New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown highlighted his team’s depth and defensive effort following a 142-103 rout of the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on Friday. “The last five guys that we put in, they played the right way… that group got a little better today,” Brown said, pointing to contributions from Jeremy Sochan, Jordan Clarkson, Ariel Hukporti, Tyler Kolek, and Pacome Dadiet.
Brown emphasized the team’s dominance in multiple facets. “76 points in the paint, 17 second chance points… 22 fast break points, 14 offensive rebounds. Great, great job… 11 turnovers as fast as we’re trying to play, it’s a phenomenal job,” he said, citing OG Anunoby’s performance as both offensively impactful and defensively crucial. “He’s guarding point guards, guarding Jokic, and everybody in between… that’s defensive player of the year type stuff,” Brown added.
On the team’s defensive adjustments, Brown noted progress over the season. “It feels like the snap of a finger, but I understood our struggle… all our guys stayed with it, they just believed,” he said, highlighting the Knicks’ shift from one of the league’s weakest defenses to elite performance. “We’ve got length, physicality, versatility… it’s all there for a good defensive team makeup, and it’s starting to show after the work we put in.”
Brown also praised young players gaining confidence from meaningful minutes. “Anytime young guys like that can see the ball go in and do some things out on the floor in an NBA game, it helps with the belief… it helps not just with them believing, but also their teammates,” he said, referencing Dadiet and other bench contributors.
Jalen Brunson’s leadership in managing pace and reading defensive schemes drew recognition. “He’s taking what the defense is giving him… he believes in his teammates, and they’re making the plays they need to make,” Brown said. The coach also noted the team’s focus on discipline at the free-throw line. “We were sending them to the free throw line, especially in the second quarter, and our guys did a better job… they had nine the whole second half,” he said.
Brown described the Knicks as a connected, competitive unit. “This team is deep, really good… our bench is up all game, we’re all holding each other accountable, and I’m being held accountable, which is great,” he said.
Anunoby led the Knicks with 34 points, including six three-pointers and perfect free-throw shooting, while Karl-Anthony Towns added 19 points and 17 rebounds. Josh Hart contributed 18 points as New York’s starters rested in the fourth quarter. Denver’s Nikola Jokic scored 38 points but could not prevent the franchise’s worst home loss since 1998, with Jamal Murray leaving in the first half due to a sprained ankle.
New York now starts a five-game road trip and will face the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, while Denver travels to Oklahoma City on Monday.
