RSS Knicks Team Notes

[New York Knicks]

Knicks Bulletin: ‘If somebody is in foul trouble, hopefully the next guy can step up’

The Knicks played a home game on the road.

Make that make sense, Philadelphians.

Here’s your crew dropping some gems after yesterday’s affair.

"They look at Thibs as the injury. I'm here to say f*ck that…Thibs was the 1st coach who made me feel special…I used to do sh*t in games just to make sure he saw on tape…Thibs, you may have gone to Harvard, you may have done physics––but I showed you physics"

– Derrick Rose pic.twitter.com/pu2lZYscTI

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 25, 2026

Mike Brown​

On parity across the NBA:

“In the NBA anything can happen. It doesn’t surprise me at all because teams are a lot more even in today’s NBA than back in the day. Teams are really good, players have gotten better, coaches have gotten better, so you have to be ready to play every single time you step on the floor.”

On OG Anunoby’s defensive impact on Saturday:

“OG obviously changed the game defensively. His quick decisions with the basketball, it was beautiful to watch. Defensively, guard Paul George, guard their power forward and then guard Joel Embiid. He was phenomenal defensively.”

On Anunoby guarding Embiid late:

“We can’t do anything like that if you don’t have a guy like OG. OG allows us to play the basketball game in a lot of different ways. So, we were able to do it.”

On the Knicks response to Towns’ never-ending foul trouble:

“We gotta just have other guys step up. We can’t control the fouls called, so if somebody is in foul trouble, hopefully the next guy can step up and play the right way to help us get a win.”

On the late-game challenge:

“I didn’t even see the play. I didn’t even hear our challenge guy say yes or no. I just know the whole bench was yelling at me to challenge. So I was ready to MF everybody if we didn’t win it.”

On Ariel Hukporti’s readiness:

“Ariel, he has been back and forth with the G-League team. He has been practicing, playing games, coming here, he kept himself ready. We throw him out there in a crucial time and he was phenomenal for us in those minutes.”

pic.twitter.com/Ap8uu80fmk https://t.co/YpWyJBlkVv

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 25, 2026

Mitchell Robinson​

On the second-half defensive turnaround against the 76ers:

“We locked in defensively. We came back into halftime to see what we were lacking, especially myself. Defensively in the first half, I ain’t do too great. But definitely in the second half came with more energy.”

On battling Joel Embiid:

“Playing against him is always gonna be a little fight. That’s our nature, it is what it is. He’s an All-Star player so you’ve gotta come out there and fight and make some adjustments yourself.”

"We had a slump…it happened…Now we just gotta keep on climbing"

–– Jalen Brunson (31-5-6, 6 threes) on Knicks 2-0 after 2-9 pic.twitter.com/f4r2bIZSYz

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 25, 2026

Jalen Brunson​

On adjusting after Towns fouled out:

“Obviously, we want him in the game, but it’s a next man up mentality. We gotta find a way to go out there and execute our gameplan, play with pace, play good defense, play physical and get back to what we do.”

On the chaotic finish:

“Just pure chaos, but we found a way to win. That’s the best way I can describe it.”

On winning the late-game challenge after replay proved him right:

“Very. It’s very satisfying. If I’m animated like that, I’m pretty sure I’m right.”

Josh Hart: “You guys can write what you want. Three games ago, we were turning into a lottery team, and now yall are like oh, we’re battling up the East.”

— Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed) January 24, 2026

Josh Hart​

On closing out a tough win vs. Philly:

“When you’re a team that’s struggling to put together wins, you got to do the little things. Good attention to detail, good focus, good energy, and get all those 50-50 balls.”

On the Knicks’ late-game execution:

“We played well, but our execution the last couple minutes… I don’t know if we deserved to win the game. I don’t know if they deserved to win either. It was just a toss-up.”

On staying level-headed after back-to-back wins:

“Yeah, it is good, but also it’s January. You can’t get too high or too low. Three games ago we were turning into a lottery team, now people say we’re battling the East. We’re just trying to stay level headed.”

OG Anunoby on Mitchell Robinson catching up to him on this list: "I think he always deserves it every night. Any night he gets it, I love that for him." https://t.co/QRasHAWvxG

— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) January 24, 2026

Landry Shamet​

On the bench production and its variability:

“Some nights that bench scoring is going to have a huge onus on it. Other nights our first five have it going. That’s the beauty of our team. We’ve got to be adaptable and find ways to win.”

Joel Embiid wanted another bailout call after passing to the ref pic.twitter.com/6bg5upLm72

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 25, 2026

Guerschon Yabusele​

On trade uncertainty ahead of the deadline:

“It’s nothing that I can control. Just try to be smart, preparing, as ready as I can. I’ve never gotten traded before or been in a situation like this. I just work hard and try to stay prepared.”

On unmet expectations this season:

“It’s definitely not what I was expecting coming into the season. I thought it would be a little more different. Obviously, my role is different from last year or from the Olympics.”

Derrick Rose's full jersey retirement speech pic.twitter.com/PBoaqEGaVj

— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod (@big_business_) January 25, 2026

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...ul-trouble-hopefully-the-next-guy-can-step-up

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks 112, 76ers 109: “Fugly win”

The New York Knicks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 112-109 yesterday, a win familiar for anyone who has ever sat on the edge of their bed at the end of a long day of getting a small child through shopping and vaccinations and missed naps and vegetables and vomiting and felt that peculiar buzz that’s a mix of adrenaline and apathy. The Sixers are the closest thing the Knicks have to a heated rivalry, especially when the teams play at Madison Square Garden West, especially especially when Joel Embiid is healthy and Embidding. At least he was half of the time — the very definition of Embiiding.

Believe it or not, we’re now nearing a decade of Embiid vs. Mitchell Robinson, who still gets as juiced for this matchup as he did his rookie year. Good thing he does, and that he played as well as he did, because the Knicks needed it with Karl-Anthony Towns still rabbit-holing down his one-man magical mystery tour. After five fouls each in four of the last five games, KAT went all “Have thy will, I am the love that dare not speak its name” with foul number six and finally gave in to temptation, fouling out after 16 minutes of play so bizarre they’d leave Kafka pissing his pants. Once Robinson checked in, the Knicks went on a 12-0 run.

“From a certain point onward,” Kafka wrote, “there is no longer any turning back. That is the point that must be reached.” Mitch was that point.

As Ryan Ruocco reminded the viewers every three minutes, when Embiid is at the top of his game the 76ers are a team every team must fear. Outside of San Antonio, how many teams have a truly unguardable two-way big man? If Embiid is still playing in June, he’s one of maybe four people alive the Thunder don’t have an answer for, along with Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jokić and Kevin Durant, mysteries for whom neither God nor math offer answers. Peak Embiid is 28 points in 17 first-half minutes without breaking stride, like the Knicks endured Saturday.

As I repeated to Ruocco every three minutes via my TV screen — loudly and profanely late in the first half, when I was hungry and the Sixers took the lead; softer and smarmy most of the second, after mac and cheese and the Knicks resuming control — “‘Embiid’s good!’ isn’t news.” Despite his history with the Knicks, he’s easily one of my favorite players to watch play against them — a real marvel. The playoffs are way better when he’s a meaningful part of them. And yet to ignore the other shoe, the one everyone’s waiting for to drop, is to be a fool. And now is no time for fools. Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

After playing only six of Philadelphia’s first 18 games, never more than 26 minutes, yesterday was the 16th time in his last 19 games Embiid’s played 30+. In just over three weeks, he’s played 36+ five times. Last time he played that many in that short a span? Twenty-one months ago. Remember?

In the first half Embiid was the good boyfriend, stroking your hair, using the soft voice he did when you first met, when he first swept you off your feet. He finally met with your uncle for that job interview; it went really well. Why’s he so sweaty? He’s working out again. He’s even seeing a therapist. Things are gonna be different. Then one day he isn’t answering your texts, not since the night before, after he came home sweaty, long past when the gym closed. You’re missing some cash.

Ariel Hukporti fell on his knee. It could have been any number of things, could have happened to anybody. That’s what makes it human. But it’s always something, always happening to the same person. That’s what makes it Embiid.

Embiid played a part in Philly’s last stand, but looked to be laboring through it. For much of the endgame the Knicks played without a center and looked none the worse for it, though Embiid’s partial brilliance might have been enough to knock the Knicks off on a night Towns, Mikal Bridges and Miles McBride went 8-of-31. But there’s one advantage the Knicks enjoy over their fellow Boston-hating East Coast metropolis: OG Anunoby. Whether his flurry of first-half dunks or late game heroics on both ends, Anunoby, if not/alongside Mitch, was the player of the game. His fake swing pass as V.J. Edgecombe came flying at him led to a bounce pass to Landry Shamet in the corner showed the sublime ease of a perfect panenka.

OG Anunoby with a big clutch corner 3, and then the assist for the corner 3 by Landry Shamet (with a replay)

— MrBuckBuck (@mrbuckbucknba.bsky.social) 2026-01-24T22:36:30.660Z

When you sit at the high-rollers table, where the Knicks now do, how you win means less than how much. 85% of New York’s victories this season have been by 5+ points, including six by 20+. Detroit? 75% and five. Who cares? The Pistons have won 32 games, period, while the Knicks have 26. That’s the only number that matters, at least until they all re-set in April.

41 wins matters when you’re up and coming. 50 matters when some dreams have come true and others remain. When you’re the Knicks in January 2026, it’s all about winding your way through 82 games, then winning 16 more. Nobody cares how, or by how much.

