The Knicks are rolling. After a rough stretch earlier in the season, they’ve now strung together three straight wins - and this latest one came with grit, grind, and a whole lot of defensive muscle.
It wasn’t pretty. In fact, it was downright scrappy. But that’s exactly what made it so impressive.
A Statement Win - the Hard Way
Coming off a loss to the Kings in their last meeting, the Knicks knew they had to clean things up. Head coach Mike Brown didn’t sugarcoat it: “They punched us in the mouth, and we didn’t respond well.”
This time around, the Knicks brought the fight. The defense was locked in, the energy was contagious, and even when the offense sputtered, the effort never wavered.
“It was an ugly game,” Jalen Brunson admitted postgame. “But we were able to grind it out and find a way to win, and I think that’s very important for us.”
That’s the kind of win that says something. Not just about where the Knicks are, but about where they’re headed.
Defense, Depth, and a Different Look to Close
One of the biggest storylines from this win? The closing lineup. With Karl-Anthony Towns on the bench late, Brown stuck with a group that was clicking - even if it wasn’t the usual suspects.
“I know at the end of the game, we had a group out on the floor that’s playing well, and it’s a tight ball game, so I just rode that group to the end,” Brown explained. “We had Deuce out there, who’s not a starter, and Mitch out there, who’s not a starter.”
That’s not a knock on Towns - far from it. In fact, KAT took it in stride.
“[Coach] saw what he saw. We got a win.
That’s the most important thing,” Towns said. “That’s all I care about.
That’s all this team cares about - the win.”
It’s a team-first mentality that’s becoming more and more visible with every game.
Mitchell Robinson’s Impact Goes Beyond the Box Score
Mitchell Robinson may not be logging massive minutes, but when he’s on the floor, he’s making them count. His defensive presence was a game-changer against Sacramento.
“He brought a level of energy to us tonight, especially on defense,” Brown said. “That got us over the hump.”
Robinson himself has embraced a new role with maturity and focus.
“It was rough at first. I want to play every game,” he said of the team’s minute management plan.
“But I put my pride and ego to the side and just stick with the plan - and it’s working out. Why fix something that’s not broken?”
That kind of buy-in is crucial, especially as the Knicks look to sustain this momentum.
Cleaning Up the Details
One area the Knicks still need to tighten up? Turnovers. Brown was clear that many of them were self-inflicted.
“I thought we didn’t do a great job of playing off of two feet,” he said. “Whenever you play off of one foot, you’re gonna get yourself in trouble.”
It’s a fundamental issue, but one that’s fixable - and the kind of thing that separates good teams from great ones down the stretch.
Brunson echoed that sentiment: “Our attention to detail, our focus - those are big components for us. We have the ability to be a really good team if we do those things. The little things have to be important.”
Turning the Corner
There’s no denying it - this Knicks team looks different. There’s a confidence building, a cohesion forming. And with each win, the belief grows stronger.
“It feels great,” Robinson said. “We’re really making a turn and we’re really getting our s-t together.”
That about sums it up.
The Knicks have found something - and if they can keep building on it, they’re going to be a problem for the rest of the league.