The Knicks sure needed that one.
New York’s 120-66 win over the Nets on Wednesday night not only snapped a four-game losing streak, but showed the MSG crowd — and themselves — that the team that was one of the best in the NBA is still there.
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And there was a lot to like from Wednesday’s performance.
The offense, which entered ranked in the bottom five of the league for January, scored 120 points, their highest since a win in Portland back on Jan. 11 (six games). The defense, which was much-maligned all season, allowed an NBA season-low 66 points on 29 percent shooting. And the 54-point margin is the biggest in Knicks franchise history.
“Just seeing us play the way we’re capable of playing…the things that we did out on the floor, we talked about, we drilled, watch film on,” coach Mike Brown said after the win. “And our guys are more than capable of. To go see them put it together for 48 minutes was a lot of fun.”
Consistency, or the lack thereof, has been the key for the Knicks during this rough patch. Some nights they’ll play inspired basketball on both ends of the floor, and others look like their loss to the lowly Mavericks this past Monday.
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“A win. It’s the most important thing. Find a way to break the ice and put one in the left column,” Karl-Anthony Towns said. “Good game, good day for us to show what we’re capable of. Consistency is what makes champions. We’ve got to find that consistency of bringing this kind of intensity, energy and execution every single night.”
Towns, unfairly or not, has been the face of the Knicks’ struggles. Coach Brown has subtly called out Towns’ need to “sacrifice” in his system, while the big man has acknowledged his struggles to adapt.
On Wednesday, Towns did it all. He scored 14 points on 5 of 8 shooting (2-for-3 from three) while coming down with eight rebounds, dishing three assists and getting one steal. He was a plus-21 on the court in his 20 minutes and his energy level was up and consistent throughout the game.
He was asked how the team can build on this win, and the second-year Knick said, with a grin, “Try to get two wins in a row, so…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/largest-win-franchise-history-knicks-044741369.html
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Publish date : 2026-01-22 04:47:00
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