Just a few weeks ago, it looked like the Knicks were slipping into one of those all-too-familiar midseason funks. After a hot start and an NBA Cup win that had Madison Square Garden buzzing, January hit like a cold front.
Blown leads, a rough losing streak, and a disheartening home loss to Dallas had fans and media alike ready to hit the panic button. But in classic Knicks fashion, just when it seemed like the wheels were wobbling, they found a way to steady the ship.
The first sign of life came in the form of a 54-point rout over Brooklyn-a win that, while not exactly a measuring stick, clearly lit a fire. Then came the real test: a matchup with a red-hot Sixers squad that had dominated recent meetings.
This time, the Knicks didn’t flinch. They gritted out a 112-109 win that wasn’t about flair-it was about fight.
And that may be exactly what this team needed.
Jalen Brunson, once again, was the heartbeat. The man has made a habit of showing up when the lights are brightest, and this one was no different.
He poured in 31 points, hit six threes, and ran the offense with the kind of poise that’s become his trademark. Yes, he missed a pair of free throws late that could’ve iced it earlier, but let’s not nitpick-Brunson was the reason the Knicks walked out of that building with a win.
After the game, Brunson didn’t sugarcoat the recent struggles. “We had a slump.
It happened. Now we just gotta keep on climbing,” he said.
And that’s the mindset that’s made him the face of this franchise. He’s not just the engine on the floor-he’s the tone-setter off it.
That kind of leadership matters in New York, where the media microscope is relentless and the fan expectations never waver. The boos after the Dallas loss were loud, and deserved.
But two straight wins-especially one over a legit Eastern Conference contender-buys a little breathing room. Still, Brunson knows better than anyone how quickly that goodwill can vanish.
In this city, every game is a referendum.
But while Brunson continues to hold it down, the rest of the roster still has questions to answer-starting with Karl-Anthony Towns. KAT fouled out early against Philly, and frankly, the Knicks looked sharper without him.
That’s not the kind of sentence you want attached to a player of his caliber, but it’s the reality right now. He’s had opportunities to assert himself, to take over games, and it just hasn’t materialized.
For a team trying to build something real, that’s a problem that needs solving-fast.
On the flip side, OG Anunoby finally looked like the two-way threat the Knicks hoped he’d be. Landry Shamet found his shooting stroke, and even Mitchell Robinson got in on the scoring action. That’s the kind of balanced effort this team needs if they’re going to make noise down the stretch.
This moment isn’t necessarily a turning point-but it feels like a crossroads. The Knicks don’t need to be perfect right now, but they do need to figure out their identity in close games.
Who’s going to step up when the fourth quarter tightens? Who can Tom Thibodeau trust when the margin is razor-thin?
Brunson is the constant. His leadership, his production, his presence-they’re the foundation.
But the rest of the supporting cast, especially Towns, has to start delivering. Because in New York, patience isn’t just in short supply-it’s practically nonexistent.
The Knicks have shown they can bounce back. Now the question is: can they build something sustainable? The next few weeks will tell us a lot.