The Garden used to be a fortress. Lately, though, it feels like the New York Knicks are living through a "good news, bad news" cycle that would give any fan whiplash. If you’ve been tracking the new york knicks game stats over the last few weeks, you know the vibe has shifted. One night they’re a well-oiled machine, and the next, they’re struggling to rotate on a basic perimeter screen.
Honestly, the January 15, 2026, loss to the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center was a perfect microcosm of where this team stands right now. A 126-113 final score doesn't quite capture the frustration. It wasn't just a loss; it was a game played without the engine. Jalen Brunson, the guy who basically carries the city on his shoulders, was out with a sprained right ankle he picked up the night before in Sacramento.
When you lose a guy averaging 28.2 points and 6.1 assists, things get messy fast.
The Brutal Reality of the Golden State Box Score
Without Brunson, the Knicks had to pivot. Miles "Deuce" McBride and OG Anunoby both stepped up, dropping 25 points apiece. McBride, specifically, was hunting his shot, going 6-of-12 from deep. But stats are funny. You can have two guys score 25 and still feel like the offense is stuck in mud because the gravity isn't there.
Karl-Anthony Towns had a night that looks incredible on paper but felt exhausting to watch. He grabbed a season-best 20 rebounds. That’s a monster number. He also chipped in 17 points, but the Knicks' offensive rating plummeted to 121.7 for the game while their defensive rating was a porous 135.7. You aren't winning many NBA games when you're giving up nearly 136 points per 100 possessions.
The Warriors just had too many weapons. Jimmy Butler—yeah, he's in the Bay now—put up 32 points. Steph Curry did Steph Curry things with 27 points. It felt like every time the Knicks made a run, Moses Moody (who went 7-of-9 from three) or Brandin Podziemski would hit a backbreaker.
Season-Long Trends You Can't Ignore
If we zoom out from the Golden State game and look at the broader new york knicks game stats for the 2025-26 season, some fascinating patterns emerge.
- The Glass is Ours: The Knicks are currently 2nd in the league in offensive rebounds, pulling down about 13.7 per game. Josh Hart is a big reason for this. Even in the Warriors loss where he only scored 5 points, he’s the guy crashing from the perimeter to keep possessions alive.
- Sharpshooting Success: Despite the recent slide, New York ranks 3rd in the NBA in three-point percentage at 38.3%. When the ball moves, they are lethal.
- The Defensive Identity Crisis: This is the weird part. Early in the season, they were a top-10 defense. Over the last 10 games, they’ve dipped into the bottom four in defensive rating. They’re missing rotations and getting killed in transition.
Why the Brunson Injury Changes Everything
Let's talk about Jalen. Before the ankle sprain in Sacramento, he was having an MVP-caliber run. He’s the first-year captain who actually acts like one. His efficiency is through the roof—shooting 48.1% from the field and over 85% from the line.
When he’s on the floor, the Knicks' assist-to-turnover ratio is 2.1, which is 5th best in the league. When he’s off? It’s a lot of isolation ball. We saw that against the Warriors. Mikal Bridges had 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting, which is super efficient, but the team only had 23 total assists.
The depth is also being tested. Jordan Clarkson, brought in to be that spark plug off the bench, had 11 points in 18 minutes against Golden State. He’s averaging about 10 points for the season. He’s doing his job, but he’s not a floor general. He’s a "get buckets" guy.
Breaking Down the KAT Impact
Karl-Anthony Towns has been exactly what the Knicks hoped for offensively. He’s averaging 21 points and 11.2 rebounds. He spaces the floor in a way Mitchell Robinson simply can't. Speaking of Robinson, he’s been steady when healthy, giving them about 9 boards a game, but the dynamic has shifted.
The Knicks are now a team that wants to outscore you rather than grind you into dust. They’re averaging 120 points per game (3rd in the NBA). That’s a massive departure from the old "Thibs-ball" where every game was a 98-95 slugfest.
The Road Ahead: Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're tracking new york knicks game stats to see where this team is heading by the playoffs, stop looking at the scoring averages and start looking at the "Four Factors."
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- Check the TO%: The Knicks are usually great at taking care of the ball (4th best in turnovers per game). If that number starts creeping up while Brunson is out, they’re in trouble.
- Watch the Defensive Rebound %: They are elite at offensive rebounding, but they’ve been giving up too many second-chance points lately.
- The Bench Plus/Minus: Keep an eye on guys like Tyler Kolek and Ariel Hukporti. In the Kings loss, the bench actually had some positive stretches, but they need consistency if they want to stay 2nd in the East.
The Knicks are currently 25-16. That’s a solid record, but they’ve lost seven of their last nine. The slide is real. Getting Brunson back—expected around January 17—is the first step. The second step is rediscovering that defensive grit that OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges were supposed to provide on the wings.
To stay ahead of the curve, monitor the team's defensive rating specifically in the first quarter of the next five games. If they continue to give up 30+ points in the opening frame, expect Mike Brown to shake up the starting rotation or tighten the leash on the help defense assignments.
Identify the trend: the Knicks are a high-ceiling offensive team that has forgotten how to lock its own front door. Fix the defense, and the stats will follow the wins.