The New York Knicks had a great end to their Christmas Day game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Thanks to the 34 points from Jalen Brunson, New York secured a 126-124 win over Cleveland. For the fans who attended Madison Square Garden during Christmas, it was a unique gift.
For some players, like Tyler Kolek, it was their first time playing during Christmas. Last season, New York played against the San Antonio Spurs. However, Kolek did not play that game. This year, it’s different, as the sophomore guard came off the bench for the team and had an impressive performance.
Kolek was asked about his thoughts on how special it was to play after the contest.
“Playing at The Garden on Christmas, it doesn’t get much better than that,” Kolek said.
He was also grateful for the fans who were present in the arena.
“I’m grateful for the fans that come out and support us every night.”
Kolek had 16 points and nine assists for New York. However, he wasn’t the only difference maker off the bench. Jordan Clarkson exploded for 25 points in 28 minutes of action. Mitchell Robinson was also huge on the boards with 13 rebounds, including eight on the offensive end.
The Knicks improved to 21-9 for the 2025-26 NBA season.
Knicks’ Mike Brown credited the bench for their Christmas Day win
One of the reasons the Knicks defeated the Cavaliers was their second unit. Clarkson’s 25 points, Kolek’s 16 points and Robinson’s 13 rebounds were all significant to the team’s win. Coach Mike Brown did not hesitate to give them the due credit they deserved after the game.
“Our bench was fantastic,” Brown said. “Our bench basically won the game for us.”
Kolek also appreciated how Brown has been coaching him this season. He said that the head coach has been hard on him throughout the season.
“He coaches me hard. You want a head coach that’s on you – if he’s not, that’s more of a problem than the other way around,” the former second-round pick said.
Kolek has appeared in 25 games, averaging 4.8 points and 2.6 assists. Over the past four games, however, he’s put up 11.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists. With his improvement, he’s starting to become a favorite among the fans.
