The New York Knicks have been riding a rollercoaster this season, but Saturday night in Philly, they showed signs of leveling out-and maybe even climbing again.
Fresh off a gritty win over the Brooklyn Nets that snapped a brutal stretch, the Knicks walked into Wells Fargo Center and took down a red-hot 76ers squad that had just gone to overtime the night before. Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid had combined for 68 points and 20 assists in that win over Houston, and the Sixers came into this one still buzzing.
But the Knicks? They came in hungry-and they left with a 112-109 victory that felt like more than just a single win in the standings.
Offensive Glass Was the Difference
Let’s start with the numbers that told the story: the Knicks grabbed 19 offensive rebounds. That’s not just hustle-that’s dominance.
Despite the Sixers shooting a blistering 51% from the field, New York managed to get off 16 more shots. That kind of disparity doesn’t happen without relentless effort on the boards, and the Knicks brought it.
Mitchell Robinson, back in the lineup and doing what he does best, was a force in the paint. But it was Josh Hart who really set the tone.
Hart finished with 10 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists-five of those boards came on the offensive end. He was everywhere.
Diving for loose balls, crashing the glass, making the extra pass. His fingerprints were all over this win.
After the game, Hart didn’t mince words when it came to the outside noise surrounding the team.
“You guys can write what you want. Three games ago, we were turning into a lottery team, and now y’all are like, ‘Oh, we’re battling up the East,’” Hart said.
It’s hard to blame him for the edge. The Knicks had gone just 2-9 in their previous 11 games, with losses to the Kings and Mavericks among others.
The chatter was loud-and not in a good way. But this team, even amid the struggles, has too much talent to stay down for long.
And in back-to-back wins, they’ve reminded everyone of that.
Brunson and Anunoby Keep It Steady
Offensively, Jalen Brunson continues to be the engine. He poured in 31 points, controlling the tempo and making big shots when the Knicks needed them most. OG Anunoby chipped in 23, showing once again why his two-way presence has been such a valuable addition since his arrival.
These two have quickly become a stabilizing force in the Knicks’ lineup, and when they’re both locked in, New York looks like a team that can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the East.
Towns Struggles in Limited Minutes
While there was plenty to like about the win, not everything went according to plan. Karl-Anthony Towns had a rough night-just 10 points and six rebounds in 16 minutes before fouling out. It’s the second straight game he’s failed to crack 15 points, and after a strong start to the season, his play has clearly dipped in January.
Whether it’s a slump or something more, the Knicks will need more from Towns if they want to keep building momentum. His ability to stretch the floor and create mismatches is a big part of what makes this team so dangerous when they’re clicking.
A Turning Point?
This win marked the Knicks’ first back-to-back victories of 2026. And while that might not sound like much, in the context of the past few weeks, it’s a big step forward. The Eastern Conference is a grind, and stringing together wins-especially on the road, against playoff-caliber teams-is how you climb the standings.
The Knicks are far from a finished product, but Saturday’s performance was a reminder of what they’re capable of when they bring energy, effort, and execution. If they can keep that formula going, the conversation around this team could shift quickly-from “what’s wrong?” to “watch out.”