Quoth iwamofo: “Fugly win.” It was. This one was never in jeopardy and never in the bag, for either team. When it ended I felt empty, tired, and joyless — but not hopeless. Every day like that is a win. Like the Knicks, all I can do today is win the games I’m in, then do it again tomorrow, every day, long as I can, long as it takes. You too, loves.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/knicks-features-profiles/78386/knicks-112-76ers-109-fugly-win

 

[New York Knicks]

Postgame: Scenes from NY gutting it out in Philly

In today’s matinee, the Knicks (27*-18) absorbed a Joel Embiid onslaught, survived cold shooting from the wings, and steadied themselves just enough in the final seconds to leave Philadelphia with a 112–109 win, holding off the 76ers (24-20) after nearly squandering a 17-point fourth-quarter lead.

Through the first quarter, New York mostly controlled the flow but never created separation. They relied on Brunson, Towns, and McBride to build modest leads, but never more than six points. Before the game, Towns was questionable to play due to back spasms. Numerous times this afternoon, he seemed to aggravate the problem. Off the bench, Mitchell Robinson’s rim protection and physicality made him the only effective deterrent to Embiid.

In a tightly contested frame, Maxey and Embiid consistently erased any ground the visitors gained. When McBride drilled a late three, Maxey answered with some freebies, and the quarter ended with a 34-34 deadlock.

JOEL HANS EMBIID.

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixersnba.bsky.social) 2026-01-24T20:36:51.915Z

The home team seized control in the second quarter. Maxey bent the defense at the point of attack. Embiid gradually thundered into the lane, benefiting from his strength, footwork, and friendly whistles. For our heroes, Anunoby emerged as an offensive presence, cutting and finishing with concentrated energy, but Towns was unable to slow Embiid. By the break, the Knicks were on the wrong side of 64-60.

a lil spin n slam action from OG pic.twitter.com/gu4f8V75jB

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 24, 2026

Through the half, New York dominated the glass (25–14) and crushed the offensive boards (10–1). The Sixers, meanwhile, were ruthless when they got looks, shooting 65% overall, won the paint 30-22, and moved the ball well enough to offset the rebounding deficit. Embiid’s highest scoring first-half of the season ended with a game-high 28 points. For the Knicks, Brunson posted 19.

In the third quarter, the Knicks showed us what they can do when focused on both ends. Behind efficient scoring and furious defense, they opened the second half with a 14-4 run. Philly’s Embiid looked bedraggled after his extraordinary first half, so perhaps the coronation by the ABC halftime panel was a tad premature.

When Shamet slipped through for a backdoor layup, the Knicks had outscored Philly 21-7 and taken a 10-point lead, their largest yet. A little later, Deuce hit a jumper to make the score 88-74. With steals, blocks, rebounds, and forced turnovers—and Karl-Anthony Towns benched for most of the quarter due to foul trouble—the Knicks held the home team to just 13 points in the frame. (Yep, 13.) With the wind in their sails, New York gleefully embarked into the fourth with a 90-77 advantage.

Even acknowledging that the Knicks just won a game by 54, the third quarter against the Sixers is the best period they've played in weeks. Pick any area of the game — they dominated it.

— Fred Katz (@fredkatz.bsky.social) 2026-01-24T21:59:05.671Z

Early in the fourth, Embiid went down, grabbing his leg, but remained in the game. His gait was gimpy, Joel had scored zilch in Q3, and missed two free throws before gingerly hitting a triple around the eight-minute mark of Q4. The big fella spurred an eight-point run to cut into New York’s 17-point lead, but you could just tell he was already fantasizing about that postgame ice bath. By game’s end, he’d have 38 points, 11 boards, and five assists.

Good luck keeping a lead in today’s NBA when two of your players (Bridges, McBride) each shoot 1-of-8 from downtown. Bridges was terrible, hurting his team by missing dead-on bunnies and, at one point, shooting 3-of-16 from the floor. Captain Clutch sizzled from deep (6-of-12) but was the only Knick with more than one made three-pointer. Nonetheless, they looked like the better team. Worried about the playoffs? Not us, not yet. (Brunson would finish with 31 points on 11-of-24 FG.)

At the midway point, Towns fouled out. Blame the bad back, but that’s six fouls in 16 minutes to go with his 10 points and six boards. Lucky for New York, Robinson was playing like a spring chicken, grabbing every possible offensive rebound. Philly had some juice, though, with Kelly “Sideshow Bob” Oubre, Jr. and OAKAAKUYOAK Quentin Grimes pitching in to cut the differential to five with five minutes left.

With two minutes left, Embiid scored to make the score 102-99. Anunoby (the wing who was shooting well) made a tip-in to drive half of the stadium wild. VJ Edgecombe responded with a quick-trigger triple, which set the Philly half of the crowd cheering. OG said Hmph and answered with a triple; then an Embiid miss became a Shamet trey for an eight-point lead with 42 seconds left. The Knicks fans were shaking the building. (Anunoby tallied 23 points on 10-of-15 FG.)

OG Anunoby loves throwing down a monster dunk in Philadelphia pic.twitter.com/sagsghgUza

— Knicks Memes (@KnicksMemes) January 24, 2026

A Maxey triple and two Edgecombe free throws made it a three-point game. In a wild final 30 seconds, Brunson was tagged for an offensive foul, trying to break away from Edgecombe on an inbound. A coach’s challenge overturned the call, giving New York a free throw and possession. Anunoby was fouled and made one of two free throws. Maxey raced down the floor for a layup, cutting the difference to five points with 18 seconds left. Brunson missed two free throws, but Maxey missed on a three-pointer, Shamet wasn’t whistled while trying to commit an intentional foul, and New York escaped with a 112-109 win.

Up Next​

My sheet says Matthew Miranda is coming in hot with a recap. As for New York, they will host the Kings of Sacramento on Tuesday. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.

Box Score

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

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...tgame-scenes-from-ny-gutting-it-out-in-philly

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks Bulletin: ‘Hmmm… What’s this about big dawg?’

The Knicks rested yesterday and will probably make us suffer today.

New York visits Philly for a heated matchup with an early tip-off. What can go wrong?

Here’s a bunch of quotes!

Kristian Winfield: "So how far down the road do you look on the schedule?"

Mike Brown: "Just the next game. Like I don't even know who we play after Philly. I know we have Sunday off but I don't know we play, I don't know who we play Monday. (Looks off camera) Tuesday? OK" pic.twitter.com/EbnjbU7GuZ

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 24, 2026

Mike Brown​

On adjusting his offense for Towns:

“He’s getting more comfortable. But also, too, I’ve had to make some adjustments to help him out, make it a little easier for him, which I’ve done.”

On specific offensive adjustments:

“It’s in the different play calls and actions that we do. We’ve made the adjustments to try and make it a little easier for him and to try and put him in positions that will help him get into stuff quicker.”

On defending Joel Embiid on Saturday:

“Embiid’s a Hall of Famer. He’s an All-Star, and he knows all the tricks of the trade. He can beat you shooting the three, he can beat you from the free throw line, and he can beat you in the post. So we have to be on point and try not to give him anything easy, especially sending him to the free throw line.”

On team defense against Philadelphia:

“It’s gonna take a team effort. It can’t just be one guy stopping them. I don’t care how good you are as an individual defender. Our team defense has to be on point throughout the course of the game.”

"The 62…was Muhammad Ali:

'Imma show you how great I am'

I was watching that sh*t all day

I said ‘Yo follow my lead,

It’s on'"

– Carmelo Anthony on scoring 62 in the Garden

On this day 12 years ago pic.twitter.com/pRte9ByrRB

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 24, 2026

Mikal Bridges​

On Towns learning the system:

“Definitely different and tough and him learning two positions. I think he’s been better and he’s continuing to get better. We’re still getting better in our whole offense, but I’ve seen improvements from him for sure.”

On exploiting mismatches for Towns:

“Making sure everybody’s on page with what we’re doing offensively. For him, having a small on him and taking advantage of that. Giving him opportunities. Everybody playing off each other, being unselfish and looking for the next guy.”

On team defense principles:

“The thing is focus on ourselves and know to help each other on the defensive end. It’s never one v. one. It should be one v. five. Whatever guy’s got the ball should see the guy on ball and four help defenders.”

On guarding Maxey and Edgecombe:

“You’ve just gotta prepare for what they like to get to and you can’t relax. The moment you relax, they get that first step and it’s gonna be tough. So always being engaged and prepared.”

weekend business trip pic.twitter.com/XerFtUfOHr

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 23, 2026

Josh Hart​

On adapting to a new system:

“It’s a little different, but we’re basketball players and we’ve got to be able to adapt. Coaches have to adapt to their players and we have to adapt to coaches. There’s a good middle ground and we’re still trying to figure that out.”

On the priorities for Towns:

“At the end of the day, he’s a good offensive player and he’s going to figure that out. We’ve got to make sure we focus on defense. I don’t want to hear too much about him shooting. I want to hear about him blocking shots.”

On Towns’ need for balancing offense and foul trouble:

“Just trying to get him in position to be successful. We need him to be aggressive and be smart first and foremost. Put the ball in the basket but also get guys shots.”

On facing the 76ers:

“It’s going to be a challenge, but we need challenges right now. It’s the next step.”

On the Knicks-76ers rivalry narrative:

“I think the NBA wants me to say yeah, but it’s obviously a really good team, a really well-coached team. Whenever you play someone in the playoffs, you always find some type of way to hate them.”

Guerschon Yabusele and Mitchell Robinson on X: pic.twitter.com/5upDYGZ8RB

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 23, 2026

Guerschon Yabusele​

On God and glory:

“Whatever happens tomorrow, I’m extremely blessed to be in the position that I am today. Minor setback for major comeback. Love y’all.”

The kid from Englewood is going into the rafters. pic.twitter.com/5iAPlVlNtt

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 23, 2026

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/knicks-news/78354/knicks-bulletin-hmmm-whats-this-about-big-dawg

 

[New York Knicks]

Game Preview: Knicks vs. Kings, January 27, 2026

The Knicks (27*-18) return to Madison Square Garden tonight as heavy favorites against a lowly Kings (12-35) team that spanked New York just two weeks ago.

