The 2025-26 NBA season is officially underway, and the New York Knicks kicked it off with a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. With Mikal Bridges leading the way, New York looked hungrier than ever entering the new season. However, Bridges wasn’t the only storyline for the Knicks in tonight’s win over Cleveland. Mike Brown also got his first win as the Knicks’ head coach in his debut. Here are some of the key takeaways from the Knicks’ season-opening win.
Fresh New Faces
Aside from the familiar faces that we have heard about, some new acquisitions made their debut and did not disappoint. One name that comes to mind is Jordan Clarkson. Despite not getting enough playing time, he still made an impact on the floor. With the game tied in the fourth quarter, Clarkson made a slick pass to Karl-Anthony Towns that helped swing momentum in New York’s favor. Then you also have Tyler Kolek. Another rising talent from the summer league also helped New York in this crucial win over Cleveland. Coming off the bench tonight for 14 minutes, he dropped seven points that came along with two assists. The future does indeed look bright for this young man, as he looks to continue making an impact as the season progresses.
Crucial Offensive Runs
Part of the Knicks‘ crucial win over the Cavaliers came from two huge runs in which the offense caught fire and took control. Their first dominant 21-6 run came between the 8:37 and 2:37 marks of the first quarter, a stretch that completely swung momentum in their favor. New York wasn’t done just yet.
They did have another key run in the following quarter. It was more explosive than their previous one. This was a 19-3 run that came between the 4:30 and 59.2 mark of the quarter. Unfortunately, New York wasn’t able to keep up the momentum as the Cavaliers built their run and tied the score in the second half after trailing by 15. Leading the Cavaliers in this huge run is Donovan Mitchell. He would finish the evening by dropping 31 points that came with two rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block.
Too Reliant On The Three-Pointers
New York’s offense looked sharp at times, but there were stretches where the Knicks leaned heavily on the three-ball. When shots were falling, the floor spacing opened everything up — but when they cooled off, possessions became stagnant. The Knicks will need to find a better balance between attacking inside and relying on perimeter looks as the season unfolds. New York cannot rely on the three-pointers all the time if they want to get wins. They’re not built to shoot three pointers, unlike the Golden State Warriors.
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