Man, it was a rough one at the Garden last night. If you were hoping the New York Knicks would snap out of their recent funk against the Phoenix Suns, I’ve got some bad news. They didn't. The final Knicks game score ended up being 106-99 in favor of Phoenix, and honestly, the game felt even more disjointed than that seven-point gap suggests.
The Knicks are hurting. Literally. Playing without Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart—both sidelined with ankle issues—left a massive hole in the rotation that the bench just couldn't quite patch up. It's the third loss in a row for New York. They've now dropped eight of their last ten. At 16-5, their home record still looks okay on paper, but the "unbeatable" aura Madison Square Garden usually provides is starting to feel a little thin.
Breaking Down the 106-99 Loss
The vibe was actually pretty great early on. It was Alumni Night, so the building was packed with legends like Patrick Ewing, Walt Frazier, and Carmelo Anthony. Seeing Melo back at mid-court in that black "Once a Knick, always a Knick" jacket was probably the highlight of the night for most fans. But once the legends sat down and the actual game stayed centered, things got ugly.
Phoenix came in hungry. Devin Booker returned from his own ankle injury and looked... okay. He wasn't lights-out from the field, going just 7-of-18, but he basically lived at the free-throw line. He knocked down 12 of 14 from the charity stripe to finish with 27 points. That’s the thing about elite scorers; even when the jumper isn't falling, they find a way to bleed you dry.
The Stats That Matter
- Karl-Anthony Towns: 23 points, but struggled late.
- Deuce McBride: 23 points (stepped up big in Brunson's absence).
- OG Anunoby: 21 points, though the team's 17 turnovers negated a lot of his defensive impact.
- The 3-Point Disaster: New York went a dismal 1-for-10 from deep in the fourth quarter.
You can’t win in the modern NBA shooting like that in crunch time. Towns even caught some rare boos from the home crowd after airballing a wide-open look that could have shifted the momentum. It was just one of those nights where the rim felt like it had a lid on it.
Where the Game Was Won (and Lost)
The fourth quarter started with the game knotted up at 87. It was right there for the taking. Then, Collin Gillespie hit a huge three, Booker followed it with a three-point play, and suddenly the Suns had an eight-point lead. The Knicks never recovered.
Physicality was the name of the game. Grayson Allen nearly had his nose relocated during a scramble for a loose ball. There was a lot of diving, a lot of hacking, and frankly, a lot of sloppy basketball. When you have 17 turnovers like the Knicks did, you’re basically handing the opponent 20+ points on a silver platter. Without Brunson there to settle the offense, the Knicks went into "hero ball" mode way too early.
The KAT Problem?
Look, Karl-Anthony Towns is talented. We know this. But last night highlighted a nagging concern: his fourth-quarter disappearing acts. He only took one shot attempt in the final 10 minutes of the game. When your primary scoring option isn't demanding the ball in a tie game, you’re going to have a bad time.
The Suns' defense, led by Mark Williams (who had 14 points and 9 boards), did a solid job of making life miserable in the paint. But the Knicks' lack of spacing without their primary ball-handlers was the real killer. You could see the frustration on coach Mike Brown's face during the post-game presser. He kept mentioning "spacing and execution," which is coach-speak for "we stood around and watched each other."
What Most People Get Wrong About This Slump
People are going to look at the Knicks game score and blame the injuries. Sure, missing Brunson is huge. But the issues run deeper. The bench depth is being tested, and right now, it’s failing. Outside of Deuce McBride, who has been a revelation, there isn't enough consistent production.
There's also the defensive regression. The Knicks used to be a "grind you into dust" type of team. Lately, they’re giving up easy transition buckets and failing to close out on shooters. Phoenix didn't even play particularly well—they shot 41% from the field—but New York just couldn't capitalize.
Current Standings Check
Despite the skid, the Knicks are still hovering around the top of the Atlantic Division, but the gap is closing fast. They are currently 25-17 (or 23-12 depending on which specific live tracker you trust mid-January), but the momentum is moving the wrong way.
What’s Next for the Knicks?
The schedule doesn't get any easier. They’ve got the Dallas Mavericks coming to town on Monday for a 5:00 PM MLK Day tip-off. If Brunson and Hart aren't back by then, Luka Dončić might have a field day at the Garden.
Actionable Steps for Knicks Fans:
- Watch the Injury Report: Keep a close eye on Jalen Brunson’s status for Monday. If he’s out, expect the spread to move significantly against New York.
- Adjust Expectations: Until the starters return, New York is a middle-of-the-pack team. Don't let the early-season hype cloud the reality of their current health.
- Focus on the Glass: Mitchell Robinson had a monster night with 14 boards (8 offensive). If the Knicks are going to win ugly games, they need to keep dominating the second-chance opportunities.
Last night was a reminder that even in the mecca of basketball, stars run the show. Without theirs, the Knicks are just another team trying to stay above water. Let's see if they can find some of that old-school grit before Dallas rolls into town.
Next Step for You: Check the official NBA injury report tomorrow morning around 11:00 AM EST; that’s usually when the first definitive word on Brunson and Hart’s availability for the MLK Day game drops.