The Knicks’ first preseason game won’t live long in the standings, but it did offer a useful snapshot of where everyone stands. The starters logged real minutes, the bench got a turn, and the end-of-roster hopefuls had a chance to show whether summer work is carrying over into live action.
The clearest positive came from Jalen Brunson, who looked sharp right away after offseason wrist surgery. He scored 12 points on eight shots in 15 minutes, and the jumper looked right at home. That was the kind of opening that quiets questions fast.
OG Anunoby also made his presence felt even though the three-ball never dropped. He went 3-of-7 from the field, hit all six free throws, and finished with 12 points and a team-high six rebounds, including three on the offensive glass. He was aggressive throughout and gave the Knicks another encouraging sign after his strong postseason run.
Mikal Bridges didn’t fill the box score with efficiency, going 1-of-5 from the field, but he stayed involved. He kept attacking, didn’t drift out of the action, and added three rebounds and three assists in 15 minutes. That kind of activity matters, especially for a player Knicks fans have wanted to see stay consistently engaged.
Josh Hart was quieter. He was part of a starting group that moved the ball well, but his line ended at two points, one shot, and one rebound in 12 minutes. It wasn’t a memorable night, though the preseason nature of the game makes that easier to shrug off.
Karl-Anthony Towns had a subdued stat line too, scoring five points on four shots while picking up two early fouls. Still, there were enough glimpses of the Towns-centered offense to hint at the kind of looks the Knicks found success with at different points in the postseason.
The second unit brought a mixed bag. Miles McBride played his usual defense and showed some passing touch, but he missed all four of his three-point tries.
That made for a rough night by his standards. Landry Shamet, on the other hand, gave the Knicks a clean shooting performance and finished in double figures, doing the things he does best: knocking down threes and making smart cuts.
Pacome Diawara’s night was uneven. He had a steal, a block, and six rebounds while scoring eight points in 17 minutes, but the jumper was off again. He did look more comfortable off the ball than he did during Summer League, which matters for a player who should benefit from being around better talent.
Mitchell Robinson’s minutes included five rebounds and three blocks, one of them on a jump shot. He missed his lone three-point attempt and wasn’t especially clean around the rim, but he handled his assignment.
Ariel Hukporti played more than expected at 14 minutes, though the production was modest: two made shots on eight attempts. The encouraging part was his work on the offensive glass, where he collected three rebounds.
Tyler Kolek put together a solid showing at point guard. He scored five points, hit a three, handed out five assists, and didn’t turn it over. He also showed the driving mentality he talked about in the offseason and held up reasonably well on defense.
Guerschon Yabusele led the team in minutes and didn’t exactly make the most of them. He shot 2-of-6 in 18 minutes, had no assists, steals, or blocks, and committed four fouls. There wasn’t much in the way of a breakout, even with the heavy workload.
Kevin McCullar Jr. brought energy and a little bit of everything, finishing with six points, four rebounds, one assist, and a block. He missed all three of his three-point attempts, but the activity level was there.
Delon Wright’s versatility showed up in brief stretches, including some time running the point, but the production didn’t stand out. He finished with two points, one turnover, and four fouls in 10 minutes.
For Ochai Agbaji, the math was simple: if he wants a real shot at making the team and earning minutes, the jumper has to fall. He went 0-of-3 from deep and finished with just one point in eight minutes.
James Wiseman looked lively, mobile, and active, posting eight points, five rebounds, and a block. The downside was the free-throw line, where he went 2-of-6.
Kevin Akins made a small but useful case in limited minutes. He knocked down his lone three and added three assists in eight minutes.
As for Nickel, the shots didn’t go in - he missed all four of his three-point attempts - but he kept firing and stayed active in other areas. And the big man who finished with one point and one rebound simply didn’t make much of a mark at all.
There was plenty of uneven basketball, which is exactly what the first preseason game usually delivers. But Brunson’s comfort, Anunoby’s aggression, Shamet’s shot-making, and the solid outings from Kolek and Wiseman gave the Knicks enough to take away from the night.
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