November 12, 2025 | 4:04pm
NEW YORK, United States — The New York Knicks’ gamble to replace longtime coach Tom Thibodeau with Mike Brown in a bid to modernize their offense is paying off early — and in spectacular fashion.
For the first time in franchise history, the Knicks have scored 130 points or more in three straight games, capped by a 133-120 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies before a roaring, sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time).
It marked the Knicks’ seventh consecutive home win — their best start at the Garden since the 2012-13 season, when they opened 10-0 and went on to capture their last Atlantic Division title.
Brown’s fast-track offense sparks Knicks revival
Hired in the offseason to replace the defense-first Thibodeau, Brown has quickly transformed the Knicks into one of the NBA’s most dynamic scoring teams.
Under Brown, who previously revitalized the Sacramento Kings and won Coach of the Year in 2023, the Knicks now rank as the second-best offense in the league.
Their ball movement and tempo were on full display against Memphis: New York rained down 22 three-pointers on 40% shooting, assisted on 35 of their 47 field goals, and showed a level of offensive fluidity rarely seen during the Thibodeau era.
“We felt we were a good team,” Brown said after the win. “I had a chance to be a good team from the beginning. We just didn’t have a lot of time together before we went out on the road. I made some mistakes, but we cleaned it up and were able to spend some time together.”
Brunson leads the way; Clarkson hits milestone
All-NBA guard Jalen Brunson orchestrated the Knicks’ attack with 32 points and 10 assists, marking his 14th game as a Knick with at least 30 points and 10 assists — the most in franchise history.
Filipino-American guard Jordan Clarkson also played a pivotal role off the bench, scoring 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, while adding three rebounds and two assists.
Clarkson reached another personal milestone, surpassing Vinnie Johnson to enter the Top 10 all-time bench scorers since tracking began in 1968–69. The former NBA Sixth Man of the Year now has 8,140 career points as a reserve.
“Yeah, the ball was moving,” Brunson said. “We were playing with each other, playing ball. When the ball is moving like that and we’re making shots… It’s great to see.”
Knicks keep rolling despite missing key big man
Even without Mitchell Robinson, their top rim protector and rebounder, who sat out to rest on the front end of a back-to-back set, the Knicks relied on their offensive firepower to dismantle Memphis.
Mikal Bridges added 22 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns chipped in 21 as six Knicks finished in double figures.
The Knicks jumped out early, closing the first quarter on a 12-0 run to seize control after the Grizzlies tied it at 30. Clarkson then erupted for 10 straight points in the second quarter, pushing New York’s lead to 23.
Memphis rallied late, cutting the deficit to 10 with just over four minutes remaining, but Brunson’s dagger 3-pointer silenced any comeback hopes.
Home dominance, road challenges ahead
All three of the Knicks’ losses this season have come on the road. With a 7-3 record, they sit second in the Eastern Conference standings behind the Detroit Pistons, the team they beat in the first round of the playoffs last season.
The Knicks will play two more home games before embarking on a five-game road trip that will test whether Brown’s fast-paced, high-efficiency offense can travel.
“We’re clicking,” Brunson said. “Most importantly, we’ve got to finish games better. When we’re subbing on offense, there are going to be times we’re not making shots. We’ve got to be better defensively — no matter what. That has to be our focus moving forward.”
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Alder Almo is a former senior sportswriter for Philstar.com and NBA.com Philippines. He is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey, and writes for US-based publication Heavy.com.