Everything felt fine two weeks ago. Honestly, that’s the scary part about the NBA. You’re riding high, looking at the Eastern Conference standings, and suddenly the wheels start wailing. The latest news on the Knicks is a classic New York mood swing: one minute they’re winning the NBA Cup and eyeing a Finals run, the next they’ve dropped seven of nine games and the fan base is looking for the nearest ledge.
It’s been a brutal stretch since New Year’s Eve.
The biggest blow? Jalen Brunson’s right ankle. He went down just five minutes into the January 14th loss against the Sacramento Kings. He’s been out since, including a frustrating 126-113 loss to the Warriors where the Knicks actually led by 17 in the first quarter before the defense basically decided to go on a coffee break. When Brunson isn't there to steady the ship, the offense looks like a group of guys who just met at a local YMCA.
The KAT Problem and Defensive Woes
Karl-Anthony Towns was supposed to be the missing piece. In theory, a spacing big who can score 25 in his sleep is the perfect partner for Brunson. But lately? It’s been rough. Over his last seven games, KAT is averaging just 16.7 points. That’s rookie-level production from a guy the Knicks traded a huge chunk of their soul (and Donte DiVincenzo) to get.
His shooting has cratered to 28% from deep in this stretch. Head coach Mike Brown—who took over this season—has even had to call out his lack of hustle. If you watched the Kings game, you saw it. Towns looked gapped. He went scoreless in the second half while Brunson was in the locker room. That shouldn't happen to a superstar.
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The defense is even worse.
- Opponents are shooting nearly 40% from three against them since the calendar flipped.
- The team's defensive rating is currently hovering near the bottom of the league for January.
- Josh Hart missed eight games with an ankle injury, and the Knicks went 3-5 in that span.
Hart is back now, which helps, but the "Dirt Dog" energy hasn't quite fixed the leaks. New York is giving up 119 points per game during this nine-game slide. That’s not winning basketball. It’s barely professional basketball.
Trade Rumors: Who is Coming to the Garden?
With the February 5th trade deadline looming, Leon Rose is definitely working the phones. The news on the Knicks trade front is getting specific. They need a backup big and a secondary ball-handler who can actually play defense.
The Guerschon Yabusele experiment seems over. He’s essentially become a $2 million trade chip that nobody is particularly excited about. The front office is reportedly looking at Marvin Bagley III from the Wizards as a lob threat. There’s also talk about reuniting with Precious Achiuwa or finding a way to snag a defensive wing like Jaren Jackson Jr., though the latter feels like a pipe dream given the Knicks' lack of assets.
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They are currently $150,000 below the second apron. That is a microscopic amount of wiggle room. They can’t take back a cent more than they send out. This means any deal they make has to be a perfect financial puzzle.
The Injury Report for the Suns Game
As they head into a three-game homestand starting tonight against the Phoenix Suns, the status of Jalen Brunson is the only thing that matters. He’s officially "questionable." If he plays, the Garden will erupt. If he doesn't, we're looking at heavy doses of Miles McBride and rookie Tyler Kolek.
Mitchell Robinson is also back after some "injury management" rest. They need his rim protection desperately because, frankly, KAT isn't scaring anyone at the basket right now.
What to Watch For Next
The season isn't over. Not even close. New York is 25-16, which is still second in the East. They are four games behind the Detroit Pistons—yeah, you read that right, the Pistons are the top seed—but the gap is closing for the wrong reasons.
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If you want to track the recovery, watch the first six minutes of the Suns game. If KAT isn't aggressive early and the Knicks aren't closing out on shooters, the panic in Manhattan is going to reach a fever pitch. Keep an eye on the transition defense specifically; it's where the Knicks have looked most disconnected during this 1-3 road trip.
Practical Steps for Fans
- Monitor the 5:00 PM ET injury update: This is when the final word on Brunson usually drops.
- Watch the bench rotation: See if Landry Shamet gets more burn now that he's recovered from his shoulder injury.
- Check the standings: The East is a mess. A two-game winning streak puts the Knicks back in the "contender" conversation immediately.
The talent is there. The health isn't. Until those two things align, every game feels like a coin flip.
The Knicks have three weeks to decide if this roster is enough to satisfy James Dolan’s expectation of a Finals run. If they don't turn it around by the end of this homestand, expect a major shakeup before the deadline.
The defense has to be the priority. You can't outscore everyone when your All-Star center is in a slump and your point guard is hobbled. It's time to get back to the "grind-it-out" identity that made this team scary in the first place.