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[New York Knicks]

Game Preview: Knicks at Spurs, December 31, 2025

2025 has been a hectic year for the Knicks. It started in January with the rapid decline of what looked like one of the best starting lineups in the league. And as the team stumbled through much of February and March, it looked like one with little hope. But a memorable playoff run that included a tough first-round against the Pistons, a 4-1 beating of the defending champion Celtics, and a disappointing end to the season at the hands of the Pacers and their incredible game one comeback capped off the first half of the year. The second half of 2025? Well, it’s been a bit more stable.

With new head coach Mike Brown at the helm, the team, despite an up-and-down first couple of weeks, has looked more and more like the team we expected- the best team in the east. They are 15-3 in their last 18 games, Jalen Brunson looks like a legitimate MVP candidate once again, Mikal Bridges looks much better than he did last season, and the team is now getting contributions from its young core of Tyler Kolek, Mo Diawara, and Kevin McCullar Jr. on what seems like a nightly basis. So what better way to end the year than to cap off 2025 with a bang by beating the 23-9 Spurs on the road?

While that would be an amazing win to add to the Knicks’ resume, it won’t be an easy task. As we saw not too long ago in New York’s NBA Cup Championship win, San Antonio is a damn good team. They have the sixth-best offensive rating, the best defensive rating, and the seventh-best net rating in the league. They have the athleticism, length, size, and rim protection to slow down any offense in the league, and have an egalitarian offense that centers around generational big man Victor Wembanayama and speedy point guard De’Aaron Fox.

While they have dropped consecutive games against a bad Jazz team and an underachieving Cavaliers team, the Spurs are still a scary opponent. They are less than a week removed from defeating the Thunder, the consensus best team in the league, in back-to-back games, and enter tonight tied with the Knicks for the third-best record in the league.

New York, unlike San Antonio, enters tonight winning three straight games, but they haven’t necessarily been the most impressive. Now, a win is a win, and the Knicks have been without Josh Hart, Deuce McBride, and Landry Shamet for most of those games. And there’s reason to believe that they may have put their best foot forward against the Cavaliers, Hawks, and Pelicans- all of whom are either underperforming or have been outright bad. But beating those teams by just a combined 10 points, and needing late-game heroics from Brunson in all of those games, isn’t the most confidence-inducing.

The positive, if you are a “glass half full” kind of person, is that the Knicks have still managed to win close games against talented, albeit struggling, teams, despite missing key players, and have done so with some much-needed contributions from their bench and young players.

Prediction​

The Spurs enter tonight as favorites, but only by a slight margin. These two teams, which both enter tonight with an impressive record of 23-9, have been playing some very good basketball over December, and as we all saw in the NBA Cup championship game, these two teams match up very closely. While New York can still win this game, a few things are going against them.

First off is the fact that despite their recent hot streak, they are still just 7-7 on the road this season. Securing a road win against a Spurs team that enters tonight 11-4 on the road won’t be an easy task. And making things even more difficult is the fact that the Knicks’ list of injured players continues to grow. Landry Shamet, Josh Hart, and most importantly, Mitchell Robinson, who would’ve helped try to slow down Wembanyama, will all be out. Tyler Kolek is a game-time decision with an ankle injury, as is Ariel Hukporti, which leaves the big man rotation very thin.

The Spurs have a couple of injuries of their own as Devin Vassell is out with a groin injury, and Stephon Castle, who has had some big games against the Knicks, is a game-time decision with a thumb injury. Having McBride back will help the Knicks deal with Fox, Castle (if he plays), and Harper’s speed and athleticism on the defensive end. And Diawara and McCullar Jr. could provide the Knicks with some more athleticism and surprise shooting. But it’s hard to see the Spurs losing this one at home. They’ll likely play with an added level of motivation given their last two losses, and their NBA Cup Final loss, and will be at home against a team missing multiple key players.

That being said, I say screw it. Hopefully, the Knicks can get another jaw-dropping performance out of Brunson, squeeze out some more productive minutes out of Diawara, Kolek (if he plays), and McCullar Jr, and get a third straight game of OG Anunoby making game-winning plays down the stretch. Knicks close out 2025 with a gutsy win, showing their will to win, and improve to 24-9.

Prediction of the night: Trey Jemison III, after a solid showing against the Pelicans, steps up big time and becomes the latest bench player to play a big role in a Knicks win.

Game Details​

Teams: New York Knicks (23-9) vs San Antonio Spurs (23-9)

Date: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025

Time: 7:00 PM ET

Location: Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX

TV: NBATV, MSG

Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...game-preview-knicks-at-spurs-december-31-2025

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks Bulletin: ‘I’m human just like everybody else’

Do you know what a good plan is for New Year’s Eve?

Watching the Knicks, that’s it.

Here’s a bunch of words from your boys as they will try to get back to their homes with a dub against the Spurs in time for twelve o’clock.

The Knicks are now 5-2 vs coaches they tried to hire this summer pic.twitter.com/mLxwhOU5bL

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) December 30, 2025

Mike Brown​

On Mohamed Diawara’s feel for the game and development:

“In the summertime you started to see his feel. Just his feel for the game is uncanny for a guy who is 6-8 or 6-9 and for how young he is. And then everything you try to talk about or teach him, he tries to observe and go do it. He works extremely hard. He’s long. He’s a pretty good defender. Getting better. Just a lot of little things that you kind of watch and go, ‘Oh my gosh, wow.’ And all those things when you add them up to a possible opportunity it gives you more confidence as a coaching staff to throw him out there and say, okay let’s see what’s going to happen.”

On Mitchell Robinson’s absence on Mon/Wed and load managing the country boy:

“It’s all load management. If you look at our schedule, it’s been hectic. We’re just trying to be smart with it.”

On communication and building trust with Mikal Bridges:

“I try to communicate with everybody. But I’m human just like everybody else. Sometimes I may not communicate enough. Sometimes I may try to over-communicate. It’s a fine line that you’ve got to try to figure out. Everybody is human, and everybody needs to be touched. That’s all I was trying to do with Mikal. I was just trying to touch him, to get his thoughts. Let him know my thoughts. Because you assume certain things. It makes an ass out of you and me. That’s all it was.”

On OG Anunoby’s two-way dominance in crunch time:

“Our defensive player of the game, just put his footprint on both ends, another All-Star is OG Anunoby. I don’t know who can guard OG on a close out. If you’re closing out on him, it’s a wrap if he wants it to be a wrap. You can be big, you can be small. You’ve got to get all the way to his body because he’ll knock down the three. If you don’t get back to his body, he’s so quick and so strong he’s going right through your inner thigh. Offensively he was huge for us. He was huge offensively, huge on the glass. But just as importantly he was our defensive player of the game.”

On team standards, sacrifice, and belief:

“At the end of the day it’s all of our standards. Sacrifice. When you play 12 guys and guys don’t care when they come in and out, you’ve seen that. People are sacrificing for their teammates. You play 12 guys and guys just keep plugging away, there’s a connectivity. It doesn’t matter if we’re up 10, down 10, our guys just keep staying with it. That shows the competitive spirit. More importantly, it’s the belief in the process. That belief not only in the process, but in each other, it helps out. And we’re all being held accountable on the sidelines. When you have that from a group, man, you can do a lot of things.”

Mo Diawara on Knicks "They help each other out…Like Deuce…really wanted to know how I'm doing…Mikal, I talk to him most…'

Q "Who's craziest?"

Mo "OG 1st. KAT…Mikal…even Jalen…everyone…laughs together…knows each other…You just feel it…family…beautiful…You feel home" pic.twitter.com/PJgEgYcDrv

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) December 31, 2025

Mohamed Diawara​

On the uncertainty of draft night and his preparation:

“I didn’t know at all. I was hoping to get drafted but I had no clue if I would at all. I worked out with 13 teams. The feedback was pretty good. I did a lot of good workouts. I feel like I showed a lot of stuff to other teams. I felt confident that I wouldn’t regret anything.”

“McBride would miss Poole completely if not for Poole's last-minute step forward”

NBA Last-2 Minute Report says non-call on Knicks Deuce McBride defending Pelicans Jordan Poole game-tying 3 attempt with 8.8 seconds left was correct pic.twitter.com/A6IQEEFnwE

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) December 30, 2025

Miles McBride​

On Mohamed Diawara’s attacking mindset:

“He has this mindset of just attacking. It kinda reminds me of myself, just attacking. You trust your preparation and results will end up in your favor. Just reminded me of myself. You’re young and don’t know anything. You just go attack.”

On trusting faith after returning from injury:

“I’m always trusting in God and whatever he has planned for me. He said I needed a little bit of rest, but I just wanted to come out here, do what I need to do to get back right. And get a win with the team.”

On the NBA’s top 10 handles of 2025: pic.twitter.com/RAc3VIDEQa

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) December 30, 2025

Jalen Brunson​

On his first impressions of Mohamed Diawara:

“Honestly, I didn’t know Mo when he was drafted. I’m not going to lie. When he came to summer league and I came to New York before preseason, I got to work with him and see him. He’s very confident, and the way we play, it’s great for the way we play. Did I do intel? No. But when I got to know him, I knew he’d be an asset for us.”

On the Knicks’ poor starts and finding ways to win:

“We understand how we started was unacceptable. And we got to figure out how to win a game from where we were. So we got a lot of confidence in each other. But we got to start better.”

The NBA has ranked the top 10 defensive plays of 2025

Here’s #1: pic.twitter.com/OccvywMzPb

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) December 30, 2025

Mikal Bridges​

On the Knicks’ expanded rotations and the new bench energy:

“Yeah, for sure. Knowing that the work you put in, you might get your name called. And also like it builds more as a team. We love each other and are competitive at the same time. But knowing that you’re playing gives even more energy because you feel like you contribute, knowing you might get called. It’s just a different energy for the bench.”

On his growing relationship with Mike Brown:

“I think honestly right now is probably the most I’ve been close with Mike. Just have some good conversations, talk to each other. Picking his brain, hear what he’s thinking and me voicing some things. Getting that clarity from your coach. Our relationship was always fine, but I think it’s definitely going up.”

On adjusting to playing fewer minutes and communication:

“I’m so used to playing a lot. Sometimes I might get subbed out and I’m looking like, ‘What?’ But I know something’s right. Sometimes you need a break. That’s building your relationship with the coach and building that trust.”

On feeling better by playing fewer minutes this season:

“I definitely feel better. It’s definitely working.”

On entering the All-Star talk and his priorities:

“Me, personally, I can’t control All-Star selections. I do appreciate Mike voicing for me and OG. But I’m just trying to be the best version of myself for this team. There’s so much room for me to grow. Just get better game by game and develop more relationships. I got those mothaf–kas some watches, so I’m pretty sure I’m close with them.”

Shouts to @JLEdwardsIII for getting this tremendous quote from OG Anunoby: https://t.co/qZREgfrYIM pic.twitter.com/TQ0VJIynBb

— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) December 30, 2025

OG Anunoby​

On defending Zion Williamson on Monday:

“He’s an amazing player, one of the toughest covers in the league, downhill. He’s really an incredible player. Just taking the challenge, being more physical.”

