New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown acknowledged the team’s struggles after Wednesday’s 112-101 loss to the Sacramento Kings.
“Give Sacramento a lot of credit. They did a great job defensively and offensively against us throughout the course of the game,” Brown said. “They kicked our behind, but we didn’t follow our game plan.”
Brown emphasized New York’s inability to execute in the paint. “We’re a team that touches the paint, sprays the basketball. We had plenty of opportunities but kept driving and shooting tough shots that we either missed or got blocked,” he explained.
The Knicks also gave up multiple middle drives, which Brown said was a key factor in the loss. “We just gave up middle drive after middle drive. Give Precious Achiuwa a lot of credit… he had a big game, impacted it in a lot of ways, 20 points and 14 rebounds,” Brown noted.
Brown admitted his team’s defense fell short, particularly in one-on-one situations. “Every time they drove the basketball, they drove to your chest. When you stick your hands out, it’s going to be a foul… we sent them to the free throw line for 20 free throws in the third quarter,” he said.
The injury to Jalen Brunson early in the first quarter compounded New York’s struggles. “We didn’t respond at all. They took it to us, and we were just going through the motions,” Brown said. “Even before Jalen got hurt, we weren’t following the game plan.”
Brown stressed the importance of urgency and fundamentals. “Next-play speed… when you fall down, you’ve got to get up, sprint down the floor, just in case there’s a long rebound. There was no urgency on that particular play, a five-point swing,” he explained.
The coach also addressed his pregame encounter with Kings owner Vivek Ranadive. “He just said hello. The fans were fantastic. I had a great time here, but we got our behinds kicked,” Brown said.
Reflecting on the defeat, Brown remained focused on the season ahead. “We’re not going to win all 82. We’ll have our peaks and valleys, but we keep trying to get better from our wins and our losses,” he said.
Sacramento was led by DeMar DeRozan’s 27 points, moving him into 22nd on the NBA all-time scoring list, while Precious Achiuwa added 20 points and 14 rebounds. Zach LaVine scored 25, and Russell Westbrook contributed 19 points and 11 assists.
New York struggled without Brunson, with Mikal Bridges leading the team with 19 points and the Knicks shooting just 8-of-41 from three-point range. The loss drops the Knicks to 25-15, and they will face Golden State on Thursday, while the Kings host Washington on Friday.
