helps a lot.”

UD "You play so damn hard you got a hole in your sock

Dirk "What's up w that?

UD "That's a grimy New York win

Tyler Kolek "New York toughness man

Taylor Rooks "Peeking out saying hello to us

Blake "With your winnings you could buy a million socks

UD "And get your dad a car pic.twitter.com/Yjs4ImwYlX

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) December 17, 2025

Tyler Kolek​

On the Vegas atmosphere:

“It felt like a playoff game out there. It was great to be out there, competing against a great team.”

On confidence and swagger:

“When I have that swag behind me, I feel like in college when I was talking s–t or whatever it is, just having fun with the game. That’s when I’m at my best.”

On celebrating in Vegas:

“I’m hitting those tables, for sure.”

“We’re battle-tested and have proven we can come here and win”

OG Anunoby joins @ChrisBHaynes on The Association: Post Up following the Knicks’ @emirates NBA Cup Championship win to discuss what the victory means for the team moving forward. pic.twitter.com/aB3dt7RNNN

— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 17, 2025

Mikal Bridges​

On team depth:

“I think we got a lot of talented guys. High-IQ individuals that will go out there and do whatever it takes to win.”

JOSH HART WANTS HIS NBA CUP BAG pic.twitter.com/jtD02fQ612

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 17, 2025

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...can-be-special-now-we-have-to-keep-proving-it

 

[New York Knicks]

Game Thread: Knicks at Pacers, Dec. 18, 2025

The Knicks (18*–7) head to Gainbridge Fieldhouse tonight to face a depleted Pacers team (6–20). It’s not quite a rematch of the Eastern Conference Finals that the Knicks lost last May. This iteration of the Hoosiers will be lacking Tyrese Haliburton, Aaron Nesmith, Obi Toppin, and Ben Sheppard. Look for Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, and Bennedict Mathurin to try to drag the decimated club to victory. On the other side, the Knicks will try to avoid fatigue and might even reserve a player or two for tomorrow’s tilt at home versus the Sixers.

Tip-off is 7 pm EST on MSG. This is your game thread. This is Indy Cornrows. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Air it all out, respectfully. And go Knickerbockers!

* Should be one more, but the Cup final doesn’t count.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...6719/game-thread-knicks-at-pacers-dec-18-2025

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks 114, Pacers 113: Kolek and Captain Clutch steal a win in Indy

Tonight, the New York Knicks (19*-7) were at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse to face the Indiana Pacers (6-21). Coming off their Tuesday night NBA Cup win and set to play the Sixers tomorrow, Mike Brown rested Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart, fielding a lineup of Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Ariel Hukporti, and Mohamed Diawara (in his first NBA start). It made sense to give the guys a break, with such un-imposing competition. The Pacers are missing a slew of players and started Andrew Nembard, Quenton Jackson (a two-way guy playing just his seventh game of the season), Bennedict Mathurin, Jay Huff, and Pascal Siakam.

Indy jumped out strong, building a double-digit lead with efficient shooting while the Knicks struggled to score and maintain control of the ball. The Hoosiers continued to lead straight through til halftime, 62-59. In the third, the Knicks came out of the locker room lethargically and fell behind by double-digits again. But Tyler Kolek was cooking, Bridges and Anunoby hit some timely buckets to close the gap, and Brunson sank a triple with four seconds left to steal the win, 114-113.

New York scored efficiently overall, making 43-of-92 FG (47%), powered by volume threes (17-of-43, 40%). They stunk at the free throw line (58%), though, and coughed up the rock 16 times. Brunson led the box score with 25 points (10-23 FG, 3-8 3PT) plus seven rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. Despite a slow start, Bridges finished with 22 points (9-19 FG, 4-9 3PT), eight boards, five assists, and a +9. Anunoby added 16 points on 5-13 FG, 2-7 3PT, plus six boards, and +11. Hukporti played a season-high 27 points, tallying four points, five rebounds, two blocks, and a steal. And Diawara scored five points in a rocky 19.

Tyler Kolek continues to shine as the season rolls on. Coming off an impressive performance in the Cup final on Tuesday, the sophomore was a table-setter tonight, finishing with a career-high 16 points (7-10 FG, 2-4 3PT), 11 assists, and a +13. Also off the bench, Jordan Clarkson dropped 18 points on 6-of-12 FG, 5-0f-9 3PT. The roughest stat-line went to Guerschon Yabusele, who scored three points, 2 turnovers, and -17.