On his All-Star case:

“If fans watch the game beyond the boxscore and notice the little things, and the two-way impact.”

AJ at MSG

He might be a little better than Jimmer pic.twitter.com/EXniABvVfc https://t.co/uFjXRvGGsY

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) December 30, 2025

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...ks-bulletin-im-human-just-like-everybody-else

 

[New York Knicks]

Hawks 111, Knicks 99: Missing players, missing shots

Tonight, a shorthanded New York Knicks (23*-11) squad hosted the Atlanta Hawks (17-19). The home team played without Karl-Anthony Towns (illness), Josh Hart (ankle), and Mitchell Robinson (ankle), which was to their detriment, while the visitors played without Trae Young, which was to Atlanta’s advantage. The score was close in the first quarter, but started slipping away in the second when New York managed just 17 points. In the third period, the Knicks trailed by 26, their biggest hole of the season; and despite a strong start to the fourth and cutting the deficit to nine late in the game, there was too much ground to cover for a comeback. Atlanta wins, 111-99.

Not only did the Knicks match their lowest point-total of the 2025-26 campaign, they also shot 9-of-44 (20%) from deep. Some of that was due to great defense by the Hawks. Some of it was purely stinky shooting. New York won the glass 53 to 49, but shot 36-for-99 overall (36%) and turned the ball over 14 times.

Jalen Brunson led New York with 24 points on 10-for-24 shooting, but had a horrible night from deep (1-for-10). OG Anunoby delivered 19 points and 10 rebounds, going 5-for-13 from the field and 1-of-6 from downtown (his slump continues…). Mikal Bridges chipped in 18 points on 7-for-19 shooting (3-for-11 from three). Rounding out the starters, Ariel Hukporti, filling in for KAT and Mitch, posted eight points, 17 rebounds (seven offensive), four assists, and four blocks in 28 minutes. And Miles McBride added 11 points on 4-for-14 shooting (3-for-10 from three).

A thin bench contributed thin production: Guerschon Yabusele scored eight, Tyler Kolek six, and Jordan Clarkson five. McCullar, Diawara, and Jemison combined for zero points on 0-of-6 shooting.

For the visitors, Onyeka Okongwu and Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 23 points apiece. Okongwu finished 9-for-16 from the field with 3-for-6 from three, nine rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. Alexander-Walker made 9-of-20 overall and 3-of-10 from deep. Jalen Johnson posted a triple-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists, plus two steals in 38 minutes; Zaccharie Risacher added 12 points on 4-for-7 shooting; and Dyson Daniels rounded out their starters with 11 points, six rebounds, and eight assists.

One for the wastebasket. Get ready for Philly tomorrow night.

First Half​

Jalen Brunson set the tempo for New York. The Eastern Conference’s Player of the Month for December organized the offense, created clean looks inside, and kept the Knicks chugging with drives, floaters, and assists to Yabusele, Kolek, and Anunoby. Bridges had a nice dish or two, too:

mikal delivers a perfect pass to ariel for the SLAM pic.twitter.com/wBokWwgP3T

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 3, 2026

For Atlanta, Onyeka Okongwu and Nickeil Alexander-Walker provided timely scoring in the quarter. The Hawks held a narrow edge by shooting better from deep (42%). New York countered by scoring 18 points in the paint, dishing 10 dimes, and protecting the rock (just two turnovers). There were seven lead changes, before the Knicks went totally cold, lucky to escape the quarter down 33-30.

Across the end of the first quarter and into the second, our heroes missed 12 straight threes and fell behind by nine. The difference was pressure and execution. New York committed a string of turnovers, including bad passes and an eight-second violation, and Atlanta turned those mistakes into points. Alexander-Walker continued to provide a spark for the visitors, while Johnson was deployed as a cutter and secondary creator.

Phenomenal defense from Hukporti pic.twitter.com/mylL6Apgsp

— KNICKS BEAST (@KnicksBeast) January 3, 2026

The Knicks had short scoring bursts, but few and far between. Their offense managed just 17 points in the quarter, and Atlanta closed the half in control, up 60–47.

Overall, the Hawks had outshot New York 51% to 41%, and outscored them in the paint (32–26) and in transition (18–14). New York’s inefficiency and nine turnovers offset a solid rebounding by a Knicks team with a very thin frontcourt. Alexander-Walker led all scorers with 15 points. Brunson had 11.

Coaching matters. McCullar Jr. is a learner. The kid has a bright future. pic.twitter.com/zkV3f1BHKm

— KnicksNation (@KnicksNation) January 3, 2026

Second Half​

The ugly got uglier. Atlanta blew the game open in the third quarter, going ahead by 26 points. That marked the Knicks largest deficit of the season.

New York still had no antidote for Johnson, Alexander-Walker, and Okongwu. On the occasions when the Knicks did get stops, they failed to capitalize. They continued to miss open looks, left points at the charity stripe, and wasted offensive rebounds. The visitors, meanwhile, punished those misses with quick answers—corner threes, rim runs, and short rolls—turning a manageable deficit into a commanding one by the end of the period.

Behind inspired play from Diawara and Anunoby, the Knicks kicked off the fourth with 11 unanswered points. With a little under nine minutes to play, they were down 94-81. Suddenly, a losing cause seemed perhaps less hopeless.

But not for long. Out of a timeout, Bridges missed a three-pointer that would have reduced the hole to 10; instead, Luke Kennard drained consecutive threes to make it 19.

New York had multiple offensive rebounds, intercepted passes, and drew a charge or two, but their endless barrage of bricks prevented them from gaining ground. At the five-minute mark, Brunson cashed in a McBride assist to make the differential 13. At four minutes, Bridges missed from long (again), but another Hukporti rebound let Mikal mit a middy, cutting the difference to 11. At the three, Hukporti hit two freebies to make it 12. At the two, Bridges hit a corner three (finally) to make it 10. At one-and-a-half minutes, Bridges convereted another bomb to make it nine.

Time and again, New York knocked on the door but lacked the personnel to kick it in. Okongwu made a layup, a foul called on a Brunson three-point attempt was overturned, and that was the ballgame.

CLUTCH TIME MIKAL

vote knicks for #NBAAllStar starters ️ https://t.co/Ov3esq1i8z pic.twitter.com/yApEmp4ZJa

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 3, 2026

Up Next​

The 76ers visit the Garden. Rest up, Knickerbockers.

Box Score

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

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...s-111-knicks-99-missing-players-missing-shots

 

[New York Knicks]

Game Preview: Knicks vs. 76ers, January 3, 2026

After spinning their wheels in the mud against the Hawks last night, the New York Knicks (23*-11) are back in action tonight, taking on the Philadelphia 76ers (18-14).

The Knicks sit two games behind the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference, while the Sixers rank fifth. Last night’s effort at Madison Square Garden ended in 111-99 loss, despite New York cutting a 26-point deficit to nine in the fourth quarter. Missing three rotational players—Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, and Mitchell Robinson—left them too shorthanded against a respectable Quin Snyder squad. Meanwhile, Philly is coming off a 123-108 win in Dallas on New Year’s Day.

The Knicks and Cheesesteaks last squared off on December 19, when the Knicks ran out of gas late, scored just 20 points in the final period, and lost 116-107.

The Pennsylvanians profile as almost exactly league average on both ends. They score 116.6 points per game, ranking 15th, with an offensive rating of 115.2 that places them 18th. Defensively, they allow 116 points per game and post a 114.7 defensive rating (13th).

Their leader, Tyrese Maxey averages 30.9 points and 7.2 assists per game, and ranks third in the league in scoring. In the last game against New York, he posted 30 points, nine assists, and hit 6-of-10 from deep. Rookie-of-the-year candidate VJ Edgecombe logged 23 points, two steals, and a block, while also hitting 60% from beyond the arc. And Andre Drummond, filling in for Joel Embiid, recorded a 14-13 double-double. The big fella from Mount Vernon ALSO hit 3-of-4 from deep . . . the rim was ocean-sized for Philly that night.

On the injury report, Embiid is listed as a game-time decision with a knee issue, while Kelly Oubre Jr. (knee) and Trendon Watford (thigh) remain out. For the New York Knicks, Karl-Anthony Towns (illness), Mitchell Robinson (ankle), and Landry Shamet (shoulder) are all game-time decisions, while Josh Hart (ankle) is not expected to return until January 11.

OG Anunoby started the season with beautiful three-point efficiency, hitting 41% from deep through his first 18 games. The game against the Sixers started a serious shooting slump for him, however. In his last seven games, he has made 7-of-38 from downtown, or 18%. During that stretch, he averaged 13.4 points, six rebounds, and two assists, and totaled 11 steals and seven blocks—all-in-all not terrible, but his total +/- was a -34. Tonight’s rematch would be a perfect time to bust outta that slump, Ogugua!

Prediction​

ESPN.com likes the Knicks at 65%. Maybe . . . depends on who plays. The undermanned team that lost to the Hawks tonight would have difficulty keeping up with Nick Nurse band of merry band of Ben Franklins. If Towns recovers from what ails him and Mitch’s ankle is good to go, pencil in the W. (We’d love to see the return of Shamet, too, for the bench production and the emotional uplift.) If the Knicks are understaffed in the frontcourt again, and shoot as badly as they did last night (9-of-42, 21%), this game could be a nauseating affair.

The Knicks have lost three consecutive games only once this season, and, presently, are on only their second two-game losing streak. Cap doesn’t like to lose. Look for Brunson to leave it all on the floor tonight and, with the MSG crowd at his back, pulling out a win in the clutch. It’s his sobriquet, after all. Knicks by 2.

Game Details​

Date: Saturday, January 3, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Place: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
TV: MSG
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

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

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...2/game-preview-knicks-vs-76ers-january-3-2026

 

[New York Knicks]

76ers 130, Knicks 119: Pounded in the paint

For the second time this season, the New York Knicks (23*-12) have lost three straight games. It’s too early to panic, but measured concern is completely acceptable.

In tonight’s first quarter, the Knicks leaned on Jalen Brunson, while the Philadelphia 76ers (19-14) answered with Tyrese Maxey’s unfettered scoring and Joel Embiid’s interior play to take a 31–30 lead. As the second quarter rolled along, Philly gradually seized control and stretched their lead to 66–58 at intermission. Shades of yesterday’s loss to Atlanta? You betcha. In the third period, the deficit reached double-digits and stayed there, topping out at 19. The score was 99–87 after three. Similar to last night’s tilt, the Knicks kicked back around the middle of the fourth, but they had no answers to Maxey or Embiid. Final score, 130-119.

Brunson finished with 31 points in 34 minutes, shooting 10-of-21 from the floor, 2-of-4 from three, and 9-of-12 at the line. He had just four assists and, uncharacteristically, three turnovers. He, Mikal Bridges, and Mitchell Robinson all finished with -11’s.

Karl-Anthony Towns posted a 23-point, 14-board double-double in 34 minutes, going 6-of-16 from the field. He missed all five of his longball attempts, but made 11-of-12 on free throws. OG Anunoby logged 37 minutes and scored 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting, hitting 3-of-5 from three and 4-of-4 at the charity stripe. He added six rebounds, six assists, a steal, and a block.

