Mike Brown’s attitude in the win over the Cavs should scare the NBA
The New York Knicks got the 2025-26 season off to a proper start on Wednesday night, knocking off the Cleveland Cavaliers 119-111 in the season opener between the two Eastern Conference contenders. Both teams entered the game without a player, but the Knicks held off the Cavs’ second-half offense and pulled away with a late surge of their own.
It was certainly an impressive win for the Knicks, who are hungry after a heartbreaking Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Indiana Pacers last season. However, the new selector Mike Brown he thinks he can get even better.
“We have a lot of room to grow, and that’s what’s exciting,” Brown said, via James L. Edwards III from Athletic.
After finishing as the No. 3 seed in the East last season and upsetting the Boston Celtics in the second round of the playoffs, the Knicks have even higher expectations entering the season. Many people pegged them as a possible top seed in the Eastern Conference that has been weakened by serious injuries to Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton.
Brown knows those expectations exist, but he and his team accept itvia SNI’s Ian Begle.
“Everybody has expectations. I don’t know if their expectations are higher than those in that locker room,” Brown said. “So we’re good with it, we accept it.”
The Knicks played the first night without Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinsonleaving them shorthanded against a big Cavs team on the front line. However, the Knicks still finished plus-16 on the glass and dominated the interior, scoring 42 points in the paint to the Cavs’ 30.
It was a team effort for New York in the scoring department on Wednesday night, as five Knicks scored in double figures. OG Anunoby led the way with 24 points and Jalen Brunson added 23 despite not having the best results on the offensive end.
To be able to get a win like this over a very good Cavaliers team despite not playing their best basketball on either end of the floor is a great sign for a Knicks team with championship aspirations.
2025-10-23 03:07:00
