After a rough stretch that had Knicks fans on edge, New York came out swinging Wednesday night-and never stopped. In a dominant 120-66 win over the Brooklyn Nets, the Knicks snapped a four-game losing streak and reminded everyone what they’re capable of when they’re locked in. But if you were expecting confetti and champagne in the locker room afterward, Jalen Brunson’s postgame comments told a different story.
“This is a good step for us,” Brunson said, “but we’ve got to continue to press the issue of getting better every single day.”
That’s the tone you want from your leader. Not satisfied.
Not complacent. Just focused.
Let’s not sugarcoat it-this win was needed. Since lifting the NBA Cup in December, the Knicks had dropped nine of their last 14 games heading into the matchup with Brooklyn.
The energy that carried them through the tournament had faded, and the cracks were starting to show. A blowout loss at home to Dallas only turned up the volume on the concern.
At 5-9 since their championship run, New York had slipped dangerously close to the play-in line, and the pressure was mounting.
So yes, a 54-point win-the largest margin of victory in franchise history-was a statement. But more importantly, it was a reset.
Brunson, as always, kept it real. “A lot of soul searching and a lot of self reflection,” he said when asked how the team regrouped.
“We got a long way to go as a team. We know how good we can be.
But, still a long season.”
That’s the mindset of a player who understands the moment. Brunson isn’t just putting up numbers-he’s setting the tone. And right now, the tone is accountability.
While elite teams across the league have had their own stumbles-just look at Oklahoma City’s December, where they dropped multiple games to the Spurs and even lost to Charlotte-the Knicks don’t have the cushion of being a top-tier juggernaut just yet. Their margin for error is thinner, and the expectations are higher. That’s life in New York.
There’s been chatter about chemistry issues, and Karl-Anthony Towns has found himself in the spotlight, with some voices around the league questioning his fit. Head coach Mike Brown, despite guiding the team to an in-season tournament title, has reportedly been feeling some heat as well. None of that matters if the team finds its rhythm again-and Wednesday night looked like a team starting to do just that.
The Knicks are now sitting at 26-18, just two games behind the Celtics for the second seed in the East. But the standings are tight.
The Raptors, Cavaliers, and 76ers are all lurking close behind, and there’s little room for missteps. Saturday’s matchup against Philadelphia is a big one-no way around it.
It’s the kind of game that can either build momentum or bring those early-season doubts right back to the surface.
For now, though, the Knicks can breathe. They’ve hit the reset button, and they’ve done it in emphatic fashion. But as Brunson made clear, this isn’t the destination-it’s just a step.
The real work starts now.