If you’re looking for who won Knicks game tonight, I’ve got the bad news ready: the New York Knicks dropped another one at the Garden, falling 106-99 to the Phoenix Suns. It was a gritty, sometimes ugly Saturday night matchup on January 17, 2026.
Honestly, it’s getting a little concerning for the Madison Square Garden faithful. The Knicks have now lost three straight. Even worse, they’ve dropped eight of their last ten games.
The Suns came into the city missing some momentum after losing the first two legs of their road trip, but they got a massive boost with Devin Booker returning from an ankle injury. Booker didn’t look perfect, but he didn’t have to be. He finished with 27 points, including some back-breaking free throws late in the fourth quarter.
The Breakdown: What Happened at the Garden?
The Knicks were basically fighting an uphill battle before the tip-off even happened. Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart were both out with ankle injuries. When you take the head of the snake and the heart of the team off the floor, things get messy.
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It was a back-and-forth affair for most of the night. New York actually led 27-19 after the first quarter, looking like they might snap the skid. Karl-Anthony Towns and Miles "Deuce" McBride were doing everything they could. Both finished with 23 points. McBride is really proving he can handle a heavier load, but he can’t do it all.
The turning point? A massive 15-0 run by the Suns that spanned across the end of the third and the start of the fourth quarter. One minute it’s tied at 87, and the next, Collin Gillespie hits a three, Booker converts a three-point play, and Mark Williams hits two from the stripe. Just like that, it was 95-87, and the air was sucked out of the arena.
Key Stats and Standout Players
If you're tracking who won Knicks game tonight, you have to look at the turnover battle. New York gave the ball away 17 times. That's just too many against a veteran Suns team.
- Devin Booker (Suns): 27 points, 12-for-14 from the free-throw line.
- Karl-Anthony Towns (Knicks): 23 points, 10+ rebounds.
- Miles McBride (Knicks): 23 points, filling in for Brunson.
- OG Anunoby (Knicks): 21 points, but struggled with some late-game efficiency.
- Grayson Allen (Suns): 16 points and one very bloody nose after a collision.
The game was physical. Like, "90s Eastern Conference" physical. There were guys diving for loose balls everywhere. Grayson Allen looked like he’d been in a boxing match by the time the final buzzer rang.
Why the Knicks are Struggling Right Now
It’s easy to point at the injuries, and yeah, missing Brunson is huge. He's an All-Star. But the Knicks' defense has been uncharacteristically leaky lately. Usually, a Tom Thibodeau team is a fortress, but they allowed the Suns to shoot their way back into the game during that disastrous second quarter where Phoenix dropped 36 points.
They also fell to 16-5 at home. That might sound good, but for a team that was dominant at MSG earlier in the season, losing three straight in your own building is a gut punch.
The bench didn't provide much relief either. Outside of McBride (who was essentially a starter tonight), the production was thin. Jordan Clarkson tried to spark things, but the chemistry just wasn't there.
What’s Next for New York?
There’s no time to sit around and pout. The Knicks have a massive test coming up on Monday, January 19, against the Dallas Mavericks.
If Brunson and Hart can't go, New York is going to have to find a way to tighten up the perimeter defense. Luka Dončić isn't exactly the guy you want to see when you're on a three-game losing streak.
The fans are starting to get restless. The "doomers" on social media are out in full force, but it's important to remember this is a long season. They're still third in the East, though the gap between them and the middle of the pack is shrinking fast.
Actionable Steps for Knicks Fans
- Watch the Injury Report: Keep a close eye on Jalen Brunson’s status for Monday morning shootaround. If he’s a go, the odds flip back in New York's favor.
- Tighten the Rotation: Look for Thibs to potentially shorten the bench even more or give some of the younger wings like Pacome Dadiet a look if the veterans keep turning the ball over.
- Focus on the Paint: KAT needs to be more aggressive when Booker is on the floor. Drawing fouls and getting to the line is the only way to slow down the Suns' transition game.
Knowing who won Knicks game tonight is just the start—the real story is how this team responds to their first true adversity of the 2026 season.