Erik Spoelstra knew the Knicks could be simply nice. Jalen Brunson accessible or not, a Tom Thibodeau-coached staff goes to play laborious.
A Tom Thibodeau staff goes to compete laborious on the defensive finish and discover methods to win with its All-Star guard and captain on the shelf presumably till April.
“It’s not their first rodeo,” the Miami Warmth head coach stated forward of tipoff at Madison Sq. Backyard on Monday. “They know what they’re doing. Thibs knows what he’s doing. They can figure out a different way.”
Spoelstra was proper. Thibs is aware of what he’s doing. The Knicks coach has confirmed it for a staff that improved to a 3-2 file since Brunson went down with a convincing 116-95 victory over Spo’s Warmth on Monday.
A staff that after relied nearly completely on Brunson’s offensive items has discovered one other approach to grit out victories till his return — smothering groups on the defensive finish, and permitting these turnovers to show into straightforward alternatives in transition.
“It’s a little bit more pace, getting to some more of the back side actions — but they’ve been defending,” Spoelstra stated of the Knicks’ new system with out Brunson within the lineup. That’s the story proper now. Holding Thibs down each single evening. So we’ll have to ensure we’ve received our stress releases and assault the best way we all know we’re able to.”
Brunson may very well be out for longer than anticipated.
The Knicks introduced after his March 6 damage he could be re-evaluated with an replace coming after about two weeks (March 20), however an ESPN report that aired throughout Monday’s nationally-televised sport at The Backyard famous the All-Star beginning guard continues to be in a strolling boot and is barely doing mild taking pictures on the courtroom.
In line with the report, the Knicks try to get the swelling down on Brunson’s proper ankle, and the Knicks are prioritizing a totally wholesome playoff return for the All-Star guard, who is concentrated totally on practical mobility work, over a rushed return for the common season.
With out their go-to scorer and clutch performer, the Knicks are forging a brand new id as a stout defensive staff.
And so they took benefit of Spoelstra’s Warmth, who owned the NBA’s worst offensive score over their final seven video games, then didn’t crack 100 factors in opposition to the Knicks to increase their league-worst dropping streak to eight video games at MSG on Monday.
New York held Miami to only 15 factors within the third quarter.
“Just locking in,” Karl-Anthony Cities stated of his staff’s defensive effort. “I think we’re doing a great job as a team staying disciplined and following the game plan.”
Knicks star Mikal Bridges erupted for a game-high 28 factors on 10-of-14 taking pictures from the sphere, and Cities added 23 factors and 7 rebounds, together with a private 15-0 run to begin the second quarter.
“I just got hot. I just started making shots,” stated Cities My teammates trusted me with the ball and I’m glad I might make some photographs. I really feel good each time I step in between these traces. I really feel in vary.”
After falling 2-3 on their West Coast street journey following Jalen Brunson’s March 6 ankle damage in Los Angeles in opposition to the Lakers, the Knicks bounced again to guard house courtroom forward of one other two-game street swing in San Antonio in opposition to the Spurs then Charlotte vs. the Hornets in a looming back-to-back on Wednesday and Thursday.
By Friday, the Knicks can have performed seven of their final eight video games on the street.
“Yeah that’s the NBA,” Thibodeau stated. “Sometimes it’s in your favor, sometimes it’s not. You just deal with it. Every team goes through it. It’s part of it. IF you love competition and you love a challenge, that’s what we sign up for.”
Initially Revealed: March 17, 2025 at 10:28 PM EDT