When the teams clashed on January 14, coach Mike Brown’s former club won almost wire-to-wire, beating the Knicks 112–101 behind DeMar DeRozan’s 27 points. DeRozan and OAKAAKUYOAK Precious Achiuwa muscled the Kings to a 32–17 first quarter, during which New York lost Jalen Brunson to a right ankle sprain just five minutes in. New York shot atrociously, making 8-of-41 from three. Mikal Bridges led the Knicks with 19 points, followed by OG Anunoby (15) and Karl-Anthony Towns (13).

Sacramento arrives having lost five straight games and nine straight on the road. On Sunday, Detroit blew their minds with a 139-116 loss. The team is a cellar dweller with a –10.19 net rating, ranking 29th offensively (120.6 ORtg) and 28th defensively (130.8 DRtg). The Kings attempt the fewest three-pointers in the league, making 35% of them, but they are a strong midrange team, thanks to DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis, and Zach LaVine. Defensively, they struggle across the board, allowing 49% shooting, 35% from three, and 121.2 points per game.

For the visitors, Zach LaVine is questionable with back soreness, Malik Monk is banged up, and Keegan Murray remains out. For the Knicks: the list is clean!

ESPN.com believes in New York! They favor our gang at 86%. Yowza! Sure, by the numbers, the Knicks should clobber these guys, previous game notwithstanding. What could go wrong? Hubris. In their last two games, New York pulverized Brooklyn by 50-some points and then withstood Philly’s best punches to escape PA and a winter storm with a reassuring win. ‘Twas reassuring because they’d been reeling for a few weeks prior to that. The past two games showed what rockers the ‘Bockers can be when they go full-tilt boogie.

There might be a temptation to coast tonight, and that could bite our heroes. Worse, some players might lope along at half-steam because their names have circulated in trade rumors. Hence, if the Knicks aren’t careful . . . oh, come on. The loss in Sacramento was a weird fluke. Tonight, Jalen Brunson and the boys will stomp on the gas pedal from the jump and press it to the metal all game, trying to see if they can actually beat a team by 60 points. In the end, the reserves will lose some ground in the final quarter, but the home team wins handily nonetheless. Knicks by 18.

Game Details​

Date: Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Place: Madison Square Garden, NYC
TV: MSG
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

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

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/.../game-preview-knicks-vs-kings-january-27-2026

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks 103, Kings 87: Cap outduels Deebo for New York’s third straight W

Coming into the Pride Night game at Madison Square Garden, the Sacramento Kings (12-36) had lost five straight and nine consecutive road games. They lost by 23 in Detroit on Sunday. One of the highlights of their season was the January 14 win over the Knicks (28*-18), which surely must have been a fluke.

Not so fast, sassafras. After plodding through the opening minutes, New York managed to finish the first quarter with a 10-point lead, primarily due to Mitchell Robinson being a wrecking ball off the bench. After scoring 36 in the first frame, though, New York managed just 16 in the second, could not figure out how to guard DeMar DeRozan, and held a scant 52-51 lead at halftime. In the third, DeRozan kept cooking, Anunoby turned it over five times, and despite Sacramento shooting blanks from three, the game was tied at 72 going into the fourth, when Captain Clutch donned his cape and dropped 11 points to blow the lid off the game. Final score, 103-87.

This game had a season high and a season low. Their 21 turnovers were the most given away by the Knicks this season, and Sacramento’s 32 three-point attempts were the fewest taken against New York so far. Brunson carried the offense with 28 points on 9-of-17 shooting, hit four threes, and posted a +17 plus-minus.

The league’s leading rebounder, Karl-Anthony Towns, delivered a 17-11 double-double, but was up-and-down tonight. Mikal Bridges was quietly excellent, scoring 18 on 8-of-13, and finishing with a +14. OG Anunoby filled the stat sheet with 15 points, three threes, and two steals, but his seven turnovers were rough on the eyes. Josh Hart did Josh Hart things (nine boards, four dimes, three steals), but seven points on just six shot attempts plus four turnovers made it a mixed bag.

Tonight’s lion was Robinson. He changed the game off the bench with 13 rebounds (six offensive), two steals, and a massive +25. Played 27 minutes, too. Give the man his hard hat and boots, coach.

For Sac Town, DeRozan did everything he could, pouring in 34 points on 13-of-26 shooting with seven free throws, but finished -17. Domantas Sabonis posted a low-calorie near triple-double with 11 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists. And Russell Westbrook tallied 14 points on 6-of-19, 2-of-9 from three, and six turnovers.

First Half​

Load management dictates that Mitchell Robinson plays one game of back-to-backs. Why would the Knicks employ him against the Kings rather than reserve him for tomorrow’s tilt with the third-place Raptors? These are the mysteries of the universe. Regardless, Mitch came off the bench and owned the quarter, playing half the period and grabbing almost a rebound per minute. Fittingly, his tip-in dunk closed the period.

Friends and neighbors, this is actual speed.

The Kings’ offense was a mess. They shot 40% from the floor and 3-of-9 from deep. DeRozan ate his usual diet of midrangers, but Westbrook and Schröder were bricking, and Sabonis had trouble holding onto the rock. Sacramento held a small lead until the midway point, when Brunson and Bridges hit the gas. Playing all 12 minutes, Jalen drilled two threes and attacked the lane aggressively (the ankle looks good!), scoring 10. Bridges followed with a nifty 4-of-6 for nine.

As the offense improved, so did the defense. With timely steals from Anunoby, Shamet, and KAT, the Knicks stretched their lead to ten. By the buzzer, they were ahead 36-26.

For one stretch this season, Tyler Kolek would start the second quarter at the point to give Brunson a break. With Shamet back in the fold, that trend has come to an end. He’s had two DNPs over the last seven games, logged 2:41 against the Mavs, and, when he last saw action, played less than 10 minutes against Brooklyn. Tonight, he didn’t take the floor in the first half, and we’re reminded that a lot can happen before the February 5 trade deadline.

In Q2, that fine first-half shooting fell apart for New York. The offense stalled with Brunson on the bench, and didn’t necessarily improve when he returned. Turnovers were the biggest bugaboo. New York’s 11 giveaways were the most they’d coughed up in a first half this season. How bad did it get? In the second period, New York squeaked out just 16 points.

DeRozan led the rally, scoring at will inside the arc and from the free-throw line. As the only King in double-digit points, he kept the game competitive by himself. Deebo’s just giving potential trade destinations some fresh tape! With DeMar aflame and the Knicks crashing the plane, the Kings came back to overtake the Knicks just before the buzzer, but a KAT drive made the intermission score 52-51. (Can you imagine, some fool predicted the home team to win by 60?)

DeRozan’s only triple in the half:

Other than the three-point shooting, which New York won 38%-27%, the halftime statistics were essentially identical on both sides of the column. The Kings had a few more rebounds, the Knicks had a few more assists. Brunson was the only Knick in double-digits, with 13 points.

Second Half​

Hey, refs! Jalen Brunson got hammered in the third quarter, and not in a Jose Cuervo kinda way. On the broadcast, Clyde said something about him flopping a lot as a reason for the umps swallowing their whistles while Jalen ate the court. Frazier also bemoaned the fact that once again, the Knicks were letting one guy beat them while DeRozan bucketed and bucketed . . . and bucketed. . . . Who can argue the logic of an elder twice enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

Knicks vs. Kings – 1/27/26 – Grade: A pic.twitter.com/ccyFXi5qih

— Clyde So Fly (@ClydeSoFly10) January 28, 2026

Swear my grandmother had that couch.

Through the third, New York coughed up the ball five more times. The weird thing is that all five were committed by Anunoby. Note, the Kings were shooting 18% from deep (4-of-21), but the Knicks still couldn’t get any breathing room. Playing disorganized defense—and offense for that matter—they let the Kings regain the lead by the middle of the quarter and tie the game at 72 by the end. After scoring 36 points in the first frame, New York managed just 36 points in the second and third frames combined. And the Kings’ defense is ranked 27th in the league.

Every time we start to think the Knicks are back on track, they don’t take care of business against the dregs of the league. Anunoby doesn’t deserve all the blame. Brunson and Towns were uneven in the quarter, too. If not for Mitchell Robinson, they’d be trailing from a distance. The big fella posted four points, grabbed six rebounds (three offensive), and added a steal.

Behold this gorgeous giraffe.

Towns drilled two early treys to start the fourth quarter and passionately exhorted the crowd to its feet. For the moment, he seemed engaged and excited. Brunson woke up, too, and scored in the face of Precious Achiuwa (who worked all the revenge juice out of his system in their last matchup, evidently), and gradually the Knicks’ lead grew to 12. Brunson tallied 11 fourth-quarter points and hit three threes to finally put some daylight on the scoreboard. Meanwhile, Westbrick shot 1-0f-6 from deep to deep-six any hopes of a rally.

Wins feel great. We just hope that the extra effort exerted by the starters tonight doesn’t bite them tomorrow when . . . .

Up Next​

It’s a quick jaunt across the border for a tussle with the Toronto Raptors tomorrow eve! Safe travels, Knickerbockers.

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

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/knicks-scores-results/78469/knicks-103-kings-87

 

[New York Knicks]

Game Thread: Knicks vs. Kings, January 27, 2026

The Knicks (27*-18) are back in NYC tonight as heavy favorites against the Kings (12-35), who surprised New York just two weeks ago. Sacramento arrives in even worse shape now, having dropped five straight and nine in a row on the road.

Tip-off is 7:30 pm EST on MSG. This is your game thread. This is Kings Herald. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Watch your manners. And go Knicks!