Robinson played 19 minutes and finished with two points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals, and five fouls. Rounding out the starters, Bridges scored 12 points in his 37 minutes, shooting 5-of-14 from the field and 2-of-8 from deep, and contributed five rebounds, six assists, two steals, and a block.

The bench was uneven, with Miles McBride providing the clear spark: 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting, 5-of-7 from three, plus two steals in his 31 minutes. There wasn’t much production outside of that: Jordan Clarkson and Kevin McCullar, Jr. scored three points each, Tyler Kolek added six, and the rest of the bench combined for zilch. Once again, Coach Brown played 12 guys and thumbed his nose at Pacome Dadiet.

For the Cheesesteaks, Maxey led all scorers with 36 points, shooting 14-of-22 overall and 6-of-9 from three, plus eight rebounds and four assists. Embiid scored 26 points and 10 boards and took 12 free throws; Paul George scored 15 points and eight rebounds; and rookie VJ Edgecombe delivered 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting and 4-of-9 from three.

New York shot better from deep tonight, making 40%, but Philly bested them with 47% and won the game in the paint, outscoring the home team there, 54-32.

First Half​

The first quarter opened with a choppy stretch during which both teams struggled to find rhythm. Brunson led the scoring with an array of shots and shot all six of New York’s free throws, making five. Anunoby, who’s been in a shooting slump of late, missed another three, but impacted the quarter with effort, rebounding, and ball movement.

As usual, Maxey drove Philadelphia’s offense, repeatedly getting downhill for layups and short floaters while also creating shots for others. His running mate, Embiid, looked fresher than we’ve seen him in a while. The big Cameroonian bullied in the paint and hit some mid-rangers.

TYRESE MAXEY PUT ON A SHOW AT MSG.

36 PTS
8 REB
4 AST
2 BLK
6 3PM
PHI W

It's @TyreseMaxey's 75th career 30-PT game! pic.twitter.com/wMGMwfm9uu

— NBA (@NBA) January 4, 2026

Neither side went ahead by more than five. Kevin McCullar Jr. added a timely corner three late in the period, but Maxey’s attacked at will and, after five lead changes, the Sixers brought a narrow 31–30 lead into the break.

The teams traded perimeter bombs to start the second quarter. Gradually, Philly gained momentum behind Edgecombe and OAKAAKUYOAK Quentin Grimes, with both hitting deep threes to goose the lead. New York countered with timely buckets by Anunoby and Jordan Clarkson, but the tide kept drawing in the wrong direction.

KOLEK FROM DISTANCE pic.twitter.com/pKfj7GJtZi

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 4, 2026

By the midway point, the ‘Bockers were still hanging within five, but Maxey checked back in and paired with Embiid for a run that put them ahead by 13. Brunson and Anunoby delivered triples to salvage some ground, and they entered halftime down 66-58.

Joel Embiid looking as physically comfortable as we've seen him in quite some time in his 3rd game in 5 nights — efficient shooting, some great passes, big screens, drawing fouls, moving well, etc.

26 PTS (9-15 FG), 10 REB (2 OFF), 5 AST vs Knicks

Highlights below! pic.twitter.com/x3dm5c6YVB

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) January 4, 2026

Second Half​

Late in the third quarter last night, the Knicks had surrendered 90 points to the Atlanta Hawks. They allowed the Sixers to reach that point by midway through the third quarter tonight. Maxey and Embiid dictated the pace and space, with the former hitting multiple triples while the latter hacked away in the paint, drew fouls, and grabbed rebounds. The lead quickly hit double-digits and stayed there for the rest of the period.

New York briefly responded through Miles McBride, who attacked the rim, forced turnovers, and knocked down a three, but the cheese stood alone. When Maxey rattled in back-to-back threes, and Embiid added more at the rim, this game took on the smell of old fish. Rookie Mohamed Diawara made a brief appearance to relieve Anunoby, but blink and you’d miss him. Brunson and Towns scored some points that felt like treading water, and after being outscored for the third straight quarter, they entered the fourth behind 99-87.

"Right now, we're not as physical as we should be at the point of attack. We're not navigating the ball screen like we should be at the point of attack, a lot of times."

Mike Brown talks about how the Knicks' physicality and defensive shifts can improve: pic.twitter.com/tvHj38sSTV

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 4, 2026

The final frame opened with more Maxey, Edgecombe, and Grimes stuff to keep the lead in double digits. Our heroes briefly showed signs of life when Anunoby made free throws and Miles McBride drilled a three, but every meager endeavor was met by a response (George knocked down a three, Maxey kept scoring at will, etc.).

Midway through the quarter, the Knicks showed some spunk when Anunoby blocked a Jabari Walker attempt, Bridges rejected an Embiid layup, and McBride hit back-to-back threes. They cut the deficit to eight, but the vibe never really shifted in their favor. With under two minutes to go, George grabbed an offensive board that might have given the Knicks hope had it gone the other way; instead, Grimes made a layup, the differential was 10 again, and the life left the body in one extended exhale.

VJ Edgecombe BLOCK.
VJ Edgecombe SLAM.

The rookie is putting on a show at MSG! pic.twitter.com/9U7IBmAxrX

— NBA (@NBA) January 4, 2026

Up Next​

The Knicks take to the road again with a trip to Detroit on Monday. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.

Box Score

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

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...383/76ers-130-knicks-119-pounded-in-the-paint

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks Bulletin: ‘Everyone has a lapse’

The Knicks let another one slip and they’re now navigating a three-game skid.

New York welcomed back the Twin towers but that could prevent the Sixers from snatching the win

Here’s what Coach Mike and a few of those involved said before and after yesterday’s game.

Mike Brown as Knicks lose 3rd straight: "We're in an area we're not used to…little bit of adversity. I've never been part of a team that hasn't gone thru adversity…Every team's gonna…It's about how we respond…how we get out of it…Great opportunity to see what we're made of" pic.twitter.com/HP8BWvl7OP

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 4, 2026

Mike Brown​

On the Knicks facing adversity:

“We are in an area we are not used to. We’ve hit a little bit of adversity. I’ve never been part of a team that has not gone through adversity throughout the course of the year, whether we won it at the end of the year and we were in the Finals or we had a halfway decent season. Every team is going to hit it. For us, it’s about how we respond and how we come out of it. This is a great opportunity for us to see what we’re made of while we are going through this stretch.”

On Tyrese Maxey and picking your poison:

“Obviously, we didn’t play our best basketball. Maxey was really on. He was a real handful for us. We tried to get the ball out of his hands, and then someone else made plays. If you try to take it out of someone’s hands, you are going to give someone else a chance.”

On Josh Hart’s absence impacting the offensive pace:

“At the end of the day, having Josh out there helps a ton. Right now, our pace is not good. We’re walking the ball up almost every time and then everything is just going to the front side. Our staples — our pace in the full court and the front court, spacing the floor correctly, making quick decisions, touching the paint and getting the ball reversed — we haven’t seen a lot of any of that.”

On defensive priorities after another loss:

“It starts with guarding the ball and guarding the ball without fouling. On top of that, obviously our transition defense — both of those areas haven’t been good. Those have been themes as of late for us and we’ve got to somehow, someway fix it.”

On confidence the issues and how to fix them:

“We’re going to fix it. We’ve done it before. Hopefully we’re not going backwards too many more steps. But it starts with guarding the ball and not giving up easy buckets in transition. From there, you can clean up the rest.”

On offensive stagnation hurting the team:

“Sometimes, if you play the right way, you’re going to take a loss and you’re OK with it. But offensively, we were pretty stagnant, and that plays right into their strength. If we don’t play with pace in the half court, if we don’t touch the paint, make quick decisions — our staples — it’s going to be hard for us to score.”

On urgency slipping:

“The sense of urgency has to be there for us for as close to 48 minutes as possible. It’s tough to do it for 48. Everyone has a lapse. But our sense of urgency has to be at a high level, especially when it comes to transition. Our sense of urgency wasn’t always there.”

On his coaching perspective regardless of the record at any particular point:

“I don’t even know what our record was in December. You win a lot of games and can feel it. As a coach, you just try to preach the right things to your team no matter what you are currently doing. If I don’t see something right, it’s my job to let them know.”

On the need for defensive accountability when shots aren’t falling:

“When the shot’s not falling, where else are we going to hang our hat? It has to be on the defensive end. And we didn’t do that tonight.”

"Objectively, we need to just be more sound and have each other's backs. Things are not going to be perfect, but we've got to be able to have each other's backs when things break down."

Jalen Brunson was asked what's not happening that should be happening recently for the… pic.twitter.com/PaWwCFKchG

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 4, 2026

Jalen Brunson​

On the much-needed defensive corrections:

“We just need to be better defensively. There are so many different things you can say. Keep your man in front. Have better rotations. Objectively, we need to be more sound and have each other’s backs. Things aren’t going to be perfect, but we have to have each other’s backs when things break down.”

On missing Josh Hart but rejecting excuses:

“We miss him, but it’s no excuse. He’s a big part of what we do, but we need to step up. The key is sticking together and not pointing fingers and not feeling sorry for ourselves. Just have each other’s backs. I think that’s the most important.”

On navigating the slump as a group:

“Sticking together. Not pointing fingers, not feeling sorry for ourselves or trying to find a quick solution instead of working through it for the long term. Just have each other’s backs, I think that’s most important.”

Mikal Bridges was asked about the Knicks' slower offensive pace:

"I think we're just not playing fast enough. That's on everybody. I think we've just got to know what we've got to do spacing-wise. We know we should, but I think we're just either not thinking or taking too long… pic.twitter.com/FmWAYi0m6O

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 4, 2026

Mikal Bridges​

On second-effort defense breaking down:

“Just the effort. The initial effort might be there, but just making plays after — the second effort is not there.”

On injuries and keeping internal trust:

“I mean, yeah, those guys are key pieces and I miss them. But I trust everybody in this locker room to come in and do what they have to do. We’ve got a lot of talent, a lot of guys that work hard. Everybody’s got to step up.”

On rejecting travel fatigue and the schedule as an excuse:

“I don’t want to blame traveling or anything like that. No excuse. We’ve just got to be better. You’ve got to learn from it and get ready for tomorrow.”

On missed shots not excusing bad defense:

“I know we weren’t making shots, but that doesn’t give us an excuse to not play defense and get back. We can’t let missed shots affect us on the other end.”

Fred Katz: "What was going on with KAT?"

Mike Brown: "He had stomach issues…PR might have more detail…"

Fred: "I don't need more detail"

Brown: "" pic.twitter.com/IFD7TuYE5z

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 3, 2026

Karl-Anthony Towns​

On hoping the Knicks respond to the three-game losing skid as they have before:

“I hope history repeats itself. For history to repeat itself, we gotta lock in and be ready for the next game. It’s not gonna get any easier for us.”

Joel Embiid was ELATED after his 1st dunk of the season @sixers defeat the Knicks and secure third straight W! pic.twitter.com/ivFQ0rfdsL

— NBA (@NBA) January 4, 2026

Joel Embiid​

On his first dunk since forever:

“It was whatever. It was an easy one. I wish it would have been one off the backboard. That’s the next step.”

