The Knicks used a team attack and defense to take care of the LA Clippers in the 2nd half and end NY’s 4-game losing streak with a 123-111 win at Madison Square Garden on a Tuesday night.
LA has talent and one of the better defenses in the NBA statistically — but are having a horrible season at 13-22 coming in.
NY was down most of the 1st half, and trailed 56-51 at intermission, but took care of business in the 2nd half.
Jalen Brunson was the main point of attack for the Knicks early — and he hardly missed a shot all evening — scoring 26 points on 9-12 shooting (4-5 from 3).
In the 2nd half, everybody ate:
- Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 20 pts on 6-18 shooting (0-4 from 3) with 11 rebounds and 7 assists,
- OG Anunoby had 20 pts (on 8-10 shooting),
- Mikal Bridges had 15 pts (on 7-14 shooting), and
- Miles McBride had 16 pts (4-11 from 3).
- The bench was great too: Jordan Clarkson had 12 pts (on 5-9 shooting), Mitchell Robinson had 4 pts, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 24 minutes, and Tyler Kolek played well with 5 assists and 4 rebounds in 14 minutes. Guerschon Yabusele also played well with 8 pts in 13 minutes, after getting his shot blocked early and looking like a modern-day Clarence Weatherspoon.
Kawhi Leonard led LA with 25 pts, James Harden had 23, and Ivica Zubak had 22 pts on 11-14 shooting, and John Collins had 18 pts on 7-9 shooting.
“I applaud our guys,” said Knick coach Mike Brown afterwards. “We hit some adversity. One of our standards is [to] stay connected. It’s up to me, and KAT and Jalen to keep the group uplifted and connected, as well as everyone else in that locker room.”
“For the most part, we played a little desperate tonight,” said Jalen Brunson. “We needed a win. The way we competed, the way we played, even if we were down in the first half, was Knicks basketball.”
“Shoutout to our bench coming into tonight,” added Karl-Anthony Towns. “Understanding the magnitude of the game and us being on a four-game losing streak and having the competitiveness to do whatever it takes to get us a win.”
NY improves to 24-13; LA falls to 13-23.
1. Clippers Jump Out to 14-5 Lead — But NY Comes Right Back
The Knicks had lost 4 in a row coming in and were CRUSHED by Eastern leaders Detroit — so this was another big gut-check game for NY — and yet the Clippers jumped out to a 14-5 lead as they hit their shots and NY didn’t.
But Mikal Bridges hit a 3, OG dunked off a KAT assist, and Miles McBride hit a 3 and NY was right back in it at 14-13.
The game stayed close through the end of the 1st half, LA with a 31-27 lead.
2. Clippers Lead by 56-51 at the Half
Miles McBride — who has been on a TEAR with 3-pt shooting, having gone 5-6 from 3 the game before against Detroit — hit 2 more 3’s at the start of the 2nd quarter to pull NY within 37-36.
Deuce from deep! pic.twitter.com/CT8Y67Ylx9
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 8, 2026
A Mitchell Robinson slam tied the game at 40-40.
KAT lobs it up to Mitch for the jam pic.twitter.com/3VPZPkEf53
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 8, 2026
The game stayed close throughout the 2nd quarter, and was 51-51 with 2:23 left, but LA snaked out to a 56-51 halftime lead on buckets by Kawhi Leonard late in the period: a pullup and then a 3.
3. NY Leads 90-87 After 3 Quarters
The game stayed close throughout the 3rd quarter — no matter what the Knicks did to try and take control — LA had an answer. James Harden does not get as many flop calls these days — but he got two in the 3rd quarter, including one where he threw himself to the ground on a drive. LA retained possession and Harden hit a 3 for an 82-79 lead with 3:44 left. A Brook Lopez 3 gave LA an 85-81 lead with 2:42 left.
And then finally — NY pushed back hard — a Brunson floater, and then a Mitchell Robinson offensive rebound and slam for an 85-85 tie.
Jordan Clarkson made a drive-and-1 and Mikal Bridges hit a floater off a beautiful pass from Kolek with 22 seconds left and NY had a 90-87 lead entering the 4th.
perfect pass from kolek and mikal puts it away 🫡
vote KNICKS for #NBAAllStar starters ⭐️ https://t.co/Ov3esq1i8z pic.twitter.com/yjljRMTf7u
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 8, 2026
4. NY Takes Control in 4th
Karl-Anthony Towns — who only took 4 shots the game before against Detroit — took it to the hole in the 4th quarter over and over again and the Knicks started to assert control.
KAT hit a drive-and-1 off a beautiful Tyler Kolek assist, and then KAT made a reverse-layup inside for a 95-88 Knick lead.
Tyler Kolek scored on a drive and NY was up 97-88 just like that. Kolek and McBride were playing together to start the quarter.
Ivica Zubac answered with some buckets, but a McBride pullup, KAT free throws and yet another KAT drive off a McBride assist put NY up 103-92.
2️⃣ has 16 PTS and counting 🔥 pic.twitter.com/dWVTPiWiG2
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 8, 2026
Kolek grabbed a rebound and fed OG ahead with a beautiful ahead of-the-field pass for a dunk and NY had a 13-pt lead at 105-92 with 7:07 left.
OG ANUNOBY‼️
vote KNICKS for #NBAAllStar starters ⭐️ https://t.co/Ov3esq1i8z pic.twitter.com/LxT40zbPKf
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 8, 2026
John Collins came back with a 3 and a drive-and-1 to pull LA within 10 — but Brunson made a pullup, and Guerschon Yabusele hit a runner and then a 3 and NY was up 115-100.
Again LA put up one final run to pull within 9 — with buckets by Harden, Kris Dunn, Zubac, and Collins — but NY had answers — a deuce by Mikal Bridges, a 3 by OG, and another jumper by Bridges and it was 122-110 NY with 2 minutes left and LA raised the white flag, emptying their bench.
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