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

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...1/game-thread-knicks-vs-kings-january-27-2026

 

[New York Knicks]

Game Thread: Knicks at Raptors, January 28, 2026

The Knicks (28*-18) sweep into the frigid northlands to face off with the Toronto Raptors (29-19) tonight. It’s a battle for third place in the east, and while the oddsmakers favor New York, you’d be justified to have concerns. It’s the second night of a back-to-back for the ‘Bockers, who had trouble knocking off the Kings last night. Now, facing a surging Immanuel (still love him) Quickley, our fatigued heroes will be shorthanded, to boot. Mitchell Robinson was key to their victory yesterday, but he and Miles McBride will sit out this one. Possibly Jalen Brunson (Questionable, illness) and Josh Hart (GTD, ankle), too. Will the remaining Knicks show up and deliver when it counts, securing third place and a 3-0 lead in the season series?

Tip off is 7:30 p.m. EST on MSG. This is your game thread. This is RaptorsHQ. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Extend kindness to your fellow humans. And go Knicks!

* Should be one more, but the stupid NBA Cup doesn’t count. Grumble grumble.

https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...thread-knicks-vs-raptors-nov-30-2025#comments

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...game-thread-knicks-at-raptors-january-28-2026

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks Bulletin: ‘I’m not worried about what anybody got to say’

The Knicks seemingly cannot lose a game these days.

Remember when New York was closer to tanking the season than winning the East like, three days ago? Yeah, right.

Here’s a bunch of quotes as we approach the trade deadline coming off another dub on Wednesday.

Mike Brown: "OG was our Defensive Player Of The Game. 6 steals 7 deflections––those numbers are unheard of…He attacked the rim like a grown man" pic.twitter.com/nFWY3JiQ98

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 29, 2026

Mike Brown​

On adjusting offensively on Wednesday:

“We had to throw out everything we had to do offensively in terms of sets and early offense and say, ‘Hey, if they’re up in you, go by them.’”

On OG Anunoby’s defensive impact vs. Toronto:

“[Anunoby] had six steals, seven deflections. Those numbers are unheard of defensively. The thing I loved about OG was his ability to attack the rim. He attacked the rim like a grown man. His finishes were unbelievable.”

On not caring about the standings in January:

“I haven’t looked at it recently, but I know we’re right there. There’s still a lot of basketball left. Every game is important. Try to go get it. But it’s not the end of the world because there’s a long season left. If we win, it doesn’t necessarily mean we’re going to finish ahead of them. If they win, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re going to finish ahead of us.”

On ignoring trade noise:

“I’ve got no control over it. You know how rumors fly left and right every day. Now what I do generally talk about is ignoring the noise. Not just during, quote-unquote, this trade time, but throughout the course of the year you’ve got to have a bunker mentality. There’s a lot of noise out there, whether you’re in New York, there was noise in Sacramento, there was noise in Golden State. There’s noise all over where we’ve been.”

On the Knicks’ players dealing with rumors:

“Our guys have been around the league a long time. And they know there’s a lot of noise around this time. They just got to deal with it.”

Which Raptor threw a towel at Josh after he shot em up? pic.twitter.com/GL7vPM4PV8

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 29, 2026

Karl-Anthony Towns​

On the trade rumors around him:

“I feel like I’ve been in trade rumors a lot for a lot of times, for a year damn near. That don’t matter to me. I don’t look at social media or none of that stuff. I focus on the job on hand which is trying to get wins every single night. As long as I do that, I do my job, I go home happy and I feel accomplished. I’m not worried about what anybody got to say or people write or anything like that.”

On the Knicks’ priorities amid trade whispers:

“We only worry about one thing. That’s winning. So I got no reason to go into depth on anything else. It’s just at the end of the day the conversations revolve around one thing and one thing only every single day, 24 hours a day, is winning. How can we win? How can I help this team win? The sacrifices I’ve got to continue to make every single night for us to be the best version of ourselves. I’ve been willing to do that every single night, regardless of what anyone talks about.”

On his delightful pass to Mikal:

“I took a good guess that [Bridges] would be in that area, trusted him. Trust was rewarded, he was exactly where I thought he was and we were able to get two points and keep the momentum going.”

"1st quarter was tough felt like we were in mud, body wasn't working. 2nd quarter…get our bodies going, get warm, kinda play our brand of basketball"

–– Josh Hart to @LT__Murray on Knicks averaging 34 points a quarter after 18-point 1st quarter. Knicks beat Raptors 119-92 pic.twitter.com/MGo2Qsmt2J

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 29, 2026

Josh Hart​

On trade deadline chatter:

“I don’t really care honestly until something happens. This is good content for people to get through until the trade deadline. Can’t really let that stuff affect you or get to you. Ninety percent of that stuff doesn’t actually materialize. You just kind of go with it.”

Mikal Bridges on learning how to become more "coachable", showing up for his teammates, and finding energy to take over the game after the Knicks defeat the Raptors in Toronto.@LT__Murray | @NYKnicks | #NewYorkForever pic.twitter.com/hFStgLwTtf

— KNICKS ON MSG (@KnicksMSGN) January 29, 2026

Mikal Bridges​

On self-reflection and accountability:

“In the past weeks, I was just feeling like I wasn’t being coachable to my standard. I don’t know what it was, maybe I was feeling too entitled. But it was something where I had to sit down and talk to myself a little bit, and just look at yourself in the mirror and what type of player I want to be. It was affecting me personally on both sides of the ball.”

On staying composed during Toronto’s first-half run:

“Just staying with it man, they came out going fast and pressuring us and we didn’t let that bother us. We stuck with it.”

On responding physically and emotionally on Wednesday:

“Once you get them legs going, and that competitive spirit comes out, we felt like they tried to punk us a little bit. And it kinda pissed us off. And we went from there.”

On his offensive turnaround:

“A lot. I think a lot of it comes from not just shooting the ball, but I wasn’t playing how I wasn’t supposed to be playing. I wasn’t coachable enough. I don’t know what it was. Maybe I felt too much entitlement but I had to just talk to myself about it and be coachable, be the best teammate I can be and let the basketball speak for itself.”

Alexander Volkanovski’s home crowd was wilding at the UFC 325 press conference pic.twitter.com/GHUbqLyhRx

— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) January 29, 2026

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...-im-not-worried-about-what-anybody-got-to-say

 

[New York Knicks]

What is the best Knicks’ starting lineup?

LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 16: Josh Hart #3, Jalen Brunson #11, OG Anunoby #8 and Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks look on during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during the NBA Emirates Cup Final on December 16, 2025 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

When Tom Thibodeau was relieved of his duties after the Knicks’ unceremonious exit at the hands of the Indiana Pacers in May, there were a few prevailing grievances that led to the coach’s downfall.

One of them was a stubbornness to lineup construction. Thibodeau’s defense always required a rim protector, preventing him from ever considering a small-ball lineup despite the options presented. He played a tight rotation and stuck with his chosen starting lineup through thick and thin, only experimenting due to injuries or desperation.

The lineup of Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns started out looking like one of the best starting five’s in the NBA, but heavily regressed after New Year’s for a myriad of reasons. The defense was sub-standard with two flat-out bad defenders and the five-out spacing that the team envisioned fell apart with Hart’s shooting struggles.

The differences in net rating were drastic.

Pre-New Year: +6.6 (561 min)
Post-New Year: -1.4 (156 min)
Postseason: -6.2 (335 min)

Having bad lineups happens, but when they’re played to this extent? It’s alarming. It took until Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final for a change to be finally made. The Knicks used a grand total of 13 starting lineups in 100 games.

Enter Mike Brown, who was hired, in part, for more lineup versatility. He opened the season planning to have Mitchell Robinson start over Hart, but the frequent unavailability of the load-managing big man forced some different lineups, which included Ariel Hukporti, Deuce McBride, and Landry Shamet.

Eventually, Hart, who got off to a brutal start to the season, was put back in the starting lineup when OG Anunoby went down with an injury. Instead of reverting to a lineup with Robinson or McBride, however, Hart stayed in the starting lineup for the December 5th bludgeoning of the Jazz when Anunoby returned.

It started out great. The lineup had an exceptional +21.5 net rating in 77 minutes across 10 games through mid-December. It was being used in proper doses and wasn’t being leaned on for nearly 20 minutes a night.

A big reason for the big turnaround was an elite 106.4 defensive rating. Despite two negative defenders on the court, the lineup worked and the offense was supercharged by Hart’s newfound shooting stroke.

And then, suddenly, it fell apart. Since December 20, that lineup has played 106 minutes across nine games and has a putrid -8.4 net rating. All of a sudden, that elite offense had fallen apart and opposing offenses began exploiting the defensive shortcomings of Brunson and Towns.

This, coupled with the team’s overall struggles (which may be in the rearview mirror…), has caused some discussion on whether Mike Brown should embrace a different lineup. After all, he’s already used more starting lineups (16) than Thibs used last year in half the games.

But is it so simple? There are four realistic candidates for a fifth starter around the team’s top four. Assuming no Giannis-level trade occurs before the deadline, the Knicks will have the next 2.5 months to figure out which of the four gels the best between Deuce McBride, Landry Shamet, Josh Hart, and Mitchell Robinson.

The case for Deuce McBride​

The most criminally underpaid player in basketball, Deuce has been a reliable 3-and-D asset for the Knicks since he emerged into the rotation 25 months ago after the team traded away Immanuel Quickley. There have been some inconsistent stretches (and a few injuries), but the 25-year-old has taken another leap in his spot-up shooting and is probably the team’s best point-of-attack defender.

If you want a true five-out lineup, this is the choice. Everyone in this lineup can shoot, even if OG is struggling mightily from above-the-break. It’s a dream for Mike Brown. It also gives you someone to stick on a star guard like Tyrese Maxey or Donovan Mitchell, allowing Bridges to do what he does best off the ball.

What do the numbers say about this lineup? Well, similar to the current starters, it’s gotten significantly worse as the season has progressed:

Pre-December 20: +12.3 net (26 min)
Post-December 20: -7.1 net (66 min)

What’s interesting about these lineups is that Deuce is helping the offense go into hyperspeed. Even since 12/20, when the team has looked much worse on both sides of the ball, this lineup has a blistering 130.5 offensive rating. It’s just the defense that’s the problem because, personally, I don’t think a 137.6 defensive rating is good.

