A Very Merry Knicksmas

With just over ten minutes to go in the fourth quarter, the New York Knicks were trailing the Cleveland Cavaliers 103-86 on Christmas Day at the Garden. Things were not looking so good for the men in orange and blue. It certainly appeared as though the fans were going to go home with a lump of coal in their stockings. 

Oh well, you can't win them all. 

That's when the Knicks said "No so fast." Jordan Clarkson made a layup; then Tyler Kolek sank a three-pointer. In all, New York would go on a 40-21 run to beat the Cavs 126-124 in what was without question the weirdest, wildest game of the season. 

Overcoming huge fourth-quarter deficits is nothing new for the Knicks. They did it twice against the Boston Celtics in last year's playoffs. What is new, at least for this team, is that it was the bench that played a major role in the comeback. Kolek had 11 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter and had a huge block on what would've been a Donovan Mitchell layup with 1:45 left in regulation; Mitchell Robinson had eight of his 13 rebounds in the final quarter, including two key offensive boards that led to three pointers by Brunson and Kolek; and Clarkson led all bench scorers with 25 points.

The evolution of Kolek has been something to behold. With the exception of the game against the Sixers, in winch he scored only two points and committed four turnovers, he has been, by far, the biggest surprise. Under Mike Brown, the 2024 second-round pick from Marquette has blossomed into a reliable backup to Brunson. With 2:29 left in the Cup game against the Spurs, when Brown needed another ball handler to take the heat off Brunson, he didn't hesitate to send Kolek into the game, even though Mikal Bridges was available. Kolek responded with two assists, two rebounds and four points. 

That is an example of the kind of trust Brown has shown in his players, and it has paid off handsomely. With OG Anunoby and Brunson both missing games due to injury, the bench, which was often an afterthought under Tom Thobodeau, has become an integral part of the success of this team. Clarkson, the man Leon Rose signed for $2.2 million during the offseason, has averaged 10.4 points per game coming off the bench. He has 17 double-digit point games this season. Deuce McBride is averaging 11.6 points per game, and has 10 double-digit point games. 

Accountability has become a hallmark of this coach; that and tough love. When his players make mistakes, instead of benching them, he points out what they did wrong and then challenges them to do better. Against the Timberwolves, Kolek shot only 3 for 10 in the first half and was chided by his coach. He responded by going 6 for 12 in the second half. On the flip side, Brown has shown that he isn't afraid to bench a player when it's warranted. Going back to that Cup game, it was clear Bridges wasn't shooting the ball well, so he sat the final 6:22 of the game. Can you imagine Thibs doing that?

The more I see of this team, the more excited I get about their chances. With McBride and Landry Shamet due back soon, they seem to have everything they need to make another deep run in the playoffs. They have the best clutch player in the NBA in Brunson, a duel threat at center in Karl-Anthony Towns and Robinson, one of the best defensive forwards in the game in Anunoby, and a budding young star coming off the bench in Kolek. There's only one team that's deeper and more talented than the Knicks, and that team - the Oklahoma City Thunder - plays in the other conference.

Yes, it was a Very Merry Knicksmas at MSG yesterday. And if the Basketball gods continue to smile on them, 2026 could well be a Very Happy New Year.