Knicks head coach Mike Brown highlighted his team’s resilience following a 114-113 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Thursday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
“Our guys had plenty of opportunities… nobody would have been mad at them on a couple of different occasions if they just threw the towel in. And it’s not our group,” Brown said.
He emphasized the team’s competitive spirit despite multiple absences. “We have a standard, no matter who’s on the floor… you got to sacrifice, be connected, have a competitive spirit. Our group has that from top to bottom,” Brown added.
Brown pointed to defensive adjustments that helped the Knicks in the second half. “Big thing during the game… our level of physicality increased the right way defensively. I’m very proud of our guys for doing that,” he said.
He praised individual contributions, noting, “Tyler [Kolek] was fabulous on both ends of the floor… Jordan [Clarkson] hit some timely threes. Trey was our defensive player of the game. OG with the steal at the end of the game. And our MVP, Jalen Brunson… he says, ‘I’m getting this win. I’m going for it.’ And he came through. That’s what real MVPs do.”
Brown discussed his decision to start Mohamed Diawara, citing opportunity and potential. “As soon as I knew that guys were going to be out, I was going to start him. He’s a young guy with a really good feel. Anytime I can find time for him on the floor, I’m going to try to do it,” he said.
He also addressed Tyler Kolek’s breakout performance. “The opportunity is there for him and to see him take advantage of it is huge… I just didn’t want him to lose sight of that ability. He can score. He can pass. Defensively, he’s been physically tough every single possession,” Brown explained.
The Knicks overcame a 16-point first-quarter deficit, with Kolek recording career highs of 16 points and 11 assists, helping New York close the game strong. Jalen Brunson led the team with 25 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, while OG Anunoby contributed 16 points, including the critical defensive play that sealed the win.
Indiana was paced by Andrew Nembhard with 31 points and Pascal Siakam with 26, but the Pacers fell short despite shooting 46% overall. New York shot 47% from the field and 40% from three, extending their winning streak to seven games and improving their resilience under Brown’s guidance.
