Category: Basketball

The Knicks had another abysmal defensive performance on Saturday. 

They allowed the Sixers to hit 47 percent of their three-point shots (36 three-point FGAs). They put up little resistance against Philadelphia’s starters. The trio of VJ Edgecombe, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid combined for 88 points on 62 percent shooting (53 FGAs). 

It was another game in a growing stretch where the Knicks struggled to get stops. 

How does it get fixed?

Maybe it’s as simple as getting Josh Hart and Landry Shamet back in the lineup? 

New York is 2-3 without Hart, who has been sidelined with an ankle injury.  

They have fared well in Shamet’s absence but they look like a team that can use his on-ball defense. 

New York’s point of attack defense has been bad over the past two games. 

If you go back a bit further, they are giving up 122 points per 100 possessions over the past five games. That’s the fourth-worst defensive rating in the NBA. And it’s not a coincidence that the five-game stretch coincides with Hart’s absence. 

The Knicks had Hart in the starting lineup for about a month prior to his injury. In that month, they had the 11^th best defense in the league (113 points allowed per 100 possessions). 

When will Hart be back from his ankle injury? The Knicks said that he will be re-evaluated next Friday. As noted on Honda Sports Night, Hart is expected to return shortly after that re-evaluation, if not sooner. Shamet – out since Nov. 22 with a shoulder sprain – also should be back on the court in the next week. So barring any setbacks, the Knicks should be close to whole again very soon. 

Will Hart and Shamet help straighten them out on defense? Can Mike Brown and defensive coordinator Brendan O’Connor make adjustments that yield better results? 

The answer to those two questions will tell you a lot about this Knicks season. If the Knicks can be serviceable on defense, they have enough depth and talent to play into late May/June. 

If they can’t sort through those defensive issues, the Knicks may fall well short of their goals this spring. 

Jimmy Butler shares sound advice to Jonathan Kuminga as trade deadline looms originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Jimmy Butler continues to be a mentor for Jonathan Kuminga both on and off the court.

So as Kuminga continues to maneuver what’s likely to be his impending Warriors divorce, Butler will remain by his side regardless of the outcome. Butler told reporters after the Warriors’ win over the Utah Jazz on Saturday that their relationship hasn’t changed at all despite Kuminga being out of coach Steve Kerr’s rotation lately.

“Same. He better come to my house tonight and eat dinner, play some dominoes,” Butler said (h/t ESPN’s Anthony Slater). “That is my brother, so I care less if you’re out of the rotation. We hang out. That’s my friend, That’s my brother. That’s not going to change.

“Basketball is basketball. I love him like a brother and I wish him the best. And I still see him in here getting his work in, so his mind’s right.”

Kuminga has been benched or played limited minutes over the past few weeks as the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline approaches. Now more than ever, his future with Golden State is uncertain.

The 23-year-old wing can’t be dealt until Jan. 15, and several reports indicate that a move is in the works.

Regardless, that doesn’t change anything for Butler and his relationship with Kuminga.

“That ain’t got nothing to do with me,” Butler said. “I’m still going to call and check on him. I’m still going to go visit him, still go to his house, eat his food and play with his kids. His future, though, that’s between him and whoever else. But the bond and the brotherhood that we’ve built, ain’t no future going to change that.”

Kuminga started the first 12 games of the 2025-26 NBA season, but has played only six times since. He’s averaging 11.3 points on 43.1-percent shooting from the field and 32.0 percent from 3-point range. He hasn’t played in 10 of the past 11 games.

Butler was asked about whether he sees the uncertainty of Kuminga’s future weighing on him.

“Nope. Not at all,” Butler said. “I told JK, you come in here and be a pro of all pros. Come here and get your work done. You smile. You have a good time because you’re still an NBA player. You’re one of the best people in the world and I’m not even talking about basketball. So you keep smiling, you keep being the great human being that you are.”

