The New York Knicks added another win to their record, which puts them at 51 wins in the 2025-26 NBA season. The Knicks had a close battle with the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, and they escaped the tough matchup with a 108-105 win.
The star players played their role perfectly and led the team to victory. All-Star guard Jalen Brunson had a 30-point outing, including a productive fourth-quarter run where he had 17 points on 60.0% shooting. His co-star, Karl-Anthony Towns, added 21 points on a very efficient 75.0% shooting.
Towns added 12 rebounds, six assists and two steals in the box score. He was reliable on both ends and stepped up when the team needed him to.
Mike Brown Tied Pat Riley's Knicks Record
Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Knicks head coach Mike Brown has done an outstanding job in leading the team this season. This is his first campaign with the team, after the front office fired Tom Thibodeau during the offseason. With his 51st win, Brown tied former coach Pat Riley for having 51 wins in their first season with the team.
Riley had a 51-31 record during the 1991-92 season and led the Knicks to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The season isn't over, and there's a chance that Brown could set a new coaching record. There are three games left in the Knicks' schedule, and the team is set to face the Boston Celtics on Thursday.
Brown called it a "gutsy" win for the Knicks, given that the Hawks put up a good fight and neither team wanted to give easy looks. The head coach also gave credit to backup point guard Jose Alvarado. Despite not playing, Alvarado was outspoken from the bench and had a significant impact on the team's performance. He also credited the way he engaged with everybody, keeping everyone communicating.
The Knicks' goal this season remains the same: to compete for the NBA championship. Last season, they came close to it, as they made it all the way to the Eastern Conference finals. However, they ran into the Indiana Pacers, a team that had a lot to prove in the postseason.
Eventually, New York lost, and that is why the front office hired Brown to lead the group. They expect him to make a change for the Knicks and, hopefully, get past the third round. The team is currently third in the East standings, with a home court advantage in the playoffs.