"Every time he gets a basket it's a facial expression, arm wave, leg kick, drama king…What is he doing? You got an and-1, you're big & strong, we know that. Here it's his 1st dunk of season & he's happy?…Knows how to bait officials…old man game now"

–– Wally on Joel Embiid pic.twitter.com/LUu2dmzJvj

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 4, 2026

Nick Nurse​

On Embiid’s first dunk of the season:

“You saw he wanted to get one. It was a pretty cheap way of getting it, I think. But at least we know he can still dunk, and he can check that off his list.”

https://t.co/olPDc5Mi9d pic.twitter.com/hNbzwALzDg

— THE GODMUTHA ✦ (@THEG0DMUTHA) January 4, 2026

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/knicks-news/77393/knicks-bulletin-xxx

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks Week Preview: Jan. 4-10, 2026

The New York Knicks head into the week at a moment when things feel slightly unsettled. They’re still frontrunners for best of the conference, if not the league, but they’re searching for traction after a rough stretch. A tough road test, a brief return home, and a late-night stop out West will offer a clearer picture of where this group stands by the end of the week.

Monday, January 5: Knicks at Detroit Pistons (7:00 PM ET, Peacock)​

To start the week, the New York Knicks face a tough road test against the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons.

The Motor City club enters with a 25-9 record and a strong home advantage at Little Caesars Arena. The Detroit Pistons succeed with an elite defense (second in the NBA) and a top ten offense that scores almost 119 points per attempt. Despite losing four of their last 10, the Pistons remain the lead bunny that New York has chased all season. They’re led by Cade Cunningham (26.7 PPG, 9.6 APG, and 6.3 RPG) and fellow starters Jalen Duren, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, and Duncan Robinson. In the small favors department, Duren and Harris are both sidelined for the next week or two with injuries, meaning they won’t suit up for the Knicks contest.

Our heroes have looked more mortal in their last three games, with increasingly deflating losses to the Spurs, Hawks, and Sixers. Without Josh Hart, they’re missing a connective tissue that fills the gaps on both ends; without him, it’s been bone-on-bone painful to watch. It doesn’t appear that he will be ready to take the floor on Monday, and a fourth-straight loss is highly probable. If so, be careful of Knicks fans jumping from high places Tuesday morning.

Watch this on Peacock.

Wednesday, January 7: Knicks vs Los Angeles Clippers (7:30 PM ET)​

The Knicks make a brief return to the Garden before a four-game West coast trip. On Wednesday, they will host the L.A. Clippers in an interconference battle that pits our beloved ‘Bockers against a Western play-in hopeful.

Kawhi Leonard is back to producing at a star level, leading the team in scoring and steals, while James Harden and Ivica Zubac pace them in playmaking and rebounding. Their top-end production did not translate into wins, however, and starting 5-16 seemed to be a death knell. It’s hard to focus on basketball when that pesky Pablo Torre constantly trails you with a magnifying glass!

The Clips started the season poorly but have found a groove of late. As of this writing, they have won six of their last 10 games, including a six-game winning streak over not awful teams. They shoot the three-ball fairly well, but not as often as most, and their defense is fairly terrible. Without too much effort, the Knicks should knock out a win and hit the road on a high note.

Watch this on MSG.

Friday, January 9: Knicks at Phoenix Suns (9:00 PM ET)​

The Knicks wrap up the work week with a stop at Mortgage Matchup Center (what a stupid name) in Arizona. They’ll face the Phoenix Suns (20-14) in a late-night (for me) Western Conference tilt.

Phoenix has been surprisingly competitive in a challenging conference. They currently sit seventh in the West and have outperformed modest preseason expectations behind a balanced attack, top-12 efficiency on both ends, and a positive net rating. They’re not Finals materials, but they’re a serious pain nonetheless. Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, and Grayson Allen are their scoring leaders while Mark Williams has held down the paint.

The good news for the Knickerbockers? There are reports that Dillon Brooks will be joining his sworn life enemy LeBron James in Los Angeles. Many have cited Brooks as the primary reason for Phoenix’s impressive run, which explains why J.J. Redick’s desperation to add him and his dastardly defense to the roster. We’ll see if the Suns are as tough without him.

Watch this one on MSG.

Enjoy the week, Knicks fans.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/knicks-game-previews/77411/knicks-week-preview-jan-4-10-2026

 

[JJ]

OH BOY HERE WE GO AGAIN WITH THE KNICKS BREAKING MY HEART

Look, I'm a Bills fan first and foremost, but watching this Knicks collapse is giving me serious "wide right" PTSD. Three straight losses?? To the HAWKS without Trae Young?? Come ON man.

Here's what's killing me about this stretch:

1. **The Josh Hart effect is REAL** - Everyone keeps saying "no excuses" but let's be honest, that dude is the glue guy. Without him pushing pace and doing all the dirty work, this offense looks like it's running through molasses. Mike Brown even admitted their pace is garbage right now.

2. **9-for-44 from three against Atlanta** - That's not a slump, that's a CATASTROPHE. OG shooting 18% from deep over his last seven games?? Mikal going 3-for-11?? Brunson 1-for-10?? At some point you gotta wonder if someone hexed the rim.

3. **Embiid getting his first dunk of the season against us** - That's just embarrassing. The man looked like he won the lottery. We made Joel Embiid look ATHLETIC again.

The Detroit game Monday is gonna be BRUTAL. Yeah Duren and Harris are out, but Cade Cunningham is a problem and the Knicks are clearly in their own heads right now. If they lose four straight I might need to take a mental health day.

At least the Clippers game should be a gimme... but honestly after watching them lose to a Trae-less Hawks team, I don't trust ANYTHING anymore.

Anyone else think they need to give Dadiet some actual minutes?? Brown played 12 guys and STILL won't give the kid a look. Make it make sense!!

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks Bulletin: ‘The officials are the officials’

The Knicks and the Pistons are clashing tonight for the first time this season in a No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown.

Too bad the game is at Pizza Palace and not MSG.

Here’s some of what’s been said in the last few hours.

ESPN ranks categories including best & worst offense, defense & overall with new Net Points metric, an algorithm which divides credit & blame in context each play

Here's Jalen Brunson
-4th best offense
-4th worst defense (& trending down)
-14th overallhttps://t.co/kNfOgtrXQ3 pic.twitter.com/tae5WMVMcN

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 5, 2026

Mike Brown​

On the Knicks’ offensive identity breaking down:

“It’s been a while — at least these last two games — our staples, our pace in full court, the front court. We want to space the floor correctly. We want to make quick decisions. We want to touch the paint, and we want the ball to get reversed, and we haven’t seen a lot of any of that. It’s a lot of front-side actions that are happening, and if we don’t have anything on the front side, it’s almost like we’re in the water. We don’t know what’s next. We can’t get to the play after the play, and that’s something we have to figure out sooner than later.”

On lacking physicality at the point of attack:

“The biggest thing is right now, we want to be physical defensively. You can see guys are up in us… they’re getting in our bodies and blowing up any dribble hand-off, even pick-and-roll situations, and we’re not able to come off a pick-and-roll and turn the corner and get downhill. So, defensively, we want to do the same as them, but right now, we’re not as physical as we should be at the point of attack, we’re not navigating the ball screen like we should be at the point of attack a lot of times. And then when we do, we’re picking up a foul here, a foul there. And sending guys to the free throw line. So our physicality, as well as our shifts, have to be better so we can help protect that paint a little bit more.”

On the ongoing pace issues:

“Right now, our pace is not good. We’re walking the ball up almost every time, and then almost everything is on the front side.”

On the need for avoiding emotional reactions to officiating:

“The officials are human. They’re gonna make good calls. They’re gonna make bad calls. We can’t rely on the officials to win us the ball game. We have to go win it ourselves. The reality of it is even with us fouling late, they shot 23 free throws, we shot 32. We had 18 fouls called against us, and they had 23 called against them.”

On refocusing internally instead of blaming whistles:

“We have to do a better job of focusing on what our job is or what we can do to help the group get over the hump and win the ball game. Nobody has to do anything extraordinary. But we’ve gotta give a little bit more in a lot of areas to help us get over the top, but the officials are the officials; they’ve been fine. And now we’ve just gotta figure out a way to win and not focus on them at all.”

On going small late against Philadelphia:

“We needed to score, so we needed to spread the floor and see if we could touch the paint and spray it and knock down a couple threes, so that’s one of the reasons I went small. But I’ve said this before: Deuce is really good at the point of attack in terms of pick and roll defense when he’s on the ball, trying to get to a body and getting over the top of the ball. That’s why I threw him out there. A combination of those two things made me do that.”

On focusing only on the next opponent:

“For us it really doesn’t matter. It’s whoever’s in front of us. We need to figure out how to go play the right way on both ends of the floor and get a win. It’s as simple as that.”

On bringing more effort during the slump:

“Our mindset is everybody just trying to bring a little bit more. A little bit more defensively. A little bit more offensively, in order to get over the hump. There’s not anything tricky or magical that we’re going to come up with in a matter of two days. We just know we can bring a little bit more to the table.”

Knicks say Josh Hart still OUT Monday at Detroit (right ankle sprain)

Landry Shamet also still OUT (right shoulder sprain) pic.twitter.com/brbuAnS6Hq

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 4, 2026

Mikal Bridges​

On the lack of pace and offensive indecision:

“I think we’re not playing fast enough, and that’s on everybody. We’ve gotta know what we’ve gotta do spacing-wise. I think we know what we should do, but we’re either not thinking or taking too long to think about what we have to get into, and that’s been our problem.”

Karl-Anthony Towns just passed Walt Clyde Frazier (15,581 points) as 144th all-time leading scorer pic.twitter.com/Mfx9LYMfzR

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 5, 2026

Karl-Anthony Towns​

On increased aggression after halftime:

“I got more shots. So just trying to make shots. I’ll watch the tape. I know in the third, I got more aggressive on the offensive end and made the most of those opportunities. I just shot more shots. That’s the only way you can make more points.”

"I don't know how he's not dead tired, we just had a three hour practice." — Collin Gillespie talks about the incredible work ethic of Jalen Brunson pic.twitter.com/41xt2zUhud

— TheOldManAndTheThree (@OldManAndThree) January 4, 2026

Jalen Brunson​

On responding to the slump as a group:

“Sticking together. Not pointing fingers, not feeling sorry for ourselves or trying to find a quick solution instead of working through it for the long term. Just have each other’s backs, I think that’s most important.”

On defensive accountability when things break down:

“Objectively, we need to just be more sound and have each other’s backs. Things are not going to be perfect, but we’ve got to be able to have each other’s backs when things break down.”

Appreciate the love everyone https://t.co/QtzWmPAiZc

— Nathaniel S. Butler (@natlyphoto) January 4, 2026

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/knicks-news/77417/knicks-bulletin-the-officials-are-the-officials

 

[New York Knicks]

Pistons 121, Knicks 90: Yuck.

In the midst of a three-game slide heading into tonight’s matchup with the Detroit Pistons, one would think that the Knicks would come into the game with a chip on their shoulders. They had sent Cade Cunningham and the Pistons packing last year in the first round in a 4-2 series win that was all about Brunson, Brunson, Brunson. Every single game was close, but the Knicks just figured out ways to make winning plays down the stretch. This was their first rematch since. After coming out flat a couple nights in a row, surely it was time to steady the ship.