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Sixers ‘see how good we can be,' look like they might have fun road ahead  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

VJ Edgecombe surely spoke for just about everyone in the cramped visiting locker room at Madison Square Garden when he paused during the middle of his media scrum with an admission.

“I don’t even know what today is,” Edgecombe said.

Whatever the day — Saturday, it turns out — Edgecombe’s first long NBA road trip ended in fun fashion. No one minded thinking about the Sixers’ road ahead, too.

The 19-14 Sixers concluded their five-game trip with three straight wins. There was minimal daydreaming required for those inclined to picture a best-case playoff scenario where the Sixers’ stars are healthy, their backcourt a youthful, joyful powerhouse, their role players ready and able to do valuable, unglamorous jobs. 

It’s no coincidence that only Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee LCL sprain) and Trendon Watford (left adductor strain) have been sidelined lately. 

“I think for three games in a row, we’ve had the same lineup,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said postgame. “You’d have to check your notes, that might be a record for us. … I really don’t remember that happening for a long time. So we’ll take that, and we can hopefully get to four on Monday (vs. the Nuggets).” 

Both Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey made many special plays on both ends of the floor in Saturday’s victory over the Knicks. They also appeared tireless and sometimes even immune to misses. The pair totaled 62 points on 24-for-38 shooting. Joel Embiid joined them in the highly efficient department with 26 points on 9-for-15 shooting. 

“I think the main thing is we see how good we can be when we’re gelling,” Edgecombe said, “when everybody’s touching the rock, when everybody’s playing hard, when everybody’s bought into their role. I think we see how good we can be.”

Embiid was in a tongue-in-cheek mood after the game. The seven-time All-Star’s final make was his first dunk all season, an unguarded flush with 24.9 seconds left. He raised his arms, grinned and ran down the floor with one finger in the air. 

“Feels good,” Embiid said. “Easy one. I wish it would’ve been one off the backboard. That’s the next step.”

In his career, Embiid has a 17-4 regular-season record against the Knicks. He’s heard plenty of boos over the years in New York. 

“It’s always good to be here and talk back to the fans,” he said. “They were quiet today, but I guess that’s what happens when you’re losing the whole game. But I always have fun going back and forth with them. Sometimes it’s good to be liked, sometimes it’s good to be hated.”

As Embiid himself would acknowledge, nothing is ever set in stone for him and the Sixers. He’s played very well during the team’s three-game streak — 27.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists per contest — but sustained health has been elusive since Embiid suffered a left knee lateral meniscus tear in late January of 2024. Going back much further, he knows all about strange, sad plot twists that have derailed promising seasons. 

That doesn’t mean the Sixers are foolish to like how they’re playing and believe they can keep improving.

After enduring a nightmare of a season, they’re on track to win far more than 24 games.

“It’s super rewarding, given the season we had last year and everything we had to deal with — the injuries, new players, just gaining rhythm with one another,” Paul George said. “This year we’ve still been battling injuries and have still had some unfortunate luck on that side, but I think the biggest difference is we just feel better as a group. We trust in the process of this team. … You just naturally gain camaraderie and I think it’s carrying over.

“I think it’s safe to say everyone in this locker room is starting to enjoy being out on that floor, playing on both ends. We’re just gelling. … Everything that we’ve been trying to connect, it’s translating on the court.”

Does Nurse find the recent success satisfying after a year full of hardship exception signings and undermanned, outmatched nights?

“We’ve got a long way to go,” he said. “I told you at the start of the season that we were in a big hole we had to dig out of. We’re still digging. Still, conditioning, rhythm, health can get a little better. I think we just build on that.”

The Knicks chipped away at a big second-half deficit for the second consecutive game, but ultimately fell to the 76ers at the Garden, 130-119.

New York has now lost three straight games and two straight at home. The 76ers have now defeated the Knicks in both of their games this season, both at MSG. 

After not playing in the Knicks' disappointing loss to the Hawks on Friday, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson returned to the lineup, but the size wasn't enough as the combination of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe combined for 62 points.