For the losers, Nembhard scored 31, one shy of his season-high, on 12-of-19 from the floor, 4-of-5 from deep. Siakam trailed him with 26 points on (ouch) 9-of-22 shooting. And Mathurin added 16 points and eight boards.

First Half​

The first quarter had us chewing a towel. With the Knicks turning the ball over once every minute-and-a-half and shooting around 20% from the field, they fell behind by 15 around the midway mark. The rookie Diawara had a nice play for every two goofs; he was drafted 51st, after all. And Bridges, who was benched in the fourth on Tuesday due to lackluster play, seemed off again. The 29-year-old iron man averages about 35 minutes per game. He might be feeling the effects of sharing lead-defender duties with Anunoby most nights.

Clarkson was a bright spot in a cloudy quarter.

An All-Star game, this was not. Every able-bodied player got to play. Indiana’s Garrison Matthews, who recently sipped a cup of coffee with the Knicks, joined the fray at 5:50. And New York’s Pacome Dadiet took the floor for just the tenth time this season. Trey Jemison played, too, logging two turnovers and no points in six minutes.

Guerschon Yabusele couldn’t buy a minute on Tuesday. We were reminded why tonight. He logged 8-first half minutes and was a team-worst -14 . . . perhaps playing the hefty French forward will not help to increase his trade value?

By the time the first quarter was put out of its misery, the Knicks had committed seven turnovers and were behind, 36-25.

In the second quarter, Tyler Kolek (a surprising star in Tuesday’s win) drilled a three to start the action. He spearheaded an 18-6 run that was capped by an Anunoby offensive board and a Bridges jumper.

Little by little, the Knicks chipped away at the deficit, reducing it to three late in the quarter. The Brunson-Kolek minutes were great. The latter has demonstrated increasing assertiveness and confidence as his sophomore season progresses. By halftime, Kolek had a tidy stat-line of nine points and four dimes in 13 minutes. His assist to Brunson in the corner became a four-point play when Ethan Thompson fouled the captain.

When the buzzer sounded, New York trailed 62-59. Through the half, the teams shot nearly identically from the floor (Knicks 46%, Pacers 48%), with New York holding the edge from three (8-of-22, 36% vs. 5-of-18, 28%). Our heroes had more assists (17–12), steals (6–3), fast-break points (10–5), and offensive rebounds (9–7). After a sloppy first quarter, the Knicks committed only one turnover in the second. Brunson led everyone with 18 points. For the Pacers, Nembhard had scored 17.

Second Half​

Through the first part of the third quarter, Indiana steadily pulled away by winning the Mathurin-Siakam minutes, dominating the offensive glass, and capitalizing on Knicks turnovers (two by Anunoby, and one apiece for Brunson and Bridges). New York piled on the bricks while the Pacers mounted a 15-4 run over four-plus minutes. When Nembhard canned a triple, the Hoosiers went up by 16, their largest advantage yet.

Playing in his fourth game of the season, Jemison scored his first points of the season with under a minute to go, and he made a free throw that went with it. Congratulations, Richard Lee Jemison III!

Kolek’s passing continued to sparkle (e.g., see the previous clip), and Bridges began to show more signs of life. Mikal drew a charge with 14 seconds to go, and Tyler rifled a triple with 3 seconds left that cut the score to 92-86.

The pace picked up in the fourth. Kolek drew a charge from Siakam, then hit a jumper to give New York their first lead since the opening of the game.

After that, Siakam scored nine, Nembhard and Jackson added treys, and the Pacers regained a seven-point advantage. The oh-so-streaky Clarkson whiffed on two from deep. The Knicks benefited from Isaiah Jackson’s flagrant foul on Herr Hukporti, but the big German missed one of two and Anunoby followed that with another turnover. New York had their opportunities, they simply blew them. Anunoby redeemed himself, hitting his first triple after missing five attempts, and Brunson made it a one-point game with three minutes left. The Pacers bungled their possessions, and OG (suddenly with a hot hand!) drilled another triple to knot the score at 111.

