After a rough stretch that saw them drop four straight, the Knicks came out Wednesday night with something to prove-and they didn’t just win, they made history. In a 120-66 dismantling of the Nets, New York snapped their skid in emphatic fashion, delivering the largest margin of victory in franchise history. That’s right-54 points, a mark that tops their previous high of 48, which had stood since the days of Ewing and Reed.
The Nets' 66 points? That’s the lowest total any team has put up this season, and the Knicks made it look like they were playing on a different level from the opening tip.
“Just seeing us play the way we’re capable of playing,” head coach Mike Brown said after the game. “I don’t know what the score will be every night, but the things that we did out on the floor, we talked about, we drilled, we watched film on-and our guys are more than capable. So to go see them put it together for 48 minutes was a lot of fun.”
And fun it was-for Knicks fans, at least. The ball movement was crisp, the defense was suffocating, and the energy? It finally looked like a team that remembered who it was.
But as dominant as the performance was, there’s still plenty swirling around this team off the court.
Karl-Anthony Towns Trade Talk? Not So Fast
Earlier this week, Karl-Anthony Towns’ name popped up in trade rumors, sparking speculation about a potential blockbuster. But according to Ian Begley of SNY, the Knicks aren’t currently engaged in conversations to bring Towns to New York. That said, league sources told Newsday that the Knicks have at least discussed potential Towns scenarios with several teams-including the Grizzlies, Magic, and Hornets.
So while there’s no active deal on the table, the chatter isn't entirely smoke and mirrors. It’s clear the front office is exploring all avenues, but nothing appears imminent.
Josh Hart Sets the Record Straight
Following Monday’s loss to the Mavericks, ESPN reported that Jalen Brunson called a players-only meeting. But Josh Hart is calling foul on that narrative.
“We didn’t have a players-only meeting. Y’all dragging it,” Hart said, pushing back on the report. “We talked, but it wasn’t like some big thing.”
According to Hart, there was some postgame discussion, but nothing formal. “We know what we have to do.
We cleared stuff up yesterday in film and practice and today in walkthroughs. We know we haven’t been playing up to our capabilities, but we’re gonna continue to play off this (Wednesday) win.”
It’s a telling moment-not just for Hart, but for the entire locker room. The message is clear: the team isn’t imploding, they’re recalibrating.
Jordan Clarkson, Guerschon Yabusele Struggling for Minutes
One of the more surprising developments this season has been the vanishing act of Jordan Clarkson. Once expected to be a key rotation piece, Clarkson has all but disappeared from the lineup. He logged just two minutes against Dallas and only saw garbage-time action in the blowout against Brooklyn.
“Yeah, it could be tough to get him in the rotation,” Brown admitted. “Obviously Deuce [McBride] played well during his time, Mitch [Robinson] played well, Landry [Shamet] played at a pretty high level before he got hurt. So trying to find minutes for those guys as well as for our starting group is tough.”
It’s a numbers game, and right now, Clarkson’s on the outside looking in.
The same goes for Guerschon Yabusele, another offseason addition who’s found himself glued to the bench. With the team’s core rotation tightening up, both players are facing an uphill battle for meaningful minutes.
What’s Next?
The Knicks’ demolition of the Nets was a statement, no question. But one game doesn’t erase the inconsistencies of the past few weeks. The challenge now is to build on this momentum, find stability in the rotation, and continue to push toward the upper tier of the Eastern Conference.
For a team that’s been searching for rhythm, Wednesday night might’ve been the spark they needed.