However, this isn’t the same matchup that we saw the last time these two teams took the floor. Take also into account that the Pistons sat at 26-9, good enough the first seed in the East, and that New York (second in the East) had been struggling on both sides of the floor the last three games sans Josh Hart.

That’s not to say that Detroit was healthy either – Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren, and Caris LeVert were all sidelined before. This would be a battle of attrition, and it would be spearheaded by two dueling point guards: Jalen Brunson and Cade Cunningham.

One frame in, and the script was true. Brunson had 12 first quarter points. Cunningham also had 12. 30-29, Pistons. Surely we were in for a battle.

Brunson in attack mode early

He's got 8 midway through Q1!

Tap to watch on Peacock: https://t.co/3uqiYfX3F3 pic.twitter.com/fuNyv6boKu

— NBA (@NBA) January 6, 2026

And then the wheels fell off. Like, really fell off.

New York hung around during the beginning of the second quarter, trailing 45-42 with 6:34 left to go in the frame. The Pistons stretched the lead to 10 by half, and it only ballooned the rest of the way. They were outscored 76-48 the rest of the game.

The Knicks couldn’t get anything going outside of Jalen Brunson the rest of the game. They turned the ball over (20 times). They got killed on the glass (outrebounded 44-30). They got destroyed in the paint (34 points in the paint vs. Detroit’s 52). The offense looked stagnant, combining for only 36 points in the second half. It was a game reminiscent of last year’s iso-heavy looks, only without the winning results.

CADE SCORING.
CADE DISHING.
CADE DEFENDING.

29 points, 9 assists and 2 blocks for Detroit's Motorcade so far

3Q on Peacock… watch here: https://t.co/3uqiYfX3F3 pic.twitter.com/t4M5f3kjA6

— NBA (@NBA) January 6, 2026

Mikal Bridges had 10 points. OG Anunoby had 5. Karl-Anthony Towns had 6. The three shot a combined 6-18 from the field.

You won’t win many games when that happens.

Miles McBride was a bright spot off the bench, hitting five triples en route to 17 points. That’s just about the only positive I can take away from the night. The team got beat up, both on the court and on the scoreboard.

Mike Brown: “It’s pretty simple: they just physically kicked our ass.”

— James L. Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) January 6, 2026

There are ebbs and flows to any NBA season. It’s not about how you play in October. It’s not about how you play in January. It’s about the team come playoff time. But the Knicks showed everyone tonight what happens when everything goes wrong. They looked soft, physically and mentally. It’s better to learn these lessons now than later, but it doesn’t make tonight’s performance any less disappointing. The guys came out flat.

The light at the end of the tunnel? Josh Hart is trending towards playing again soon. It’ll be seven straight games against Western conference teams, though, and it starts on Wednesday at the Garden before New York heads out towards the opposite coast.

We’ll see what they’re made of, and how Mike Brown can guide them through their roughest patch of the season.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/knicks-analysis/77467/pistons-121-knicks-90-yuck

 

[New York Knicks]

Second round of the All-Star ballots sees Brunson move up

Last week, when the NBA released the results of the first fan returns in NBA All-Star voting, Knicks fans were pleased to see that their favorite players were getting a lot of love. While the last few years had been headlined by how Brunson and his teammates were not getting enough votes, and how Knicks fans needed to do their part, we saw five Knicks players in the top 20 vote getters for the Eastern Conference. Brunson was third in the conference with 1,040,601 votes, Karl-Anthony Towns was seventh with 510,577, and OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart were also all in the top 16 with over 100,00 votes.

Second returns of the 2025-26 NBA All-Star game fan voting: pic.twitter.com/Z3An1c0ShH

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 6, 2026

The batch of games the Knicks have played since last week’s voting reveal has been ugly, with none of the aforementioned players playing particularly well. In fact, you could make an argument that they’ve all been downright bad. But the voting, at least for now, has been kind to the Knicks’ starters. Brunson surpasses the 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey to become the player with the second most votes in the conference, while Towns, Anunoby, Bridges, and Hart all retain the same places they were in last week.

With how bad the team and the players have looked recently, it will be interesting to see how the votes look next week. If you are interested in supporting the players, though, head on over to https://vote.nba.com/en and cast your votes.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...rns-of-the-all-star-game-sees-brunson-move-up

 

[New York Knicks]

Two key Knicks potentially nearing return?

Injuries are not, and cannot be, an excuse for how poorly the Knicks have played. While Josh Hart and Landry Shamet, and their excellent seasons, have been a pivotal part of the Knicks’ success, New York, if it wants to maintain its championship aspirations, cannot let two players impact their offensive process, defensive energy, and overall chemistry as much as they have.

That being said, the Knicks and their fans can breathe a very brief sigh of relief, as Ian Begley of SNY reported earlier today that the Knicks could have both of them back in the near future. Hart, whose rebounding, ball handling, toughness, and overall grit have been severely missed, could be available as early as tomorrow. Shamet, who has been out since injuring his shoulder against the Magic on November 22nd, is nearing a return. Begley hinted that his return is expected within the next week or the week after.

Again, the return of these two won’t magically fix the Knicks’ current problems, as they are rooted in much more than missing two wings. But getting two players who are among their better defenders and were both shooting the ball well should inject some much-needed energy into a team that looks like it badly needs it.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...520/two-key-knicks-potentially-nearing-return

 

[New York Knicks]

For the Knicks, effort is the way out of the skid

Unless you’re the 73-9 Warriors or the 1990s Bulls, a midseason slump is inevitable.

Four of the last six NBA champions endured a four-game losing streak at some point. The once-unbeatable OKC Thunder have played .500 ball for the last three weeks after starting 24-1, including getting blown out by the Charlotte Hornets with their entire Big Three healthy.

While the Knicks are encountering their first four-game skid since February 2024, last year’s team had lost six out of nine in early January and had three separate three-game losing streaks after the New Year. Very few teams avoid having bad 1-2 week stretches.

It’s what you do to get out of a slump that’s more telling than the slump itself. While the second-half collapse against the Spurs followed a different formula, each of the last three games has gone the same way:

• Competitive first quarter, Knicks trail by one after one
• Game starts to slip away in the second; Knicks keep it within 8-12 points at halftime
• Knicks get blown out in the third, eventually trailing by 18+

In the first two games, the Knicks fought back to make it look closer than it was, but the Pistons never let up. After only encountering two deficits larger than 18 points through 33 games, it’s happened in three straight.

There’s the obvious: the defense has been abhorrent for a while now. Even before this skid, the Knicks were struggling to out-talent overmatched teams and put them to bed early because of poor defensive effort. Saddiq Bey’s heater in the first quarter against the Pelicans wasn’t just a role player getting hot, it was poor defensive effort.

View Link

At this point, Bey had 15 points in under eight minutes. He hadn’t missed a shot. Why on earth did Mikal Bridges help here? Mo Diawara was being beaten off the bounce by Trey Murphy, sure, but there are multiple bodies in the paint, and Murphy isn’t known for his finishing. Yes, this is armchair analysis, but in what world is it smart to help off the hottest man in the building?

This has been a trend for the Knicks as of late. Poor defensive effort and fixable mistakes allow a player (or team) to get red hot. Take Julian Champagnie’s 11 threes on New Year’s Eve.

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This one is pure miscommunication. Jordan Clarkson switches onto Wemby (lol), and either doesn’t tell OG Anunoby or OG didn’t listen. Either way, it allows a player who, despite not being the most efficient, is a ready and willing shooter to pop open. Allowing any NBA player to get into rhythm is a bad idea.

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Another fundamental flaw of this defense (especially of late) is poor transition defense. Guerschon Yabusele is behind the play, sure, but so is Luke Kornet. What is Ariel Hukporti sitting in the paint for? If I were Mike Brown, I’d rather my center contest the man who’s already made six threes and force him to go off the bounce than to give him an open shot to tie the game.

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Champagnie hit 3 threes in transition in the fourth quarter as the Knicks failed to match up. Their poor transition defense has been exploited all year, but teams are really torturing them now.

View Link

The screen navigation is also becoming a big issue. One thing that hasn’t changed from Tom Thibodeau to Mike Brown is drop coverage, as the Knicks don’t have the personnel to recover if their center gets blown by at the perimeter. That puts extreme importance on screen navigation, but the Knicks have gotten blown up in that department by Joel Embiid, Luke Kornet, and Isaiah Stewart in the last week, allowing shooters to walk into open shots.

The issues on defense are well established, but a concerning trend emerging is one that happened last season as well: the stagnation on offense.

In each of the last two seasons, the Knicks had a generationally good offense prior to New Year’s. Last year, the over-reliance on Josh Hart in the starting lineup led to the offense’s downfall due to a defensive adjustment. It wasn’t supposed to be like this in 2026, but it hasn’t been pretty.

For one, the team is overly relying on Brunson heroball early in games. While the Knicks’ captain is one of the league’s most prolific first-quarter scorers, he’s been able to put up points early by playing in the flow of the offense, not commanding the ball all game long. Lately, he’s operating a one-man show, which is causing stagnation in the offense. Just look at this play from November:

pic.twitter.com/Sb8ygyJ6Ej

— jaycee (@jayceepxrez) January 6, 2026

The ball movement and off-ball movement just aren’t there right now, and it’s killing the offense. It also doesn’t help that three of the starters are in horrific slumps:

OG Anunoby since 12/9: 14.3 PPG, 39/26/85 splits

Mikal Bridges since 12/23: 12.5 PPG, 44/33/33 splits

Karl-Anthony Towns since 12/19: 19.1 PPG, 12.3 FGA, 34.3% from 3, 1.9 assists to 2.9 turnovers, 4.0 fouls

Wingstop started the season as one of the best corner shooters in the league, but neither has been hitting for a few weeks now. Towns has had some bizarre games lately, attempting fewer shots, picking up more silly fouls, and seeing a drastic drop in his playmaking ability. His penchant for picking up offensive fouls has been especially present lately.

Karl-Anthony Towns commits some of the most frustrating offensive fouls. pic.twitter.com/01owYtQNu1

— Dylan Backer (@DylanBackerESM) January 6, 2026

Teams are once again putting capable defensive wings on Towns instead of letting him dominate undersized, foul-prone bigs. The Knicks have to respond by optimizing him better. Get him better catch-and-shoot looks, minimize these top-of-the-key drives that lead to silly offensive fouls, get him on the block and let him use his strength there instead of downhill drives.

It’s a team-wide issue now. Guys aren’t moving off the ball, they aren’t passing, they’re getting predictable. The Pistons stripped the Knicks over and over again on Monday because their young, feisty defenders were able to read a predictable offense.

The Knicks have been blocked 21 times in the last two games, the most since January 2023. Their opponents have 31 steals in the last three games, the most since last February. If you combine those, it’s probably the first time in a long time that both have happened to this team.

The difference right now is effort. They’re a step late rotating, they’re not moving off the ball, they look tired out there. The grueling schedule doesn’t help, but at some point, the fewer minutes have to show up somewhere. The Knicks are a week away from their first two-day break in a while and should have Hart and Landry Shamet back in the near future.