As you’ll see with Shamet, it just seems to be a common trend in Brunson and Towns’ lineups. Whether it’s possible for them to be co-stars is a story for another day. If you want to maximize the offense, it’d be smart to go with a lineup that has a 127 ORtg in 92 minutes.

Deuce McBride 3pt sniper

• 46% from 3 (4th in NBA min 100 attempts)
• 2nd in the NBA in above the break 3P% (min 50 attempts)
• 19th in 3PM per game

The 25 year old is having a career year

pic.twitter.com/2d67SFGiJk

— Teg (@IQfor3) January 7, 2026

The case for Landry Shamet​

It’s going to be sad when the Knicks won’t be able to retain Landry Shamet this offseason. They snagged him late in the offseason the last two years and have gotten quality bench minutes out of the journeyman wing. His spot-up shooting ability has fully returned after concerns it disappeared in Washington, as he’s shoot 41% from downtown in 72 total games as a Knick. Some of this team’s best runs have come with him on the court.

SHAMET doin SHAMET things

he is 6/6 from the 3 point arch pic.twitter.com/31J8dquSXj

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 22, 2026

So why not give him a shot to start? He has started six games this season due to injuries, but hasn’t since he hurt his shoulder in Orlando in November. Since then, he’s had an up-and-down role as a reliable shooter who can hold his own defensively and provides needed hustle.

Wrote this in my story for tomorrow on the Knicks' improved defense, but can't understate how much Shamet's return and Brown's change in rotation has helped with the defense.

Shamet back doing stuff like this has been huge for New York this last week pic.twitter.com/Q85SoQyynI

— James L. Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) January 29, 2026

The problem is that Shamet with the starters is the worst performing of these lineups, at -5.8 on the season in 57 minutes. It’s also not a “whole team struggling” problem, as it was negative when he went down in November.

Shamet’s two most-used lineups aside from the starters have something in common: no Brunson or Towns.

McBride-Clarkson-Shamet-Anunoby-Towns: +30 net (23 min)
Brunson-McBride-Shamet-Anunoby-Robinson: +59.2 net (23 min)

He plays well with McBride and Anunoby, which makes sense, but the other pieces are free-flowing. It doesn’t appear that he’s a good fit for the starters, especially considering he’s kinda like Deuce in his strengths, just slightly worse while being bigger. Still, if Deuce is ever out, it’s worth considering.

The case for Mitchell Robinson​

The lineup that the Knicks came into the season hoping to use hasn’t been used nearly as much as it should, but that’s due to injuries. Mike Brown and the training staff came into 2025-26 with a clear plan to limit Robinson’s workload to maximize him for the playoffs. That means no back-to-backs, no 30+ minute games, etc.

But at some point, the Knicks will probably encounter a matchup where they just cannot take Big Mitch off the court. If he isn’t ready to play that workload, they’re crippling themselves. By that nature, it seems likely that Mitch will continue to increase his in-game workload as the season goes on.

Unlike the other three lineups, the starters with Mitch have been a significant positive, posting an elite +12.4 net rating in 51 minutes behind stellar defense.

However, once again, that number is dragged down by the team’s recent slump. The lineup has only played 16 minutes together since mid-December and has gotten eviscerated on both ends of the floor. It really just seems like a team-wide issue, as there are multiple lineups with different strengths and weaknesses, all struggling concurrently.

So, again, it’s a story for another time with the whole Brunson-Towns tandem, but what does Mitch provide that the others don’t? How about game-breaking rebounding?

Mitchell Robinson in 18 minutes:

15 REB
10 OREB
2 BLKpic.twitter.com/1HIzkICXDS

— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) December 17, 2025

In the lineup’s brief time together, they’re killing teams with a 53.3% overall rebounding share and a ludicrous 37.1% offensive rebounding rate. It’s a common theme with Robinson, whose second-most used lineup (w/Brunson/McBride/Hart/Bridges) has a near-50% offensive rebound rate.

The possession battle with the double big is a tremendous advantage, especially on days that the Knicks are making shots. That’s an unstoppable offense and should mask defensive issues. It also provides a real rim protector and should help with the team’s struggles defending the pick-and-pop and drive-and-kicks.

The case to stay with Josh Hart​

If the Knicks hadn’t just won four in a row, the calls to make a drastic change would be louder. Now that they’ve stabilized, is that the best course of action?

The last four games have featured Thibs-ian levels of starter usage, with the starting five playing a staggering 58 minutes in that span. No other combination featuring the Big Four has more than two minutes. The lineup hasn’t been dominant by any stretch, but has been +2.3, the best stretch in a good bit.

josh hart is EVERYWHERE pic.twitter.com/10NWu6zPX1

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 29, 2026

The biggest problem with Hart last season was both his unwillingness to shoot and his poor efficiency when he did. This year? He’s one of 21 qualified players to be shooting 40% from deep on at least four attempts a game. Only one other Knick (Deuce) can say they’re in that club. When Josh is firing from distance, it’s going in.

Plus, this lineup provides something that the other ones can’t attest to: secondary playmaking.

Josh Hart is the Knicks’ third-best playmaker. The top two, Brunson and Kolek, are both small point guards and should rarely share the floor. Without Hart, the Knicks rely too much on Brunson initiating the action on every single play, whether it’s iso ball or finding an open shooter through a drive to the rim. Hart can alleviate some of that as a willing passer who only shoots when he knows he can make it.

There’s no perfect solution for the Knicks right now, as they try to balance an inconsistent bench and inconsistent shooting and defense. This upcoming stretch will tell them a lot about how things will go as the playoffs draw nearer, and it’s worth experimenting when you can.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...ineup-mike-brown-mcbride-shamet-robinson-hart

 

[New York Knicks]

The reason the Knicks have been winning? Defense

TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 28: Landry Shamet #44, Karl-Anthony Towns #32, Tyler Kolek #13, and Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks celebrate during the game against the Toronto Raptors on January 28, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The pendulum swings back and forth, as the Knicks have now won four games in a row after a brutal start to the new year.

The team’s post-Thibodeau hangover looked real, as Mike Brown hung his hat on the offensive side of things. The strategy worked – until it didn’t. After another brutal loss at home to the Dallas Mavericks, Captain Brunson called a players-only meeting.

This was the state of affairs just 10 days ago. Bleak.

Are tensions rising for the New York Knicks? @ramonashelburne gives us an inside look on what happened after their loss against the Mavericks pic.twitter.com/1MDEIk0pwG

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) January 20, 2026

Since then, the tide has truly turned. New York has rattled off four straight, and encouragingly, it’s been New York’s defense leading the charge. The team has held their last four opponents to 66, 109, 87, and 92 points, respectively.

Knicks defensive rating rankings this year:

First 15 games: 18th (114.8 DEF RTG)
Next 10 games: 3rd (110.9)
Next 16 games: 29th (120.6)
Last 6 games: 1st (98.3)

Average offensive rating ranking of their last 6 opponents is 22nd, but still…progress. We know they can do it.

— Jonathan Macri (@JCMacriNBA) January 29, 2026

Yes, it’s a small sample size, and yes, the four games weren’t against championship contenders, but the Knicks hadn’t shown the ability to win games this way until now. Defense had been the biggest issue so far this season, but a new identity could be taking shape. They’ve been killing it on the glass. They’ve shown toughness on both sides of the floor. It feels like a relic of seasons prior.

What’s changed? Well, it’s no coincidence that Landry Shamet replacing Jordan Clarkson in the rotation has led to tangible change in the bench unit. Similarly, KAT has been averaging less than 25 minutes a contest across these last four games. And OG Anunoby has been locked back in, averaging three stocks per game across the same stretch.

It’s trade deadline season, and if the new year slide continued, we’d be having much different conversations right now. Yet as a whole, the Knicks’ mindset seems to have shifted. This has been a uniform shift from the bottom to the top, with both players and coaches changing their approach to gameday.

With the Blazers on tap tonight at home, New York is in a good position to stretch their streak to five as they battle for the two seed in the East. Let’s see if they can keep the good vibes going tonight.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...e-reason-the-knicks-have-been-winning-defense

 

[New York Knicks]

Game Preview: Knicks vs. Trail Blazers, January 30, 2026

PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 11: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against Deni Avdija #8 of the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on January 11, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. | Getty Images

Cue the Robert Randolph. Tonight New York (29*-18) will host the Portland Trail Blazers (23-25) at Madison Square Garden in their second and final meeting of the season. And this time the vibes are good. Friday night Knicks! Wee wheedle wheedle wheedle wheedle wump!

Just last week the sky was falling in New York. They had suffered two four-game losing [Ed.—Thx, MR45] streaks over the course of eleven games, making your favorite ball club and mine look less like world-beating potential champions and more like uncomfortable bedfellows. But after a 300-point defeat of the Nets, a stand-tall win against Philly, a tougher-than-it-shoulda-been game against the Kings, and a Clark-Kent-became-Superman-at-halftime victory over the Raptors on Wednesday, the vibes have indeed improved.

Portland is trying to snap a three-game losing streak. They score 115.5 points per game (18th in the league), allow 117.4 points per game (22nd in the league), and make 14 triples per game (11th in the league). They also attempt 41.6 three-pointers a night, which puts them at a league-worst 33.7%.

When last they met on January 11, the Knicks showed their resilience in a 123-114 road victory that snapped the Blazers’ five-game win streak. Jalen Brunson led the way with 26 points, OG Anunoby chipped in 24 points, Karl-Anthony Towns posted a 20-11 double-double, and Mikal Bridges added 18 points with six assists and six rebounds. The game was too tight for comfort through three quarters before New York pulled away in the fourth, when Miles McBride drained a crucial three-pointer late to finally start inflating the lead. The hosts got a strong effort from Deni Avdija with 25 points, but he exited the game with a second-half back injury.

