The New York Knicks are officially the hottest team in the NBA right now.
With back-to-back wins over the Washington Wizards and the defending champion Denver Nuggets, the Knicks have strung together eight straight victories-now the longest active winning streak in the league, edging past the Charlotte Hornets. But if Wednesday night’s double-overtime thriller against Denver taught us anything, it’s that this team isn’t just riding a wave-they’re grinding out wins the hard way.
Let’s start with Jalen Brunson. The Knicks’ floor general turned in one of his most complete performances of the season, pouring in 42 points while adding nine assists, eight rebounds, and two steals.
He was everywhere-controlling the pace, hitting tough shots in crunch time, and keeping the offense steady even as fatigue set in deep into the second overtime. It was the kind of performance that reminds you why Brunson is the engine of this team.
When the game gets chaotic, he doesn’t flinch-he takes over.
And then there’s Karl-Anthony Towns, who had his own moment of resilience. After a scary collision with Denver’s Spencer Jones, Towns not only returned to the game but looked as sharp as ever.
He finished with 24 points on an ultra-efficient 9-of-13 shooting, and pulled down 12 rebounds to notch yet another double-double. That stat line pushed him into the league lead for most double-doubles this season-just edging out Atlanta’s Jalen Johnson.
On top of that, Towns continues to pace the NBA in rebounding at 11.9 per game. He’s not just padding stats-he’s anchoring the paint and giving the Knicks second chances night after night.
Brunson had high praise for his teammate postgame: “He came back with a vengeance and played great. Played tough.”
And that toughness is becoming a calling card for this Knicks squad. They’re not just talented-they’re mentally tough, physically gritty, and finding ways to win even when the margin for error disappears.
But the road ahead? It’s about to get real.
New York’s next six games are a gauntlet. Five of those opponents are top-five teams in their respective conferences, including two matchups against the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons.
They’ll also hit the road for clashes with the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers-two of the toughest places to steal a win. And to cap it all off, they’ll face Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets, who currently sit fourth in the West and are playing some of their best basketball of the season.
This upcoming stretch is going to test everything the Knicks have built during this win streak. But if recent performances are any indication, they’ve got the pieces-and the mindset-to keep this thing rolling.
The chemistry between Brunson and Towns is clicking. The bench is stepping up.
And the defense is doing just enough to give the offense a chance to close.
Eight wins in a row is impressive. But how the Knicks navigate the next two weeks? That’ll tell us just how serious this team is as a contender in the East.