Jose Alvarado wants more respect for his 3-point shooting after a big game against the 76ers

New York Knicks guard Jose Alvarado had a breakout performance in just his third game with the team, scoring a season-high 26 points while knocking down a career-best eight 3-pointers in 19 minutes during Wednesday night’s 138-89 rout of the Philadelphia 76ers. The 27-year-old Brooklyn native, acquired from the New Orleans Pelicans at the trade deadline in exchange for Gershon Yabusele and two second-round picks, has become a difference maker off the bench.

Alvarado’s influence was immediate and manifold. He made all eight of his three-point attempts, the only field goals he attempted during the game, and added two of three free throws, three rebounds, four assists and five steals. New York outscored Philadelphia by 35 points in 19 minutes on the floor, posting an astounding plus-minus of +35. His performance made him the first bench player in NBA history to record at least 25 points, eight three-pointers and five steals in a single game.

Alvarado, who spent his first five NBA seasons in New Orleans and played high school basketball at Christ the King in Queens, N.Y., is now averaging 14 points, 3.7 assists, 2.3 steals and 3.3 three-pointers per game in 20.7 minutes through three contests with the Knicks.

“I always thought I was a great scorer, a good scorer. Obviously, it’s getting better and I’m going to get better,” Alvarado told MSG Network in his exit interview. “I’m just getting into a rhythm with the system, the game, the coaching staff. But they do a great job of making it super easy. Today went my way.”

Jose Alvarado on fitting into the Knicks’ roster in their huge win over the 76ers in Philadelphia.@LT__Murray | @WaltFrazier | #NewYorkForever pic.twitter.com/JUNHMkDKSvi

— Knicks at MSG (@KnicksMSGN) February 12, 2026

The Guardians’ historic night featured a series of standout performances that epitomized New York’s fast-paced, selfless style. In one sequence, Alvarado cut off Karl-Anthony Towns’ shoulder to the rim, took a rebound pass, drew defenders and shed teammates before making a layup and nailing a 3-pointer. Moments later, he came back off a turnover, stripped Philadelphia center Adem Bona and added another 3-pointer from the corner.

Defense was another area where Alvarado shined. He earned defensive player of the game honors from head coach Mike Brown, using his quick hands and anticipation to record five steals. He also confronted 76ers forward Trendon Watford after a hard foul on Knicks center Mitchell Robinson, leading to a bench-clearing brawl and technical fouls. Alvarado later described the incident as disrespectful to Robinson and said he was motivated by his historic performance.

The team’s success is shared, with valuable contributions from other players. Towns added 21 points, 11 rebounds and five assists on 8-of-13 shooting, while Mikal Bridges had 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting. Mohamed Diawara had 14 points and five rebounds off the bench, and Josh Hart flirted with a triple-double, finishing with six points, nine assists and seven rebounds. The bench of New York scored a total of 72 points. On the other hand, Sixers trailed without All-Star Joel Embiid (right knee management) and starting wing Paul George (25-game suspension), and Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 32 points.

The win helped the Knicks return to the 2026 NBA All-Star break after losing two of their last three games. They have now won 11 of 13 and will continue their streak when they host the Detroit Pistons on Thursday, February 19th at 7:30 PM EST.