New Year’s Disappointment for the Knicks

The start of 2026 didn’t go as planned for the Knicks, who delivered one of their least impressive games of the season. They couldn’t seem to gather any momentum during their match against the Hawks.

A glaring moment came as the first half was closing. Jalen Brunson, without defensive pressure, took too long to advance the ball and was penalized for an eight-second violation. It was just… not a good sign.

In the Knicks’ 111-99 defeat at Madison Square Garden, their repeated unforced errors illustrated a lack of focus, summing up their entire performance. They were already missing key players like Karl-Anthony Towns due to illness and Mitchell Robinson for load management, leaving them scrambling for coverage in the center position. Add to that the absence of Josh Hart and Landry Shamet, and it was clear the team was stretched thin.

Having just won three consecutive games, the loss marked their second straight defeat as they prepared for a challenging matchup against the 76ers the following day. Since claiming the NBA Cup, they’ve managed a 5-4 record, which isn’t what fans were hoping for.

There was a glimmer of hope in the fourth quarter when the Knicks opened with an 11-0 run, narrowing the gap to 13 points and reigniting the crowd’s energy at MSG. However, Luke Kennard’s back-to-back three-pointers quickly restored a more comfortable 19-point lead for the Hawks.

Although they got as close as 11 points with just under four minutes remaining, and then to nine with just over a minute left, there was never a moment in which a comeback felt likely.

Head Coach Mike Brown has been increasingly vocal about the Knicks’ defensive issues lately; this time, it seemed less about defense and more about a brutal struggle on both ends. Brunson led the team with 24 points, but without enough backup from OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges, it was kind of hopeless.

Anunoby contributed 19 points, mostly when the Knicks were already down, while Bridges added 18 points, with more than half coming in the last quarter.

Collectively, the Knicks shot a mere 36 percent from the field and around 20 percent from beyond the arc. In contrast, the Hawks had a stronger showing, with Nickell-Alexander-Walker and Onyeka Okongwu each notching 23 points and the team hitting 48 percent overall.

With injuries forcing the Knicks to rely on their bench, it wasn’t a successful strategy. Jordan Clarkson was absent, and Ariel Hukporti, who started in light of the injuries, didn’t leave a mark on the game. Tyler Kolek seemed to lose his previous spark, and Kevin McCuller Jr. didn’t step up in Hart’s absence. Mohamed Diawara missed all of his attempts, while Pacom Dadier and Trey Jamison III had little to offer in their brief appearances.

Only Gershon Yabusele somewhat held his own among the reserves, but overall, the team was uncharacteristically flat. After a solid streak earlier in the season, winning 11 out of 12 games—including the NBA Cup Final—they now face questions about their consistency. Perhaps a swift turnaround is needed, but it’s hard to say how they’ll respond.