NEW YORK, NY — The New York Knicks rediscovered their mojo Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden in front of 19,812 fans, snapping a season high four-game losing streak with a 123–111 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Head coach Mike Brown, who entered the night preaching patience amid the skid, saw his message resonate as the Knicks leaned into physicality without fouling, moving the ball around, and winning key effort plays that swung momentum in their favor.
“This is not a time for me to go crazy,” he said pregame. “Our guys care. They want to win. My job is to keep it real with them and coach them.”
The Knicks snapped their four-game losing streak Wednesday night with a win over the Clippers, improving to 24-13 on the season which is good for second in the Eastern Conference – Image Credit: NBA
The Knicks continue to feel the absence of Josh Hart, the team’s emotional engine, who has been sidelined since Christmas Day with a sprained right ankle. His impact goes far beyond the stat sheet, as New York has missed his hustle, energy, and ability to set the tone on both ends of the floor.
Hart watched in street clothes as his teammates fought back, but Hart, even on nights when his numbers aren’t loud, his presence provides relief for others and absorbs much of the game’s emotional grind. Since his injury, the Knicks are 3–4 without him, a reflection of just how important his energy, his All-Star level play and leadership are to this group.
New York trailed early after a sluggish start, falling behind 14–5 as the Clippers capitalized on hot shooting from Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. Brown burned an early timeout, and the Knicks responded with sharper ball movement and increased defensive pressure. Miles McBride, making his first start during the skid, provided an immediate spark, knocking down four three-pointers and setting the tone on both ends and playing with a level of confidence that is well needed.
By halftime, the Knicks had steadied themselves, trailing just 56–51 despite Leonard’s efficient scoring. McBride led New York with 14 points at the break, while Jalen Brunson quietly controlled the teams tempo.
Brunson, who recorded zero assists in the previous loss to Detroit, took command by balancing aggression with distribution. He finished with 26 points on 9-of-12 shooting, including 4-of-5 from three, and added seven assists as the Knicks’ offense flowed freely.
New York opened the third quarter with pace, attacking the paint and stringing together key stops, eventually going on a 20–5 run that went into the start of the fourth quarter.
Karl-Anthony Towns, limited to six points in the first half, erupted and responded with authority after intermission. The Dominican-American finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, drawing praise from Brown for impacting the game beyond scoring.
“He’s an explosive scorer,” Brown said. “But what I loved about tonight is he did what All-Stars do. When the shots weren’t falling early, he rebounded, defended, passed—found other ways to help us win.”
OG Anunoby continued his recent stretch of efficient play, scoring 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting while anchoring the defense against Leonard, who finished with 25 points but struggled to generate any consistent separation in the second half and late in the fourth.
New York’s effort showed up in the margins. The Knicks won every tracked 50/50 loose ball, out rebounding Los Angeles 48–40, and assisted on 31 of their 47 made field goals. McBride was named the Knicks’ Defensive Player of the Game after recording multiple deflections and taking on the challenge of guarding Harden throughout the night.
“Who’s Miles?” Brunson joked postgame. “Whatever is asked of him, he provides. That’s who he is.”
Miles McBride was named the Knicks’ Defensive Player of the Game, finishing with 16 points along with a steal and a block – Image Credit: NBA
Brown emphasized the defensive growth following the win:
“I thought our guys did a really good job trying to be physical without fouling. “When you have Harden and Kawhi, it’s going to be tough. But we competed, stayed connected, and that’s Knicks basketball.”
The victory improved New York to 16–4 at home and provided a much-needed reset as the Knicks look to build momentum heading forward.
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