The last time Maxey was at the Garden (Dec. 19), the point guard posted 30 points with nine assists in the 76ers' win. Maxey one-upped himself on Saturday, scoring 36 points on 14 of 22 shooting with eight rebounds and four assists. He also had a steal and two blocks. 

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 31 points on 10 of 21 shooting, four rebounds and four assists.

Here are the takeaways...

-It was a physical game early, with the refs swallowing their whistles for both teams -- to the chagrin of the players and coaches. The Knicks took advantage of the physicality, especially Brunson, who scored 12 points on 3-for-7 shooting and 5 of 7 from the free throw line. 

However, the 76ers shot 61 percent from the field thanks to their paint points. They only took three three-pointers in the quarter (1-for-3), with Joel Embiid (7 points), Edgecombe (7) and Maxey (6) giving Philadelphia the early 31-30 lead after one.

-Brunson was on the bench to start the second, and the combination of KAT, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Jordan Clarkson and Miles McBride was careless with the ball. The 76ers forced turnovers and frustrated Towns with their physicality, so much so that the big man picked up a technical foul with about eight minutes to go in the quarter. With Brunson on the bench, Towns forced it whenever he touched the ball, leading to turnovers and poor possessions. 

The three ball would help the Knicks cut into Philly's lead, but the 76ers used the three themselves to push their lead to double digits. A late flurry from the Knicks helped them cut their deficit to 66-58 at the half.

Brunson scored 21 points at halftime, while the only other Knick to score in double figures was Anunoby (12). Towns had just two points on 1 of 6 shooting. Philadelphia, after shooting just three threes in the first quarter, was 7 of 14 in the second and the Knicks could not adjust. Edgecombe had a team-high 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting (4 of 6 from three) in the first half. 

-The Knicks' defense continued to be porous in the third as the 76ers got whatever shot they want, building a game-high 17-point lead midway through the frame. The second group off the bench helped cut a 19-point deficit to 12 with a minute to go in the third, but Maxey's whip-around pass to former Knick Quentin Grimes for a three stopped New York's momentum. McBride made all three free throws when he was fouled taking a three as the Knicks went into the final quarter down 99-87.

-Towns' offensive game finally woke up to start the fourth as the big man went at Embiid down low to help the second unit cut the deficit to nine points. With 9:04, however, the Knicks had a chance to cut into the Philly lead even more, but Edgecombe blocked a Bridges three that led to a fastbreak, and the rookie guard finished it with a dunk to force a Mike Brown timeout. 

The Knicks tried to claw back, but Maxey wouldn't allow it. With four minutes to go, Maxey launched a deep three on a broken play in front of the Knicks bench to keep the 76ers lead in double figures. But a pair of McBride threes and some timely defense helped the Knicks cut the lead to seven with two minutes remaining.

A big offensive rebound by Paul George and a steal by Edgecombe in the final minutes sealed the game for Philadelphia.

-Embiid, who missed the last meeting, had 26 points with 10 rebounds and five assists. 

-Towns finished 23 points and 14 rebounds while Anunoby (19), Bridges (12) and McBride (20) rounded out the double-digit scoring for New York.

Game MVP: Tyrese Maxey

The young guard willed the 76ers to a win. Whenever the Knicks made their run, Maxey had an answer. 

Highlights

What a feed from KAT to OG 🔥 pic.twitter.com/7rzcE4fWgN

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 4, 2026

The bank is open for Deuce McBride! 😅 pic.twitter.com/Uu8eNoE8Xa

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 4, 2026

Kevin McCullar Jr. for three 🎯 pic.twitter.com/3XYZczWkMv

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 4, 2026

Tyler Kolek! 3️⃣ pic.twitter.com/QDJwsqcpCr

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 4, 2026

What's next

The Knicks hit the road after an off day on Sunday. They'll travel to Detroit to take on the No. 1 seed Pistons. Tip is set for Monday at 7 p.m.