The New York Knicks are rolling-and they’re doing it without one of their most important pieces. OG Anunoby has been sidelined since tweaking his hamstring against the Miami Heat back on November 14th.
In his absence, head coach Mike Brown has gotten creative with the starting lineup. And so far?
It’s paying off in a big way.
The Knicks have rattled off four straight wins with a new-look starting five: Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, and Miles McBride. That group has gone undefeated since being assembled, and as of December 1st, New York holds the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Towns on the Lineup Shift: “Just a Different Starting Lineup”
Karl-Anthony Towns isn’t one to make headlines with bold proclamations, and he kept it simple when asked about the new configuration.
“It’s just a different starting lineup,” he said. “Any one of us could be in the starting lineup and feel like we can contribute and impact winning.”
That mindset speaks volumes about the depth and versatility this team is starting to show. And while the lineup change has sparked a winning streak, it’s also come with some tough rotational decisions-most notably, moving Mitchell Robinson to the bench.
Robinson, to his credit, responded in a big way. Against the Raptors on Sunday, he had one of his best games of the season, pulling down 15 rebounds, including seven on the offensive glass. That kind of effort off the bench is exactly what the Knicks need if they’re going to sustain this momentum.
McBride Making His Case
Miles McBride has been around the edges of the rotation for a while, stepping in when Jalen Brunson has missed time. But this recent stretch might be his most convincing argument yet that he belongs in the starting five-even when everyone’s healthy.
In these last four games, McBride is averaging 15.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, while shooting a scorching 54.1% from the field, 60.0% from three, and a perfect 100% from the free-throw line. Yes, it's a small sample size, but those are eye-opening numbers.
McBride’s contract situation makes this even more intriguing. He’s in the second year of a front-loaded three-year, $13 million deal, with just $3.9 million owed next season.
For a team looking to stay flexible while competing at a high level, that’s a steal. And now, the Knicks are seeing that McBride isn’t just a quality backup-he’s a legitimate complementary piece next to Brunson.
Josh Hart Is Doing It All
Then there’s Josh Hart, who’s quietly putting together one of the most well-rounded four-game stretches of his Knicks tenure. After starting all 77 games last season and leading the league in minutes per game, Hart had been coming off the bench for much of this season. But now that he’s back in the starting lineup, he’s reminding everyone what makes him so valuable.
Over this four-game span, Hart is averaging 17.0 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 7.0 assists, with a blistering 67.0 true shooting percentage. That’s not just good-it’s elite.
And while it may be tough to sustain those numbers over a long stretch, Hart’s never been about flash. He’s about grit, hustle, and doing whatever it takes to win.
This is just another chapter in that story.
What’s Next?
Right now, the Knicks have something that works. The chemistry is clicking, the roles are defined, and the wins are stacking up.
With OG Anunoby still working his way back, there’s no rush to shake things up. If anything, this stretch is proving that New York has more lineup flexibility than we might’ve thought.
Next up: a showdown in Boston against the Celtics on Tuesday night. Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m.
EST. It’ll be a big test, but if this new-look Knicks squad keeps playing like this, they won’t just be a feel-good story-they’ll be a real problem in the East.