During their four-game winning streak, the Knicks have been on a tear, leading the league in net rating at plus-25.6. Surely beating Brooklyn by 500 points helped that number. Even more encouragings is that over that span, they have also held opponents to roughly 87 points per game. It certainly does seem that the team and coach Mike Brown identified devensive improvements as their surest path out of the doldrums.

And the offense has improved over this winning stretch, too. Brunson continues to set the tone, averaging 27.6 points and six assists while ranking eighth in the NBA in scoring. In New York’s 119–92 statement win in Toronto, Mikal Bridges poured in 30 points on 12-of-15 shooting, including 19 in a decisive third quarter. In the postgame interview, he cited a personal commitment to being more coachable and less entitled. Good Lord, how often have you heard an athlete of any sport speak humility so bluntly? He has been a steady catalyst throughout the streak.

Avdija has emerged as Portland’s engine, averaging 25.8 points per game (13th in the NBA) to go with 7.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists. His breakout year earned him Western Conference Player of the Week honors in Week 11, when he posted 26.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 9.8 assists per game. Rookie center Donovan Clingan anchors the glass, leading the Trail Blazers with 11.2 rebounds per night, second-best in the league, behind only KAT. Shaedon Sharpe remains a steady scoring threat and is coming off a 31-point outing, while Toumani Camara provides floor spacing, pacing the team with 2.6 made threes per game.

Portland’s been fighting the injury bug all year. Basketball-Reference lists eight players on their injury report. Avdija (back) and Robert Williams III (knee) are game time decisions. Across the aisle, Josh Hart and Miles McBride are both game time decisions with bad ankles—although, Hart played on that sore ankle on Wednesday and finished with almost two dozen points in thirty-some minutes. NOTE: Mitchell Robinson is not listed on the injury report after sitting out the Raptors game.

Prediction​

ESPN.com likes New York, giving them a 75% chance. We like that, too. After a few up and down quarters, the Knicks will pull ahead for good in the fourth and win by 10.

Game Details​

Date: Friday, January 30, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Place: Madison Square Garden, NYC

TV: MSG
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

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

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...eview-knicks-vs-trail-blazers-january-30-2026

 

[JJ]

OH MAN finally some good vibes around this team again!! Four straight dubs and the defense is actually showing up?? I was starting to lose my mind watching them give up 120+ every other night.

Gotta say though, as much as I love the Knicks finally getting their act together, the real story here is Mikal Bridges coming out and saying he wasn't being "coachable enough" and felt "too entitled." Like WHAT?! When was the last time you heard an NBA player just straight up admit that?? That's the kind of accountability that wins championships, not this "I'm built different" nonsense you hear from most guys.

And can we talk about OG with 6 steals and 7 deflections against Toronto?? That man was EVERYWHERE. Mike Brown called those numbers "unheard of" and he ain't wrong. When OG is locked in defensively like that, this team transforms into something scary.

The lineup debate is interesting but honestly I think the answer changes depending on matchups. Mitch gives you that rim protection and those INSANE offensive boards (37% OREB rate is disgusting in a good way), but Deuce with the starters gives you that 5-out spacing Brown wants. Hart's shooting turnaround has been huge though - 40% from deep on 4+ attempts is legit.

Portland tonight should be a W. Avdija's been balling but they're shooting 33.7% from three as a team?? That's BRUTAL. Keep the streak going boys!!

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks 127, Trail Blazers 97: “Grooving”

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 30: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks bows his head before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on January 30, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

My mind’s been mush all week. There’s a bug going around the family that finally found me. My ADHD is turned up to 11. I’m absolutely burnt. The harder I try, the worse it gets, like your car’s stuck in the snow and you keep hitting the gas, going nowhere as the rut deepens. I’m behind on work. Focus is difficult, so I step away, do something, anything else, to change my focus, break free from the rut. But doing something, anything else triggers the cortisol chorus of guilt: “Shouldn’t you be working?”

Breaking the cycle means starting small: break the work into smaller pieces. In last night’s 127-97 Knick win over the Portland Trail Blazers, Mikal Bridges only made three baskets. But one of them reminded us — and two Blazers in particular — of the multiplying power of one small step.

In the final minute of the third quarter, the Blazers were down 16, a swing spot, score-wise; give up a 3 and you’re down 19 and getting blown out; make a 3, you’re down 13, just a mini-run from a competitive game. After Bridges missed a corner 3, Shaeden Sharpe rebounded near the foul line, passed to Jerami Grant and got the ball back as he crossed midcourt. 48 seconds in the quarter, 18 on the shot clock. Perfect time to run a little clock and get a quality two-for-one. Entering the fourth down 12 or 13 instead of 16 is big psychologically. The Blazers ended the frame down 18.

Sharpe took two dribbles, went around a Donovan Clingan pick, then the career 33% shooter from deep launched from there with 16 on the shot clock and of his teammates behind the arc, while every Knick besides Jalen Brunson, Sharpe’s defender, was either in the paint or the midrange. Sharpe missed, the Knicks rebounded and while Bridges missed a 3 on the other end, he took it with 30 seconds left, leaving just enough time for a New York two-for-one.

With 16 seconds left and Caleb Love dribbling the time down near center court, Sharpe, guarded by Bridges, went to the corner nearest celebrity row, hunched forward and rested his hands on his knees. He held that pose while Love, smothered by Landry Shamet, struggled to get free. He held it while Love lobbed a no-chance 30-footer (with eight seconds left in the quarter and five on the shot clock). He held it even after the shot missed.

To be fair, no Blazer besides Clingan came inside the arc to crash the offensive glass. Maybe their emphasis was getting back in transition if the Knicks made one last push. Spoiler: they didn’t.

As Love’s shot went up, Bridges rotated 90 degrees, from facing Love at the top of the key to facing Sharpe in the corner, to box him out. As soon as Bridges saw Sharpe doing his still-life schtick, his head whipped around to follow the play, rotating his body back to facing midcourt instead of the sideline. Once Bridges realized Diawara had the uncontested rebound, he took off, launching off a slight spring in his step. The flat-footed Sharpe didn’t flinch until Diawara was passing to Brunson, who got the ball with four seconds left.

Brunson took two dribbles, during which time the non-Sharpe Blazers all turned their attention on him, meaning the only Blazer aware of Bridges was the cornerback who’d just been beaten by the receiver. Sharpe got the attention of Sidy Cissoko, normally a good idea. Cissoko is 21 and has a 6-foot-10 wingspan. But Cissoko, like Sharpe, picked a bad time to disassociate.

When Diawara got the rebound, Cissoko was at the 3-point line. When Cissoko first realized Bridges was streaking by, he was at the other 3-point line. For the two seconds in-between, he showed all the hustle of late-stage Barry Bonds after drawing a walk, lollygagging with some extra L’s and G’s thrown in. So it didn’t matter how hard he ran once he recognized Bridges was a threat, the centimeters away he was from deflecting Brunson’s pass. By not taking that first small step toward their larger goal, Sharpe and Cissoko could never get caught up.

By the way, I’m not down at all on Sharpe or Cissoko for these lapses. If there’d been a camera on me at work when I was their age, you couldn’t seen my first day at Wal-Mart, when the lawn and garden manager going on break gave me their medieval dungeon master-sized set of keys and I promptly clipped it around my eyebrow ring, never considering the strength-to-weight ratio of an eyebrow ring versus 10 literal pounds of keys. Reader, it hurt.

Five wins in a row has the Knicks, per sprewellhasmouthstofeed, “grooving.” Next game’s in seven hours, when the Lakers make their annual pilgramage to the Mecca. If you’re struggling with something, do something small. Do small things consistently. Most snow, eventually, melts.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...es/78680/knicks-127-trail-blazers-97-grooving

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks Week Preview: Feb. 1-7, 2026

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 29: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks drives against Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets during their game at Madison Square Garden on January 29, 2025 in New York City. User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It’s trade week at last. By the end of Thursday, there could be a new Knick or two on the roster, and we might be bidding adieu to those who were dealt. Or maybe Leon Rose does nothing, that enigmatic minx. These are the Days of Our NBA. If you’ve been eating a gyro for lunch everyday, hoping it will influence the Greek gods to tilt a certain trade in your favor, this week will prove whether you have cosmic powers. Keep it up, you wizard! Extra tzatziki!

After a rough start to the calendar year, the Knicks are rolling now at 30*-18, locked into the second spot in the East, and trailing Detroit by 5.5 games. They saunter into the week with a five-game win streak that saw vast improvements on the defensive end. Now comes a gnarly four-game week that will test where the team stands and their commitment to the gritty fundamentals.

Sunday, February 1 vs. Los Angeles Lakers (7:00 PM, NBC/Peacock)​

LeBron and Luka come to the Garden with the Lakers riding hot at 29-18. This one’s got juice—national TV, playoff vibes, evenly matched teams. The Lakers are a respectable road team, but the Knicks play like a different animal at MSG. If New York can push the pace and keep LA’s stars from gaining control in crunch time, victory should be theirs for the taking. Watch out for LeBron, though; if this is his final game played at MSG (presuming retirement is imminent), he will aim for big numbers as a parting gift.

Watch this one on NBA and Peacock.

Tuesday, February 3 @ Washington Wizards (7:00 PM, MSG)​

The Knicks head to DC to face a Wizards team that’s been brutal all year. This is the kind of game good teams should handle without breaking a sweat. These are also the dog days of the schedule, when the occasional sleepwalk is to be expected. When they last played, in early November, New York defeated Washington, 119-102. Once again, Brunson and Towns should eat against the ‘Zards. They would be wise to lock this one down early and get some rest, giving the bench some burn before the next night’s more challenging matchup.

Watch it on MSG.