But they can’t wait a week to figure it out.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...-the-knicks-effort-is-the-way-out-of-the-skid

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks 123, Clippers 111: Knicks end skid, snip the Clips

Tonight the Knicks (24*-13) hosted the surprisingly hot Los Angeles Clippers (13-23) at Madison Square Garden. Said us: we’re kinda worried, with New York having lost four straight games and needing a wind to fill their sails for the upcoming West Coast trip. Said the Knicks: What, us worry?

The Clippers jumped out to a 14–5 lead and, despite the Knicks slowly coming to life, controlled most of the first quarter for a 31–27 edge. Deuce McBride traded buckets with Kawhi Leonard in the second and New York trailed 56-51 at halftime. New York flipped the game in a rugged third quarter behind Jalen Brunson’s 11-point burst and a collective defensive push, scoring 39 points to take a 90–87 lead into the fourth. From there, the Knicks pulled away, the Clippers got winded, and the victory was ours, 123-111.

From the field, the Knicks outshot the Clips from the field (50% to 43%) and from deep (42% to 36%), and controlled the glass, 48 to 40. Jalen Brunson led the good guys with 26 points on an uber-efficient 9-for-12 shooting, including 4-for-5 from deep, plus seven assists. OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns both scored 20. OG had been slumping of late but finished 8-of-10 from the field, 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. For KAT, the shots weren’t falling, so he feasted around the rim in the second half, grabbed 11 rebounds, and dished a season-high seven dimes. Mikal Bridges filled the gaps with 15 points (7-for-14), nine rebounds, and five assists (+10), and Miles McBride added 16 with four threes (4-for-11).

Off the bench, Jordan Clarkson scored 12 (5-for-9), Guerschon Yabusele hit both his threes for eight points, and Mitchell Robinson logged nine rebounds and 2 blocks in 24 minutes (+14). The sneaky swing stat was Tyler Kolek’s +19 in 13 minutes, paired with five assists and four rebounds.

The Clippers were carried by their core: Kawhi Leonard (25 points on 10-for-20), James Harden (23 points, 9 assists, 7-for-7 FT), Ivica Zubac (22 points on 11-for-14 with 11 rebounds), and John Collins (18 points, 10 rebounds).

First Half​

The Knicks stumbled out of the gate, missing four of their first six shots as the Clippers raced to a 14–5 lead, but New York steadied itself with an 8–0 run to pull back into the game. Midway through the period, Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele were the first off the bench. At the 4:30 mark, Jalen Brunson briefly put the Knicks ahead with a three before Brook Lopez answered with one of his own.

Despite the swings, Los Angeles largely dictated the flow, shooting 46% from the field and 38% from three while getting to the line more often. The Knicks matched the Clippers on the glass, but three turnovers allowed LA to maintain control for three-quarters of the frame.

For the Clips, Harden led the way with nine points, supported by Leonard, Zubac, and John Collins. For New York, the offense came in fits and starts: OG Anunoby and Brunson scored seven apiece, but Karl-Anthony Towns was sputtering early. When the buzzer buzzed, New York was on the wrong end of a 31-27 score.

Deuce McBride ignited the Knicks early in the second, scoring 11 of New York’s first 15 points as the game tightened. Gradually, New York was able to tie the game midway through the quarter, but a lead remained elusive. At 2:23, Brunson tied the game again with another triple, but Leonard scored five unanswered points to regain some distance. The 34-year-old vet continued to score at will from anywhere, drew contact, and showed his hallmark defensive prowess, closing out strong on perimeter shooters. He had five points in the first quarter and 16 in the second, helping his team reach a 56-51 lead at halftime.

Towns played a role in the Knicks’ second-quarter surge, getting to the foul line, sweeping the boards, and dishing the ball. Offensively, though, he remained a mixed bag. On the positive side, in one half he’d doubled his total field goal attempts from the Detroit loss on Monday, but converted only 25% of them and continued to go cold from deep.

L.A. shot 48% from the field and 41% (9-of-22) from deep, outrebounded New York (21–19), and won the paint, 22–18. New York actually shot better from three (8-of-18, 44%). Both teams committed six turnovers. Leonard led all scorers with 21 points and Collins had grabbed eight boards. For the Knicks, McBride led the way with 14.

Second Half​

The third quarter started as a grind, with the momentum swinging back and forth in short bursts. The Clips had a counterpunch for every Knicks swing.

Brunson was the Knicks’ motor, sustaining the offense during a choppy stretch. Collecting 11 points in the frame, Cap cooked from all three levels, knocked down a key three, converted at the line, and created shots for others.

Thanks to Jalen’s steady hand and Yabusele’s triple, the Knicks finally regained a lead around the middle of the quarter. Leonard and Harden promptly flipped that, but the Knicks were finally clicking. Although a dud offensively, KAT impacted the game on the glass and as a passer, setting up Brunson and Bridges. Anunoby and Bridges knocked down key buckets, Mitchell Robinson finished around the rim, and the Knicks strung together stops to flip the score for good. Thanks to a 39-point scoring explosion in the quarter, the home team took a 90-87 lead into the fourth.

Los Angeles is the oldest team in the league. They looked it in the fourth. KAT began to assert himself more in the paint, and Leonard stalled out for the opposing team. Yabusele delivered some productive minutes off the bench, knocking down a three, finishing inside, and cleaning the glass. Meanwhile, Robinson stuffed at the rim, and before we knew it, New York was sitting on a 15-point lead.

The Clippers got a lift from Zubac, Dunn, and Collins, cutting the lead to nine before Anunoby swished from outside. With 1:30 left and his team trailing by 13, Ty Lue hoisted a white flag and sent in the scrubs.

Up Next​

Gas up the jets, the Knicks need to reach Phoenix by Friday night for a tilt with the Suns. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.

Box Score

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

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...3-clippers-111-knicks-end-skid-snip-the-clips

 

[New York Knicks]

The problem isn’t the double-big lineup, it’s how it’s used

Over the last two years, we’ve seen different iterations of the double-big lineup that features both Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson. There are reasons that both Tom Thibodeau and Mike Brown have gone to it. It matches up better theoretically against bigger teams. It gives them an actual rim protector in Robinson, without giving up Towns’ shooting. And it gives them a real rebounding advantage-something both coaches have prioritized. But there are also a lot of reasons, and evidence, that it’s not a fix-it-all lineup that works at all times.

First of all, pushing Towns to play the four, while Robinson plays the five, takes away a lot of what makes Towns great offensively. Opposing teams can put power forwards on him, making it easier for them to defend his threes, while also taking away his ability to drive past opposing centers on closeouts. And in the rare case that Towns can, and does get past his man from beyond the key, the paint is often clogged by Robinson’s man due to his inability to spread the floor.

This lineup configuration also often relies on Towns being able to defend opposing forwards, which can often spell doom on that end of the floor as well. Factor in the Knicks’ lack of big man depth, and you get an even larger problem. When the Knicks start both Towns and Robinson, they are starting their only two good big men. One of them, Towns, is always a threat to get into foul trouble. And the other Robinson is on a pseudo-minute restriction. That means when Towns gets into foul trouble, which isn’t infrequently, guys like Ariel Hukporti and Guerschon Yabusele are tasked with playing more minutes than the team or its fans would prefer.

And all of that had led to the pairing of Towns and Robinson as starters, producing very mixed, if not downright bad, results. New York is 5-7 when the pair start, and Robinson’s offensive and defensive ratings are both significantly worse as a start than they are as a reserve.

The Knicks outscored the Clippers 27-9 in the double big (KAT/Mitch) minutes tonight. The Knicks have a +12.0 NetRtg across 395 possessions when KAT starts and Mitch comes off the bench, dating back to Mitch's debut last season.

— max (@MaxWildstein) January 8, 2026

But that isn’t to say that the lineup itself is the problem. It’s more about how and when it’s being used. When Robinson does come off the bench, it’s yielded great results for the most part. As you can see above, the Knicks have a +12 net rating in 395 possessions when Towns starts, and Robinson comes off the bench. Doing so allows Robinson to dominate and feast off of opposing backup bigs, who often do not have the requisite size, skill, athleticism, or ability to contain Robinson’s rebounding abilities. It also gives the Knicks more insurance for when and if Towns gets into foul trouble. And lastly, when they do end up on the court at the same time, they can often take over and change the trajectory of the game with their size and rebounding. Ultimately, it gives the Knicks a much clearer rotation and the ability to be more versatile with the kinds of lineups they can throw out there at any given time.

Going forward, Josh Hart and Deuce McBride should be the only two starters joining the other four, with the latter being my preferred choice given his point-of-attack defense and shooting gravity. But whichever way Brown decides to go, the double-big starting lineup experiment should be all but over, and the lineup itself should only be used as a means to alter the game flow.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...m-isnt-the-double-big-lineup-its-how-its-used

 

[New York Knicks]

The evolution of Deuce McBride

When the Knicks acquired Deuce McBride in the 2021 draft, he was looked at by many as an athletic defensive pest with some playmaking and shooting potential. While his height and lack of vertical ability on the offense were a concern for some, his 6’8.75” wingspan, instantly translatable defense, and encouraging metrics and stats during his final year at West Virginia made him a popular pick. That being said, McBride’s rise to where he is now was a long and slow one.

As is often the case with rookies playing under the head coach, Tom Thibodeau, McBride saw very limited time during his first season in the NBA. He appeared in just 40 games, started in just two, and averaged a measly 9.3 MPG. And he struggled mightily offensively during those minutes.

The 21-year-old averaged just 2.2 PPG while shooting 29.6% from the field, 25% from three on 1.7 attempts per game, and 66.7% from the free-throw line. There were flashes and moments of brilliance from McBride; there were some apprehensions about whether McBride’s offensive game would ever improve enough for him to earn real minutes.

Year number two for McBride was better, yet only slightly. He appeared in more games-64 games, and averaged more minutes-11.9 MPG, but still struggled to put the ball in the basket. His percentages were up marginally as he finished the season shooting just 35.8% from the field and 29.9% from three.

But throughout the entirety of his first two years, coaches and players continued to sing their praises for McBride, citing his work ethic and determination. And fans, despite his up-and-down play, had a hard time not buying into the hype, due to Summer League play and G League outbursts, where he would routinely dominate. In his first season, he averaged 27.8 PPG and 10.8 APG in six games, and in the following year, he scored 28 points, dished out seven assists, and grabbed eight rebounds in his lone outing there.

It wasn’t until 2024, though, that McBride’s and the Knicks’ trajectory would change. On the penultimate day of 2023, the Knicks traded away starting wing RJ Barrett and backup point guard Immanuel Quickley for a package centered around OG Anunoby. While much of the conversation keyed in on what the Knicks were giving up and what the Knicks were getting, New York was rumored to have been okay with the trade because of their growing trust in the development of McBride.

With two key rotation pieces now up north in Toronto, McBride got more playing time and flourished, becoming one of the team’s most impactful players. From the trade onwards, McBride averaged 10.6 PPG, 2.1 APG on 44.9% shooting, and more importantly, 41% from three.