Anunoby factors into the story again, when he fouled former Toronto teammate Siakam with 17 seconds left. The Cameroonian made both. Knicks timeout.

Indiana had a foul to give, so Nembhard shoved Brunson to the floor. The refs thought that was cool. No worries. When the play resumed, Captain Clutch swished from yard to take a one-point lead with four-point-four left. Indiana tried to inbound, but Anunoby stole the ball, and that was all she wrote.

Up Next​

The Knicks jet home to face Philly tomorrow night. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.

Box Score

* Should be one more, but the Cup final doesn’t count.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...-kolek-and-captain-clutch-steal-a-win-in-indy

 

[New York Knicks]

Game Thread: Knicks vs. 76ers, Dec. 19, 2025

The New York Knicks (19*-7) return to MSG tonight after a demanding week to face a rested Philadelphia 76ers (14-11) team. New York sits second in the East on a seven-game winning streak and are expected to have Karl-Anthony Towns, Mitchell Robinson, Josh Hart, and Miles McBride back in the fold. Philadelphia will be without Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford, with Joel Embiid and Hunter Sallis questionable.

Don’t sleep on Philly. Tyrese Maxey is the focal point of the offense, Paul George is a shooting a career-best from deep (granted, on a 10-game sample-size), VJ Edgecombe has justified his high draft selection, and Quentin Grimes wants to remind us that he’s the baller who got away.

Tip off is 7:00 p.m. EST on MSG. This is your game thread. This is Liberty Ballers. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Be good ambassadors of humanity. And go Knicks!

* Should be one more, but the Cup final doesn’t count.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/knicks-game-threads/76773/game-thread-knicks-vs-76ers-dec-19-2025

 

[New York Knicks]

76ers 116, Knicks 107: Mitch makes free throws, but Knicks too tired

Yesterday, the New York Knicks (19*-8) won a last 114-113 battle with the Pacers in Indiana. Tonight, they were back at Madison Square Garden to face the Philadelphia 76ers (15-11).

The Knicks struggled with turnovers (again) and three-point shooting to start, but managed to close the first quarter tied at 29. Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson helped the home team crush the paint and the glass, making up for poor shooting and giving them a 59-57 halftime advantage. The back-and-forth continued in the third, which Philly won 31-28. In the fourth, VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey hit big buckets while the Knicks stalled out down the stretch. After 19 lead changes, the Sixers take the W, 116-107.

Robinson had his best offensive game of the season, scoring 21 points thanks to making seven consecutive free throws. He finished 7-of-8 from the line and grabbed 14 rebounds for the double-double. In fact, New York crushed Philly 57-36 on the glass and 60-36 in the paint, thanks to KAT’s 22-11 double-double. But the Knicks were outshot 41% to 25% from deep, missing 24 long attempts, and they turned the ball over 18 times. Fatigued from all the travel this week? Sure looked it against a Philly team that was coming off four days’ rest.

Jalen Brunson scored 22 points on 7-of-22 FG, six boards, and nine assists. Bridges recorded 21 points on 9-of-16 FG; Josh Hart scored five points, attempting just seven shots; and OG Anunoby recorded two points on 1-of-9 shooting in 32 minutes.

Off the bench, Jordan Clarkson chipped in nine points in 16 minutes, but Tyler Kolek came back down to earth, scoring two points, four turnovers, and five fouls in 15 minutes. Nonetheless, the sophomore was a plus-4 when four of the starters were negative double-digits.

For the Pennsylvanians, Tyrese Maxey totalled 30 points and nine assists on 11-of-24 shooting, 6-of-12 from deep. Rookie V.J. Edgecombe was a demon down the stretch, finishing with 23 points on 10-of-18 and 3-of-6. And Andre Drummond, filling in for an ill Joel Embiid, logged a 14-13 double-double.

Remember to cast your All-Star votes, Knicks fans.

First Half​

The game opened with a fast-paced, physical quarter. Maxey and Barlow carried Philadelphia’s offense, with the former pushing the tempo and shooting threes, and the latter hustling for put-backs and finishes at the rim.

