Knicks Coach Talks Ugly Win vs. Wizards

The New York Knicks pulled out a victory against the Washington Wizards.

Jeremy Brener | Dec 30, 2024

Dec 27, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau reacts after a call during the second quarter against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images / Mike Watters-Imagn Images

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New York Knicks

It wasn't pretty, but the New York Knicks gutted out a 136-132 win against the Washington Wizards on Saturday night inside Capital One Arena.

The Knicks struggled all night long, especially on the defensive end. But they managed to get some momentum going late, and that helped them pull out a win against the Wizards.

Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau praised the effort of his players after the win.

“We didn’t have much going and so give them a lot of credit. I thought they played a great game," Thibodeau said h/t Posting and Toasting.

“We got down eight, 10, and then fought like crazy to give ourselves a chance to win and just find different ways to win when nothing’s going your way.

"And Jalen certainly — the shotmaking was incredible, the playmaking. I thought Karl gave us really good minutes and Mikal was terrific. Josh, his hustle. And the fourth quarter, we did what we had to do to get it done.”

While Brunson led the way with a season-high 55 points, he wasn't the only one behind the win. Karl-Anthony Towns added 30 of his own with 14 rebounds for a double-double, Mikal Bridges had 21 points and Josh Hart dropped 13 points and 11 rebounds himself.

Not every game is going to be a strong showing, especially in a long 82-game season. But the Knicks' effort helped lead them to victory on a night when they probably shouldn't have come out with a win.

The Knicks don't always win games where they struggle, but this was an instance where they still found a way to win. They'll take it, learn from their mistakes, and move on to the next.

The Knicks are back in action against the Wizards for their next game. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET. tonight.

Make sure you bookmark Knicks on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

Published Dec 30, 2024

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.