After a tough, injury-filled postseason run, many were expecting a full breakout year from McBride in the following season. But what the Knicks and their fans got instead was a step back. McBride’s name could still be found in many of the Knicks’ best-performing lineups due to his defense and gravity, but his personal numbers were on the decline. He averaged just 1.2 PPG more despite playing nearly five more minutes per game, and he shot just over 40% from the field and under 37% from three.

Deuce McBride's shooting splits over the past seven weeks:
50.4% from the field
52.6% from three-point range
95.8% from the free-throw line

— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) January 8, 2026

This season, though, McBride has not only remained a mainstay on the Knicks’ strongest lineup combinations, but he is doing so while playing the best basketball of his career. After Wednesday night’s 16-point performance against the Clippers, the fifth-year man is now averaging 12.7 PPG while shooting 45.2% from the field, and a blistering 45.3% from three. And if you take a zoom in to his play since November 17th, it’s even more impressive. Since then, he has averaged 15.4 PPG while shooting 47.7% from the field and 48.4% from three in 16 games.

Deuce McBride shooting the lights out from 3 this year. 46% #WVU #NBA pic.twitter.com/0fDik7mYts

— Gold And Blue Zone (@GoldAndBlueZone) January 8, 2026

He ranks ninth in three-point shooters among the 266 players who have taken over 50 three-pointers, sixth among the 173 players who have taken over 100, and fourth among the 102 players who have taken over 150 three-pointers. And of the 57 players averaging more than six three-point attempts per game, he is the only one shooting over 45% from deep, while also being the only qualified player in the league shooting above 55% on above-the-break three-point attempts.

There are 57 players averaging more than 6 three-point attempts per game this season.

Miles McBride is the only one of those 57 players shooting above 45% from downtown.

Deuce is also the only qualified player in the NBA shooting above 55% on above-the-break 3PT attempts.

— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) January 8, 2026

A lot of it is obviously work ethic and countless hours. But we’ve also recently heard about two specific people who have helped him refine his jump shot. On New Year’s Eve, Stefan Bondy of the New York Post wrote about how McBride went to Ray Allen, universally acknowledged as one of the top three or five shooters to ever step foot on a court, for some pointers back in 2021. Allen, who, unlike Steph Curry or Damian Lillard, two of this generation’s best shooters, had a higher release point. And as you can see below, McBride has really honed in on Allen’s advice to get more elevation.

Here is a side-by-side comparison of Deuce McBride’s jumpshot from his rookie season in 2021 to now.

Notice the higher release point, the taller jump, and more arc on the shot. These changes are what has made him the shooter he is now. pic.twitter.com/QvSXW8YEej

— Dylan Backer (@DylanBackerESM) December 29, 2025

McBride also recently credited shooting specialist Peter Patton, who was brought in last year, for his recent hot streak.

“Honestly, trusting in God… keep my faith, keep working,” McBride said. “Medical staff is doing great. Working with Coach Pete, Coach Jordan, and staying on top of my game.”

"Honestly trusting in God…Keep my faith, keep working. Medical staff great. Working with Coach Pete, Coach Jordan, and staying on top of my game"

–– Deuce McBride to @BillPidto on shooting 48% from three since returning from a 3-week ankle injury pic.twitter.com/vUfAdVyYo6

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 8, 2026

With McBride healthy, in rhythm, confident, and getting the playing time he deserves, we’re seeing the best version of a home-grown player who is rewarding the franchise and fanbase’s patience with some incredible play on both sides of the ball.

"If I went 0-for-4, I would've kept shooting it with confidence. That's the game. You're not gonna make every shot, but gotta keep shooting with confidence and can't pass up opportunities"

Deuce McBride discusses what his hot streak from deep meant tonight pic.twitter.com/eNif6AxaQe

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 6, 2024

It’s still unclear what McBride’s future with New York is, but if the Knicks are to make any real noise this year, it is a given by now that McBride must play a big role. His point-of-attack defense, shooting, and ability to space the floor for Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns have become even more of an indispensable attribute–something we weren’t always sure we’d be able to say.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/knicks-analysis/77637/the-evolution-of-deuce-mcbride

 

[New York Knicks]

What the Trae Young trade means for the Knicks and the Eastern Conference

There was an end of an era (error?) in Atlanta on Wednesday, as the Hawks pulled the trigger on a long-rumored trade, ending the Trae Young era by sending him to…

[checks notes]

…the Washington Wizards in exchange for Corey Kispert and CJ McCollum. No picks going either way. It’s a surreal ending to a tenure that has been deeply intertwined with our New York Knicks, but one that felt like it was coming since the season began in October. The Hawks have played better without him and seem to have moved on to building around Jalen Johnson. When you add on his contract situation, this was inevitable.

Trae’s career will forever be connected to the Knicks, as when he retires, his career highlights will likely be plastered with highlights that have orange and blue on the other side. The 2021 First Round and all the moments attached with that, the “dice roll”, etc. His final game as a Hawk? A brutal defeat against the Knicks, where he went 2-for-9, 0-for-4 from three, and committed six turnovers, while being a minus-13 in a three-point defeat.

Trae Young’s final game with the Atlanta Hawks was him choking against the Knicks.

You can’t make it up. pic.twitter.com/A1rzRgzepw

— Dylan Backer (@DylanBackerESM) January 8, 2026

He’s been a classic New York villain for the past several years. NBA fans and the media will never let us live it down (even if he was stunting on Reggie Bullock and Taj Gibson). But what if I told you that Trae has a chance to redeem himself to the city that still loves to chant profanities at him?

Most Knicks fans remember that the Knicks hold the Wizards’ conditional 2026 first-round pick, one of three draft picks the team acquired on draft night in 2022 when they traded the No. 11 pick to the OKC Thunder. While the other two picks are long gone (including a Pistons pick that did eventually convey after it was sent to Minnesota), this is the final year of the conditional pick for the Wizards.

The prolonged rebuild by Washington has allowed them to avoid giving up their pick to the Knicks, even as the protections get smaller and smaller. The 2026 pick in top-eight protected, and if it doesn’t convey, it’ll turn into two second-round picks. That way, if the Wizards finish with a miserable record again, the Knicks would at least get a pick in the low 30s in the same draft, as well as a 2027 2nd, for their troubles.

As of Thursday morning, the Wizards have the fourth-worst record in the NBA at 10-26. As it stands, it will not convey. But with a motivated Trae Young now looking to prove himself worthy of a rich contract extension by his new team, could he get a few extra wins out of the lowly Wizards? Could he form a pick-and-roll tandem with former No. 2 pick Alex Sarr that allows Washington’s offense to outplay their horrific defense?

They’re 3.5 games back of the Mavericks in the standings, who currently sit at No. 9. They don’t necessarily have to get down there to convey the pick, as they’d have a 39% chance to drop to ninth if they sat at No. 8 and a 14.2% chance to drop if they sat in the 7th spot.

Unfortunately, the Wizards will likely do whatever they can to maximize their odds of keeping the pick, even if Young’s arrival leads to more wins. Expect “load management” shenanigans in April. But in the off chance the Knicks can get the pick, it’d be a life raft to Leon Rose and company to get a cheap lottery talent on a rookie deal (or a trade asset for a certain Greek Freak…).

There are other implications to the trade outside of the Knicks’ draft picks, of course.

The Hawks are going to lean into being menaces defensively, which they’ve been when Young is in street clothes. They don’t have any defensive warts on their roster anymore and seem to have enough offense to compete for a top-six seed, especially with Johnson’s playmaking leap and McCollum’s scoring punch. They even acquired a certified Knicks killer to replace Trae! The question is, what’s their plan to take the next step?

Is it Anthony Davis? The Hawks have some movable contracts (namely, Kristaps Porzingis) and have been interested suitors for the 32-year-old veteran for a while. With Young out of the picture, they could pivot to Davis and Johnson as their star tandem. There are risks to that, of course, with Davis’ age and growing injury concerns, but that would immediately make them an extremely tough team to beat in the playoffs.

The Wizards also have an intriguing outlook going forward. If they manage to get a top pick and can add a player like AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, or Darryn Peterson to a core that’s quickly filling with solid players, they could emerge as play-in contenders by next season.

Young’s long-term outlook will be one to watch. He has a $49 million player option for next season, and he’d be a fool to decline it with NBA free agency quickly falling out of style. Will he show the Wizards enough to formally solidify himself as the face of that franchise? Many questions.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...ern-conference-kispert-mccollum-anthony-davis

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks Bulletin: ‘I know I can be one of the best point-of-attack defenders’

The Knicks are back.

Josh Hart is not.

Here are some words.

Josh "I'll be back at some pointpretty good little sprain…If this was my left ankle I'm back by now bc I’ve had some good sprains on left but not many on right. This was good one; after this don't have many ligaments to sprainso I'll be solid. We'll see. Hopefully back soon” pic.twitter.com/6WdQ9YV2bI

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 9, 2026

Mike Brown​

On embracing the recent losing streak:

“I hope no one takes this the wrong way, but I embrace it. When you go through what we’ve gone through, nobody wants to lose, but it helps us be better. It helps me be better.”

On accountability and leadership during adversity:

“I know our guys care. I know they want to win, and it’s my time to keep it real with them, tell the truth. But also coach them and show them confidence and strength during this time. And that’s while trying to help them, so that’s all I’m trying to do.”

On Miles McBride as a point-of-attack defender:

“Defensively, he’s an extremely good on-ball defender, especially when it comes to the pick-and-roll game. He’s strong, he’s powerful, he’s quick, he’s athletic and he’s a little longer than what you think so when that screen comes, he knows you should one-two into the ball, get that shoulder and hip over that screen at the same time as the ball. This way, your opponent won’t have an advantage in the pick-and-roll game.”

On McBride’s defense on James Harden:

“Obviously, there was a size disadvantage with James, but he did a great job on James. You’re not gonna stop him, you just hope he misses some of those shots, and he did. Deuce tried to get up underneath him.”

On McBride’s shooting gravity as a member of the starting lineup:

“He has to be guarded. You watched during the course of the game, they had Kawhi on him and, you know, who would have thunk if OG and Mikal and some of these other guys are on the floor, Kawhi is matched up with Deuce; it’s because he can shoot.”

On Guerschon Yabusele’s aggressiveness and impact against LA:

“Yabu was huge. The lineups that we faced warranted it. He was great defensively, he was aggressive — I love his aggressiveness. That’s something we’ve talked about a few times — if you’re able to catch the ball and make a quick decision, snap drive it, as quick as you are, as athletic as you are, go to dunk it. Go to dunk it. I don’t care if you miss it, whatever, go to dunk it because you’re more than capable of turning it over on people. We need him to continue being aggressive if he can snap–drive it. Especially at his size, attacking the rim with aggression. And then we need him to rebound, that’s one of the big reasons he’s on the floor. For him to get out and help in that department, that was big.”

did someone order a video of mikal's dunk celebrations but his nosebleed gets progressively more severe?

no? we’ll just leave it here anyways.

vote KNICKS for #NBAAllStar starters ️ https://t.co/Ov3esq1i8z pic.twitter.com/jcdjepngq4

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 8, 2026

Miles McBride​

On his defensive identity:

“I know I can be one of the best point-of-attack defenders in the NBA. I believe in myself, I believe that guarding really gets us going, gets us out in transition, which we did throughout the second half, which was really big for us.”

