What's the New York Knicks Score: Why This Slump Feels Different

Honestly, checking what's the New York Knicks score lately has been a bit of a gut punch for fans who thought this team was destined for a top-two seed. If you just woke up and looked at the box score from Thursday night, it’s not pretty. The Knicks fell to the Golden State Warriors 126–113 at the Chase Center.

That loss marks their second in a row on this tough West Coast swing.

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But the final score doesn't really tell the whole story of why things are feeling a little shaky in Manhattan right now. The Knicks are currently 25–16. On paper, that’s great. Third in the Eastern Conference is nothing to sneeze at. Yet, if you’ve been watching the games instead of just scrolling through the ESPN app, you’ve seen a team that looks tired.

Breaking Down the Recent Knicks Scores and That Warriors Loss

The January 15 game against Golden State was basically a "scheduled loss" the moment the injury report came out. Jalen Brunson sat this one out with a sprained right ankle. He actually picked up that injury the night before in a 112–101 loss to the Sacramento Kings. Without their engine, the Knicks tried to keep pace, but you aren't beating Stephen Curry and a resurgent Jimmy Butler (who dropped 32 for the Dubs) with a depleted backcourt.

OG Anunoby did his best to carry the load, matching a team-high 25 points. He played 37 minutes, which is a lot, but that’s just how Mike Brown—who took over coaching duties from Tom Thibodeau this season—operates.

Here is how the scores have looked over this recent stretch:

• Jan 15: 113–126 Loss @ Golden State
• Jan 14: 101–112 Loss @ Sacramento
• Jan 11: 123–114 Win @ Portland
• Jan 9: 107–112 Loss @ Phoenix

Four games. Three losses. The only win came against a Portland team that’s basically auditioning for the draft lottery at this point.

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Why the Scoring Output is Dropping

Earlier in the season, the Knicks were an offensive juggernaut. We're talking about a team that hung 146 on Utah back in December. Right now, the offense is averaging about 118.9 points per game, which is still 7th in the league. But in three of their last five games, they’ve failed to hit that mark.

Part of it is the shooting luck balancing out. Mikal Bridges is still a rock, playing nearly 35 minutes a night and giving you 16 points with elite defense. But the bench hasn't been the "Nova Knicks" depth we expected. Miles McBride has had flashes, like his 16-point night against the Clippers recently, but the consistency isn't there when the starters get winded.

Then there is the Karl-Anthony Towns factor. KAT is averaging 21 points and 9 rebounds. He's been good. Kinda great, actually. But there are still those games—like the Detroit disaster on January 5 where the Knicks lost 90–121—where he only took four shots. When the Knicks score low, it’s usually because the ball isn't finding Towns in his spots.

The Injury Bug is Biting Hard

You can't talk about what's the New York Knicks score without mentioning the training room. It’s starting to look like a MASH unit.

1. Jalen Brunson: The ankle sprain is the big one. He’s "day-to-day," but the Knicks are notoriously tight-lipped about returns.
2. Josh Hart: He’s been dealing with right ankle soreness and is questionable for the next home game.
3. Mitchell Robinson: He's finally back on the court, but he's playing limited minutes (around 19 per game) to keep that ankle from flaring up again.

When Brunson is out, everything changes. The pace slows down. The "gravity" that opens up lanes for OG and Mikal disappears. Against the Warriors, you could see the frustration. The Knicks actually led 35–30 after the first quarter, but they just couldn't sustain it. They got outscored 37–28 in the third quarter, and that was essentially the game.

What's Next for the Knicks Scoreboard?

The road trip is over, thank God. The Knicks are headed back to the Garden, and they desperately need some home cooking. They face the Phoenix Suns tonight, January 17, at 7:30 PM ET.

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It’s a massive game. The Suns are 24–17, basically the Western Conference version of the Knicks. If Brunson can’t go, expect a lot of Tyler Kolek and Jordan Clarkson. Clarkson was a mid-season addition meant to provide "instant offense," and he’s been okay, averaging about 11 points off the bench, but he’s not a floor general.

The Eastern Conference standings are tighter than a pair of skinny jeans. Boston is sitting at the top, and the Knicks are fighting to keep that 3rd spot away from a surging Toronto Raptors squad.

Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors

If you are tracking the scores for betting or just to stay informed, keep an eye on the "Over/Under." The Knicks have been hitting the "Over" a lot lately (like the 228.5 total against GSW), mostly because their defense has slipped to 18th in the league. Mike Brown’s system is faster than Thibs’, but they are giving up way too many easy looks in transition.

Check the lineup 30 minutes before tip-off. If Josh Hart is out along with Brunson, the Knicks' rebounding takes a massive hit. Hart is the heart of their transition game. Without him, they become a half-court team that struggles to create easy baskets.

Keep a close eye on the minutes for the starters. If OG Anunoby is pushing 40 minutes again tonight, he might be a fade for the next game against Dallas on Monday. The fatigue is real, and it’s showing up in the fourth-quarter shooting percentages.

The Knicks are still a contender. Nobody is panicking yet. But these mid-January scores are a reminder that the NBA season is a marathon, and the Knicks look like they’ve been sprinting since October.