For the good guys, Brunson—coming off a clutch performance last night—countered Philly’s punches with drives into the paint and a nifty highlight lob to Mitchell Robinson, but the home team struggled to convert from deep early on. Through the quarter, they committed five turnovers, which was a problem yesterday and helped the Sixers outshoot them by seven field goals tonight. Hart and Bridges delivered timely buckets to keep the game from getting out of hand early, and as the clock dwindled, the shots started falling. By the frame’s end, the score was tied at 29.

Too easy.

Brunson Robinson pic.twitter.com/YnngUwJM3k

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) December 20, 2025

Tyler Kolek received a loud ovation when he checked in to start the second period. In five minutes, the spunky sophomore had his pocket picked twice and committed three fouls, bringing his balloon a little closer to terra firma and sending him back to the pine.

The dynamic duo of Towns and Robinson helped the Knicks go on an 8-0 run. With the twin towers hard at work, the Knicks out-rebounded the Cheesesteaks 2-to-1 and vastly outscored them in the paint, which compensated for New York’s 3-of-13 shooting from deep with about five minutes left in the half.

ONE HAND JAM FROM THE BIG MAN pic.twitter.com/wa2TsKqM7J

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 20, 2025

Off the bench, rookie Mohamed Diawara, who received praise from the coach after last night’s win, logged time, as did Jordan Clarkson, shooting well to bolster the second unit. For the Sixers, OAKAAKUYOAK Quentin Grimes played the entire quarter but attempted just two shots for five points.

New York’s lead reached six in the quarter, and they entered halftime ahead 59-57.

Philadelphia had hit 43% from the field and 9-of-25 from three, while New York countered with stronger interior scoring, winning the points in the paint 36-18. The home team ruled the glass 33–16, including a 12–5 advantage on the offensive boards, which helped offset their eight turnovers and shoddy three-point shooting (4-for-17). New York had been a bigger beneficiary of the whistle, touching the charity stripe 14 times to the Sixers’ six. Maxey led all scorers with 17 points; Brunson had 16.

Second Half​

The third quarter was another back-and-forth affair, with the Knicks holding a 76–75 edge at the midway point. KAT was a force for the Knicks, collecting 11 points on efficient inside-outside scoring, including two three-pointers, two layups, and four free throws, while also grabbing a handful of rebounds. Bridges provided crucial perimeter scoring for New York with 10 points on three made three-pointers, helping to counter Philly’s building momentum. Robinson exploded off the bench, scoring seven points on a layup and four (!) consecutive free throws, plus grabbing any loose ball within ten feet of him.

light work for

vote KAT for nba all-star starter ️ https://t.co/Ov3esq1i8z pic.twitter.com/OsxPBA1A1B

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 20, 2025

Kolek got a couple of minutes to spell Brunson and managed to commit two more turnovers and a foul. Rough night for T.J. McConnell 2.0.

Maxey led Philadelphia’s offensive attack throughout the quarter with his playmaking, drawing fouls and setting up teammates despite some missed shots. And Drummond had a hot hand, sinking two bombs and holding his own on the glass. Off the bench for Philly, Justin Edwards brought the energy, snagging two steals. Thanks to an Adem Bona free throw, the villains brought an 88-87 lead into the final frame.

mitch is GOING OFF pic.twitter.com/YMLVjec2aO

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 20, 2025

They stuck to the script in the fourth. Maxey drew first blood for Philly, and Jared McCain was impactful off the bench, contributing eight points. Robinson continued to be a force, scoring eight more points, with an alley-oop, a tip-in, and more free throws. The Knicks coughed up the rock again and again, though, and Bona was a pest, blocking two shots by OG Anunoby.

Brunson’s legs seemed tired, with multiple shots ringing off the front of the rim, and Edgecombe was cooking, scoring from near and far in a big-time debut at the Garden. As the game reached crunch time, the Knicks’ legs turned to rubber while the Sixers looked fresh enough to play another quarter.

VJ EDGECOMBE ARE YOU SERIOUS???

PUTBACK SLAM TO ICE THE WIN OVER THE KNICKS pic.twitter.com/usZayNzAba

— NBA (@NBA) December 20, 2025

Up Next​

The Heat from Miami pays a visit to New York on Sunday. Ice up, Knickerbockers.

Box Score

* Should be one more, but the Cup final doesn’t count.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...-mitch-makes-free-throws-but-knicks-too-tired