On defending James Harden:

“He’s crafty, but people don’t know how physical he is. If you don’t use a little bit of physicality back, he has you beat in a lot of aspects, obviously shotmaking. I pride myself on what I do. You’re not gonna be able to take away everything, but make it as hard as you can.”

Clippers got there but this KAT no-look… pic.twitter.com/zem8XBGi2U

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 9, 2026

Karl-Anthony Towns​

On McBride’s two-way impact:

“Not only his shooting that was great — it was fantastic tonight and he’s been great shooting all year shooting the ball — but his defense was great, too. It kept us in the game. His shooting and his defense gave us a chance every possession to guard our lead. Deuce was special tonight.”

New York’s Top Dogs

knicks pick which @WKCDOGS breed describes their teammates ahead of the 150th WKC Dog Show at @TheGarden on Feb 2 & 3 pic.twitter.com/lRLRzRG8YV

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 8, 2026

Jalen Brunson​

On moving forward after the skid:

“We had a losing streak. I think for us, we have to move on from there. We’re going to learn from it. We’re going to learn to get better from it and find ways to win and get better.”

On McBride’s reliability:

“He plays great. Whatever is asked of him, he provides and he produces. That’s just who he is as a player, as a competitor, as a person. Whatever is asked of him, he’s gonna contribute and do the best he can.”

On Guerschon Yabusele staying ready amid a season of struggles:

“He stays ready. I think him playing the way he did, especially in the second half, is fantastic. It’s what we needed.”

Nah Snoop Dogg is on this broadcast WILDING. The way he called this Steve Kerr crash out got me IN TEARS lmaooo

“Steve raining fire on em… Steve banging Inglewood” pic.twitter.com/369QlOVuVJ

— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) January 6, 2026

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...-be-one-of-the-best-point-of-attack-defenders

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks Bulletin: ‘That’s what you got an agent for’

It looks like the Knicks just can’t get things quite right, can they?

Phoenix made New York eat their four L in five attempts, and the folks won’t have it any easier going forward with a few more West Coast games on the horizon.

Here’s a little of what was said on Friday night.

Mike Brown as Knicks lose by 5 in Phoenix: "Our guys fought in 4th…holding them to 18 great…but when you have 18 turnovers for 22 pts compared to their 10 for 11, on the road tough to overcome. We have to do this for 48 & not wait til last quarter to turn it on defensively" pic.twitter.com/fSYMMd1hbG

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 10, 2026

Mike Brown​

On turnovers costing New York and the tiny margin for error on the road:

“When you have 17 turnovers for 22 points off turnovers, compared to their 10 turnovers for 11 points off turnovers, on the road, it’s going to be tough to overcome.”

On the Suns as an opponent:

“They’ve been playing good basketball. They have some veteran guys that have been through the fire, you have a guy in Dillon Brooks who has shown that he can obviously defend and bring an edge to this basketball team and get it done on the offensive end of the floor. Booker is obviously an All-Star player. They get out and run, crash the glass. They do a pretty good job defensively overall, trying to put pressure on you. They’ll pick up full court. They can attack in a lot of different ways.”

On expanding the rotation with Josh Hart out:

“Obviously, we’re trying to give some young guys an opportunity and some guys that aren’t in that situation an opportunity. And they’ve just got to do the best they can.”

On Josh Hart’s injury progress and potential return:

“I don’t know. I know he’s progressing every single day. He’s doing controlled scrimmaging right now. So we’ll see, but he’s definitely getting close.”

On adjusting schemes during practice:

“I’ve got to keep trying to find ways to help them. So on both ends of the floor I’ve got to continue to do that even now. That’s what my job is. We made some changes on both sides of the ball. We’ll see how effective it is and see if it can help us combat that — quote unquote — problems that we may be having technically at times on both sides of the ball.”

On Mikal Bridges’ skill set:

“He was a guy here who shot the ball well, moved well without the basketball, got out in transition. Obviously, defended a lot of times at the point of the opponent’s attack. But he’d really get in the passing lanes, and those are things we definitely rely on him to do for us.”

"Obviously that turnover at the end. Just good defense by Oso. Hands up, not letting me create enough space. Just a careless pass, and that was the game"

–– Jalen Brunson to @LT__Murray on the key play of the loss in Phoenix pic.twitter.com/zZAWOdrgx7

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 10, 2026

Jalen Brunson​

On late-game execution and his final turnover:

“I just feel like I need to execute and be better towards the end of the night. That’s when I’m at my best. That’s what I pride myself on. I just need to be better down the stretch and be more sound and be more fundamental.”

On his final turnover costing the Knicks:

“That turnover at the end… that’s just good defense by Oso. Hands up, not letting me create enough space. Just a careless pass, and that was the game.”

Mitchell Robinson just passed Carmelo Anthony (2,865) to enter Knicks all-time top 20 rebounders pic.twitter.com/Kt6lziyhcG

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 10, 2026

Mitchell Robinson​

On his expiring contract:

“I tell you this every time, brother. I let my agent handle that. That’s what you got an agent for. Let them do your s—.

“Just continue to play hard.”

On conditioning work doing him good:

“Yeah, we do a lot. Too damn much.”

On progress with his conditioning:

“Yeah, for sure. You didn’t see that last game when I was sprinting down the court? I got tired, obviously. But I ran down like seven times, then rolled, came back, set a screen. I did alright. So it’s getting better.”

Book Mikal pic.twitter.com/1FnPaQOe1q

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) January 10, 2026

Mikal Bridges​

On returning to Phoenix to face the Suns:

“Yeah, man, being drafted here and being here for so long, being embraced by the culture here and the fans and everybody, yeah, it’s always amazing coming back here. It always feels like home. No matter how many times I come out here or when I come out here.”

On adjusting to Mike Brown’s system in New York:

“I think it’s a little mixed. I think offensively when I was in Phoenix, it was kind of a no-brainer, the movement. I think we’re still figuring out what we’re doing here offensively because it’s still a new system. But yeah, you could say that.”

"IDK. I know he's progressing every single day. He's doing controlled scrimmaging right now. So we'll see. He's definitely getting close"

– Knicks Mike Brown on whether Josh Hart (OUT again in Phoenix tonight, right ankle sprain) will play on this 4-game West trip. Q @SbondyNBA pic.twitter.com/N9bMM7DY2G

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 10, 2026

Josh Hart​

On his ongoing rehab and impending return from injury:

“I’ll be back at some point. We’ll see. Pretty good little sprain. If this is my left ankle, I’m back by now. Because I’ve had some good ankle sprains on my left ankle. But I haven’t had many good ankle sprains on my right. This was a good one. After this, I won’t have any ligaments to sprain. So I’ll be solid.”

“I’m not really thinking about the next game, I’m thinking about cracking open a beer”

Someone get Curt Cignetti a brewpic.twitter.com/8mrFKRc71W

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) January 10, 2026

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/knicks-news/77718/knicks-bulletin-xxxx

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks Week Preview: Jan. 11-17, 2026

The New York Knicks (24*-14 and clinging to third in the Eastern Conference) are in the midst of a challenging West Coast road trip and a bona fide slump. They’ve won just once in their last six games, and four of the last 10. Their defeat of the Clippers at home on Wednesday did little to restore our confidence, and Friday night’s loss in Phoenix further highlighted the team’s problems, namely: another slow start, a vapid physical identity, too many turnovers, disordered defense, offensive confusion, and sub-par performances by their highest-paid players.

The weatherman says the sky ain’t falling, but that cloud looks suspicious. Brunson and KAT seem incompatible, Wingstop has been a doorstop, and the bench are sad clowns mostly. Maybe Josh Hart will return from his eight-game absence and bring back loaves and fishes. Maybe. Until then, we’ll be relieved if the Knicks split this upcoming slate of games.

Sun, Jan 11 @ Portland Trail Blazers – 6:00 PM​

The Knicks head to the Moda Center on Sunday to face a Portland team hovering around .500 and clinging to the edge of the play-in picture. The Trail Blazers are 19–20, ninth in the West, and coming off a 111–105 home win over Houston. They’ve enjoyed a surge of late that has brought renewed confidence to a rebuilding roster. Under interim coach Tiago Splitter, the overperforming Blazers have played fast and loose, scoring a league-average amount of points but giving up a ton as well. That mix has produced close games and a record slightly better than predicted.

Their fulcrum is Deni Avdija, who has emerged as a cornerstone player with a string of high-usage, all-around performances. Avdija has averaged 26.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and seven assists this season. Sure, he might benefit from friendly whistles, but deserves All-Star consideration nonetheless. Shaedon Sharpe and a young supporting cast provide a high-octane scoring punch.

For New York, it’s a winnable game if they can control the pace, protect the ball, and limit transition chances. This one will test their focus, which was poor on Friday in Phoenix.

Wed, Jan 14 @ Sacramento Kings – 10:00 PM​

After two days off (imagine that), the Knicks continue their West Coast swing Wednesday night at Golden 1 Center against a Sacramento team slogging through a difficult season.

The Kings are 8–30, last in the West, and coming off a 137–103 blowout loss to Golden State. Coach Doug Christie is still searching for traction, with his squad struggling on both ends. For the Knicks, this will be the first game of a back-to-back. They’d be wise to come out hot, run up the score, and give the starters an early exit. Given their contrarian nature, we kind of expect the opposite from New York, while someone goofy like Dennis Schröder goes off for thirty.

Thu, Jan 15 @ Golden State Warriors – 10:00 PM (Prime Video)​

The Knicks wrap up their West Coast adventures on Thursday night with a tough test, visiting Golden State at Chase Center on the second night of a back-to-back. The Warriors, 21–18 and eighth in the West, remain dangerous at home behind veteran poise, elite shooting (on occasion), and a top-ten defense. Fatigue looms for New York, and defending Golden State’s motion offense and three-point volume could be a lot for tired legs. To stay competitive, New York will need to dig deep, chase shooters, disrupt the Dubs’ rhythm early, and keep the game out of transition. Just a couple, two, three things. Wouldn’t that cross-country flight feel nicer after a win than a defeat?

Sat, Jan 17 vs Phoenix Suns – 7:30 PM​

The Knicks return to Madison Square Garden on Saturday for a rematch with the Phoenix Suns, who edged them 112–107 to open the West Coast trip. Phoenix comes in feeling extra chesty, sitting seventh in the West, and having outperformed preseason expectations under coach Jordan Ott. A top-ten defense and a balanced offensive attack led by Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks dominated the Knicks for almost 90% of Saturday’s game. Ironically, Phoenix’s clutch execution made the difference in the first meeting, when timely shooting from B&B held off a Knicks rally.

This time, the advantage swings back to New York. After a taxing road stretch, the Knicks get home-court energy and a chance to clean up the mistakes that cost them last time.

This stretch will show us how resilient the Knicks are, or aren’t. If they can steady themselves, clean up the basics, and come out of this run with a split, that counts as progress. Anything more would be a welcome surprise. Anything less . . . well, when does that trade window close?

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

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/knicks-game-previews/77739/knicks-week-preview-jan-11-10-2026