New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown lauded his team’s effort following a 126-124 Christmas Day win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. “Cleveland came in and did a heck of a job today… Kenny Atkinson has done a fabulous job with those guys,” Brown said, giving credit to the opponent.
Brown emphasized the role of his bench in the comeback. “Our bench was fantastic. They put us in position down the stretch so a guy like Jalen… can go show everybody why he is that,” he explained. Jordan Clarkson contributed 25 points off the bench, while Tyler Kolek added 16 points and nine assists, sparking the late-game rally.
The coach highlighted Mitchell Robinson’s impact on both ends. “Mitch was fantastic on the offensive glass and he was fantastic defensively in that second half, especially during that run,” Brown said, pointing to his 13 rebounds and key defensive plays.
Brown also praised Tyler Kolek’s clutch performance. “Tyler obviously hit some big, big, big shots for us. But not only that, he was great defensively… he had to match up with Garland, who was having a really good game,” Brown said.
The head coach credited Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns for their roles in the comeback. “Our defensive player of the game, Mikal, his physicality without fouling was phenomenal. KAT with a double-double was really big for us,” Brown said. He emphasized the team’s connection and competitive spirit as factors in sustaining the comeback.
Brown discussed the team’s mentality during the 17-point fourth-quarter deficit. “There could be a lot of bickering and finger-pointing, but everybody just kept talking about trying to find a way… let’s try to string three stops together,” he said, noting the importance of communication and belief in each other.
The coach also reflected on player development and resilience. “When your numbers are called, you’ve got to be ready. Our group is extremely connected. It’s about sacrifice and belief in each other,” Brown said. He highlighted Kolek’s toughness after he went six of 12 in the second half following a slow start. “He walks by me and looks me in my eye and goes, ‘I made shots,’ and it made me smile inside. That’s the type of toughness he’s got to show.”
Brown described the victory as one of the team’s best of the season. “It’s Christmas Day, we’re down by 17, and we will. It’s one of our best wins of the year. For our guys to keep battling and not get all out of sorts… you can learn a lot from situations like this,” he said.
The Knicks improved to 21-9, extending their Christmas Day winning streak to three seasons, while Cleveland fell to 17-15. Brown’s remarks underscore the importance of bench contributions, player resilience, and team chemistry in high-pressure situations.