Wednesday, February 4 vs. Denver Nuggets (7:00 PM, MSG)​

Back home for what should be a helluva second game of as back-to-back. Jokić coming to town means Towns has his hands full, and Denver’s offense is always a problem, ranking first in the league. But the Knicks are tough to beat at the Garden, and if they can hit their threes and make Jokić work on defense, they’ve got a shot. The clubs haven’t met since January of last year, when the Knicks won 122–112 at MSG. Jalen Brunson powered New York with 30 points and 15 assists as the Knicks led wire to wire, totally overshadowing Nikola Jokic’s 33-point effort.

Possible Finals preview? Could be….

Watch it on MSG.

Friday, February 6 @ Detroit Pistons (7:30 PM, Prime Video)​

You thought Wednesday’s tilt was tough. The week ends in Detroit against the team everybody’s chasing. The Pistons are young, fast, and sitting pretty at the top of the East. For the Knicks, this is a statement game. They lost to Detroit, 121-90, on January 5, despite 25 points from Jalen Brunson and because they couldn’t score more than 36 points after halftime.

Win this one and New York will further prove they can hang with the best. Lose and they may start lamenting their trade deadline activity / inactivity.

Tune in on Amazon Prime Video.

Enjoy your week, fans. Be kind to your fellow humans. And Go Knicks.

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

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/knicks-game-previews/78687/knicks-week-preview-feb-1-7-2026

 

[Zedster]

That 30-point blowout against Portland was nice to watch. Five in a row feels good after what we went through earlier this month.

The defensive turnaround has been the real story here. Going from 29th in defensive rating to 1st over the last stretch of games is pretty remarkable, even accounting for the weaker competition. The Shamet-for-Clarkson swap in the rotation seems like such a small move on paper, but the bench unit just looks more cohesive defensively now.

This week is going to tell us a lot though. Lakers, Nuggets, and Pistons in a seven-day span is no joke. The Washington game should be a breather, but that back-to-back with Denver the next night is concerning. Jokic against KAT is always a fascinating matchup - Towns has the athleticism edge but Nikola just does things that don't make sense. Last year's win was encouraging but Denver's been playing well lately.

The Detroit game Friday feels like the real measuring stick. That January loss was rough - 36 points in the second half is the kind of collapse we were seeing too often. If the defensive improvements are real and sustainable, this is where we'll find out.

Curious to see what Leon does at the deadline too. The team seems to be finding its identity again, so I'd lean toward not disrupting the chemistry unless something significant comes along. But what do I know - that's why he gets paid the big bucks.

 

[New York Knicks]

Game Preview: Knicks vs Lakers, February 1, 2026

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 06: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball defended by Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks during the first half at Crypto.com Arena on March 06, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Knicks (30*-18) welcome the Lakers (29-18) to Madison Square Garden with the building buzzing again. New York has won five straight games (four by double digits) thanks to a top-10 defense, world-class rebounding, and an explosive offense. The team that was a reeking garbage pile just a couple of weeks ago smells fresh as daisies again. Ain’t winning the best antiseptic?

Los Angeles brings star power and a strong road record, though the distance between their offensive and defensive ratings is approximately the distance from Crypto.com Arena to MSG. When Luka Dončić has one of the rotation’s best defensive ratings, of course they’re ranked 26th. Sure, the Lakers’ off-court Buss family drama makes the Clippers seem like a well-behaved organization by comparison; and yes, players like Deandre Ayton sometimes make coach JJ Redick reconsider his life choices; but these Lakers have enough talent to sit squarely in the playoff hunt and pose a big challenge for our heroes tonight.

Remembering the last time these teams played still makes my right eye twitch. On March 6, 2025 in Los Angeles, the Knicks led for long stretches behind a big Brunson night before overtime arrived on flatulence fumes and the Lakers stole a 113-109 win. I recall seething at Bridges for taking six shots in 43 minutes and KAT for shooting 23%. Good thing we haven’t had those miseries this season.

The story of the Lakers’ year is one of extremes. The offense hums at a top-10 level, shooting the best field goal percentage in the league and taking steady trips to the line. Yet all those gains are offset by a defense that lags near the bottom of the barrel, barely rebounds, and hardly blocks. It takes a special kind of alchemy to achieve a perfect zero net rating, but they’ve done it!

Everything runs through Luka, one of the league’s best swishers and dishers. His fellow superstar LeBron James, playing his 120th season, is still a force to be reckoned with, too, thanks to excellent conditioning and a daily diet of virginal blood.

In an internal P&T poll of one, Deandre Ayton was voted player most likely to be intentionally left behind after a road game. Still, he’s averaging 13.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per night; just imagine what he could do awake.

Austin Reaves is a very fine player, but has been sidelined with a calf injury since Christmas. He’s on today’s report as day-to-day. Look for Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart to round out the starters, and beware the latter especially. Smart is one of those cats who will shoot 25% from downtown for the season and turn into Steph Curry when he sees an orange and blue jersey.

Miles McBride (ankle) is day-to-day for New York.

Prediction​

ESPN.com thinks New York has a 68% chance tonight. Maybe. Take into account that, against the Knicks, Luka has averaged 30.5 PPG in 12 career games, and LeBron has averaged 26.7 PPG in 61. Not only should you expect 60 points between them tonight, but watch James go totally bananas because a) it is potentially his last game at the Garden, and b) it will be nationally televised. New York will give you your money’s worth, fighting late into the game, but this has the weird feel of LeBron’s Swan Song to NYC. Call me cynical, but it might come down to whether you see Scott Foster on the officiating crew today. If you do, trust that the league wants this one for Bron; if you don’t, Knicks by three.

Game Details​

Date: Sunday, February 1, 2026
Time: 7 PM ET
Place: Madison Square Garden, NYC

TV: NBC / Peacock
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

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

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...game-preview-knicks-vs-lakers-february-1-2026

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks 112, Lakers 100: Scenes from a second half turnaround

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 01: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks scrambles for the ball against Marcus Smart #36 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden on February 01, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images

At Madison Square Garden, the Knicks (31*-18) shook off a middling first half, outscored the Lakers 60–44 after halftime, and survived 15 lead changes to claim their sixth straight win, 112–100.

From the jump, L.A. attacked home plate and New York tried their luck from the outfield. The strategy showed promise with the first two longballs swished. When the shots stopped falling—and the visitors continued to find easy scoring opportunities—the home team slipped on the scoreboard.

Congratulations go out to Karl-Anthony Towns, selected today for his sixth All-Star Game. The Big Begonia pounded the glass early, but two quick fouls curtailed his quarter. The good news: KAT committed just one more foul in the game and would finish with an 11-13 double-double, four assists, two steals, and a team-high +23 in his 32 minutes. Great effort from him overall tonight.

Meanwhile, the Lakers embraced simplicity, benefiting from basic actions like alley-oops to Deandre Ayton. For the Knicks, Mikal Bridges grabbed a steal (good) but missed four of his first five shots (less good). Their offense flowed mostly through Jalen Brunson (12 points, 13 dimes, seven boards) and OG Anunoby, who scored 11 of his 25 total points in the first period.

WINGSTOP: Mikal’s ball pressure creates an open three for OG pic.twitter.com/x6Yk9QSpSL

— The Strickland (@TheStrickland) February 2, 2026

After an uneven start, Luka Dončić gained steam and finished the night with 30 points, 15 boards, and eight assists. Under his leadership, his team dished and swished, assisting on 21 of their 38 made field goals tonight. They closed Q1 ahead, 33-27, while New York’s uninspired offense barely shot 40%.

The bench provided some uplift in the second frame. Tyler Kolek (eight points, four dimes, 13 minutes) and Mohamed Diawara delivered treys, and Landry Shamet chipped in a bucket to stay competitive. Shamet was the human torch tonight, dropping 23 points and hitting 6-of-10 from beyond the arc. Although L.A. led for most of the second quarter, when Kolek scored five unanswered points, the Knicks briefly went ahead with 4:40 left.

KAT returned and worked the glass, but the Knicks turned the ball over at a 2:1 ratio, thus hindering their progress. Across the aisle, LeBron (22 points) steadied things with midrange scores and free throws, while Ayton (13 points, five boards) and Hachimura (11 points, three rebounds) tidied up the iron. When a well-rested Luka checked back in, he fully shifted the balance back from orange to yellow. Sticking to the game plan, L.A. carried a 56-52 lead into intermission.

hart of the city pic.twitter.com/2AetGDzF1Y

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 2, 2026

Through the first half, the Goldtrotters outshot the Knicks overall, 49% to 43%, with both teams attempting 43 field goals. New York had the better numbers from deep (41% to 30%) and on the glass (24-19), but had been outscored in the paint by eight and committed six turnovers. At the break, Luka led all scorers with 18 points and seven boards, while OG had 11 points for the hometown heroes.

Out of halftime, the Knicks went on a 12-7 run to reclaim the lead. With more focused hustle and flow, the starters made their shots, Josh Hart (20 points, four boards, 8-of-11 FG) provided invigorating constant motion, and Towns ruled the boards, collecting six boards and six points in the period.

A mid-quarter Hart three-pointer put New York up by six. He, Anunoby, and Shamet were shooting 18-of-27 for 50 points, while their teammates had hit just 16-of-53. Around then, Luka hit the jets to spark a 9-2 run and go ahead again, but our heroes responded with back-to-back Anunoby dunks and a Shamet breakaway that restored their advantage and set the crowd roaring. After that 15-5 run, the Knicks closed the frame, 90-82.

OG ANUNO-

14 PTS | 4 REB | 2 AST pic.twitter.com/TqpUqKqEG5

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 2, 2026

New York kept pace with L.A. through the fourth with inside finishes from Bridges and Anunoby and a timely Hart three. Luka delivered a bomb that had the makings of trouble, but Shamet and Bridges countered with triples of their own. Around the three-minute mark, with a 10-point differential, Hart played excellent defense on Luka and altered a last-second heave. By not fouling, Hart forced a shot-clock violation, and Anunoby dunked on the subsequent possession. That sequence put a lid on the game. Smart drilled from deep near the two-minute mark, but two more bombs from ShamWow in the final minute-and-a-half drove in the final nails.

LeBron's defense SEALED the win for the Knicks:

Gives up open 3
Gives up offensive rebound
Gives up open 3 again

Just standing around pic.twitter.com/dcCaKqJmNW

— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) February 2, 2026

Up Next​

Professor Miranda is on your recap. As for our heroes, they’ll travel to D.C. to face the Wizards on Tuesday. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.

Box Score

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

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...kers-100-scenes-from-a-second-half-turnaround

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks Bulletin: ‘Just trying to find a balance. I’m in a good headspace right now’

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 1: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on February 1, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Los Angeles Lakers visited MSG and returned home without a win.

Too bad, it turns out they ran into the hottest team in the league—that is, your New York Knicks.

Here’s a lot of what was said before and after yesterday’s affair.

Mike Brown says that 50/50 balls were a point of emphasis for the Knicks at halftime: pic.twitter.com/x6DhJjaR7a

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) February 2, 2026

Mike Brown​

On practice time and recent changes:

“We’ve had a chance to practice a little bit. But we made changes a little earlier, we’ve gotten a little better with the changes. Guys have been communicating more, but they’re able to do that because they feel a little bit more comfortable with what we’re doing. Defensively, we made some changes. Offensively too. I think because we’ve had a chance to work at it a little bit, the guys have had a chance to get involved with it a little bit, the confidence is great. That’s growing as well.”

On offensive principles and ball movement:

“We talk about certain things offensively, playing with pace, touching the paint, and spray the ball. Our guys are unselfish, but they know when they draw a second defender that’s the right to find your teammate. We all need to keep trying to make the game easy for one another.”

On Karl-Anthony Towns’ handling of double teams:

“KAT did a nice job tonight. He’s gonna get doubled, they put a small guy on him a ton, and the one thing he has to do, just like all of us, is not let double teams or second defenders speed us up. The person who has two defenders on him needs help with the right spacing.”

On OG Anunoby and Josh Hart scoring decisively:

“They’re making quick decisions. OG, the ball’s hitting his hands and if the defender closes out short, he’s letting it fly. OG’s a great shooter. Josh has worked extremely hard on his shot too. There’s not a lot of hesitation from both those guys.”

On finding offense without plays called:

“They’re both getting out in transition, getting easy baskets, getting offensive rebounds, and cutting to score. There are a lot of ways you can impact the game scoring without having your number called.”

On defensive execution against the Lakers:

“Second half, we locked in better with the gameplan. It resulted in the Lakers scoring 44 points in that second half, which was huge for us.”

On the Knicks’ maturity and attention to detail:

“This is a mature group, and they’re competitive as well. We just tell them what we see and they go out and correct. It was more about being locked in and doing the little things better.”

On Jalen Brunson’s defense:

“Jalen’s a good defender. A lot of people sleep on that. He’s competitive, he’s feisty, he’s strong. If there was a definition of how to defend the ball in a pick-and-roll situation when you’re on the ball, that play would’ve been it.”

On Brunson’s defensive technique:

“He’s been impressive leading with his chest, showing his hands and trying to play defense the right way with a little chip on his shoulder. It’s good to see him doing it with the scoring load we put on him.”

On Karl-Anthony Towns’ All-Star case:

“I’m a firm believer that winning should be a big factor in it. We’re sitting second or third in the East right now, so we should have multiple guys on the team. Jalen definitely is in the MVP conversation, but we’ve got other guys on this team that have stepped up and helped in a lot of different ways. KAT, he’s leading us in rebounds, he’s second in scoring. I don’t know how many double-doubles he has, but that’s impactful when you’re talking about doing it in a winning situation. We should have, in my opinion, two or three guys, at least, on this All-Star team based on what our record is. Not only that, we were NBA Cup champions, so there are a lot of positives.”

On the Knicks improving thanks to rest and time in the gym:

“To be able to spend some time in the gym where you’re not worrying about playing a game has benefited us a ton. We’ve made some changes on both ends of the floor. The more time we have to continue working on it, the better we’ll be.”

On LeBron James’ longevity:

“He’s earned the right to play as long as he wants and he’s definitely doing it. And he’s doing it at a high level.”

"HE CAN'T F*** WITH YOU"

Saquon Barkley and Karl-Anthony Towns were HYPED watching Shakur Stevenson's masterclass

The Ring VI | Exclusively on DAZN pic.twitter.com/u8flVqAbiq

— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) February 1, 2026

Karl-Anthony Towns​

On his sixth All-Star selection:

“It’s special. This one’s a real special one for sure. It’s better to be getting the win against the Lakers. I feel better about that right now than the All-Star thing, but as time goes, I’ll be able to digest it and understand the importance of it. Right now, I’m just happy we got the win.”

On his All-Star journey:

“It’s been six times and six different roads to get there. Every one is unique. This one is one I’ll cherish, but it’ll take time for me to digest it. It’s great to have a day like this that ends with a win.”

"We've got a locker room full of guys who want to win and are willing to sacrifice for one another."

– Landry Shamet pic.twitter.com/7oDUbfR0Gp

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) February 2, 2026

Landry Shamet​

On staying steady through highs and lows:

“It’s part of the journey. There’s highs and lows in this thing. You can’t get caught up on either end. Just take care of your work every day, try to be a good teammate, and the rest will take care of itself.”

On his role offensively:

“I always say I have the easy job. I’m on the receiving end. It’s guys like JB getting blitzed and having to make the right decision. My job is to catch the ball and shoot the ball.”

On playing under Mike Brown:

“Working with Mike has been great. Early on, I was just worried about making the team and helping us win. As we’ve spent more time together, I’m grateful for him and want to keep doing what I can to help us win.”

On the Knicks-wide buy-in:

“We’ve got a locker room full of guys who want to win and are willing to sacrifice for one another.”

Q: "What do you think of the way the guys responded when you held them accountable couple games ago?"

Jalen Brunson: "It wasn't just me. It was everybody" pic.twitter.com/2XnrYHkBxW

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) February 2, 2026

Jalen Brunson​

On focusing on distributing when shots aren’t falling:

“Shots not falling, you gotta impact the game somewhere else. I kept seeing two defenders, so I was trying to make the right play at the right time. The way we were moving the ball was great.”

On the defensive turnaround:

“The biggest part of our defense has been communication, physicality and accountability. Being on the string and on the same page has been the biggest part of our turnaround so far.”

On Karl-Anthony Towns’ rebounding impact:

“The rebounding, what he’s been doing has been great. We need that from him. When the ball’s not going in, he finds a way to impact the game. That’s really important for us.”

Josh Hart was asked about the one-year anniversary of the Luka Dončić trade:

"One thing I'm mad about that day was that it didn't happen earlier because Max Christie gave us 15 and we lost" pic.twitter.com/q2vbjesjAc

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) February 2, 2026

Josh Hart​

On the Knicks’ balanced offense:

“That’s what we’re capable of. We have great depth, guys who can knock down shots and playmake. It shows we don’t have to force anything.”

On finding balance offensively:

“Sometimes I pass open shots to get guys involved, but I gotta make sure I’m aggressive too. Just trying to find a balance, and I’m in a good headspace right now.”

On playing with LeBron James:

“It was cool. I learned a lot about execution and taking care of your body. If it is his last game here, it’s obviously a historic career. Hopefully the fans give him a good ovation.”

OG Anunoby​

On improved defensive communication and effort:

“It’s been executing, the effort, the intensity, the want-to. Everyone’s been on it.”

DPOG JOSHUA pic.twitter.com/3nlEwzBft1

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 2, 2026

Mikal Bridges​

On the better defensive structure and planning of late:

“Effort can only do so much without having a plan. Having a plan and knowing what we’re all doing with the effort has made a difference.”

On finding comfort with the defensive adjustments:

“I think it was a little tougher for us how we used to do it, but I think it’s better for us now.”

Q: "What has playing at Madison Square Garden meant to you throughout your career?"

LeBron James: "Everything. It's the Mecca of basketball…It's the Big Apple…I've always loved these fans, love New York, respect, great knowledge of the game, they know what sports is about" pic.twitter.com/zmu8MfbQLx

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) February 2, 2026

LeBron James​

On his level of play at 41:

“S—, I’ve been pretty good. Didn’t I just pass like 60,000 minutes? I’d hope I look pretty good.”

On what Madison Square Garden means to him:

“Everything. It’s the mecca of basketball. Being here at MSG, so many people have graced this floor. I hope I have a little small snippet of someone who came through here and made a small dent.”

On the end of his career:

“At the end of the day, everything has to come to an end at some point. You’re always going to miss it. This place will always have a special place in the journey.”

Luka literally walked across the court to find Jalen so he could do this pic.twitter.com/oXeAmYY4MC

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) February 2, 2026

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...nd-a-balance-im-in-a-good-headspace-right-now

 

[New York Knicks]

Game Thread: Knicks vs Lakers, February 1, 2026

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 6: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers plays defense during the game against Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks on March 6, 2025 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Knicks (30*-18), riding a five-game win streak, welcome the Lakers (29-18) to Madison Garden Tonight. A national audience will tune in to see Luka Dončić and LeBron James, leaders of a Los Angeles team that scores brilliant and defends much less so. Expect a tight game, which might be LeBron’s last appearance at MSG.

Tip off is 7 p.m. EST on NBA / Peacock. Tip off is 7 p.m. EST on NBC. This is your game thread. This is Silver Screen and Roll. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Practice kindness. And go Knicks!

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

https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...thread-knicks-vs-raptors-nov-30-2025#comments

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/.../game-thread-knicks-vs-lakers-february-1-2026