Who does Mike Brown credit for beating the Cavs in the Christmas thriller

NEW YORK – The The New York Knicks did not play particularly sharp basketball during their Christmas matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers, but the energy of certain key players was enough to help them won 126-124.

especially, Jordan ClarksonTyler Kolek and Mitchell Robinson were integral to the Knicks’ comeback win. Head coach Mike Brown certainly praised the play of his bench when all was said and done. Without their input, it is doubtful Jalen Brunsonwho finished the contest with 34 points and four assists, could help ice the affair with 13 points in the fourth quarter.

“Our bench was fantastic,” Brown told reporters after the game. “Our bench basically won it for us.”

Jordan Clarkson kept the Knicks afloat early in the game

The Knicks trailed 38-23 at the end of the first quarter. Donovan Mitchell helped the Cavs get off to a quick start with 12 points in the first quarter, and would finish the afternoon with a team-high 34 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

While New York’s true rally didn’t begin in the second quarter, Clarkson provided the jolt that allowed them to stay competitive. The 33-year-old veteran scored 11 points with three three-pointers in the second frame. Overall, he would finish the game with 25 points while shooting 9 of 17 from the field and 5 of 10 from distance.

Despite a strong second quarter in which the Knicks outscored the Cavs 37-20, the start of the second half did not favor New York. Darius Garland, Jaylon Tyson and Sam Merrill, who would combine for 47 points, assisted Mitchell and helped Cleveland build a 103-86 lead with just over ten minutes left in the quarter.

Fortunately for New York, the rest of the fourth quarter provided a pleasant surprise.

Tyler Kolek and Mitchell Robinson helped engineer the fourth quarter resurgence

Although he didn’t have much NBA experience, Kolek slowly carved out a unique role for Brown’s Knicks. With his team slumping, the 24-year-old put together an impressive offensive display that also included a crucial hustle on the defensive end.

Kolek scored 11 of his 16 total points in the fourth quarter and would finish the day on 5-of-9 shooting from the field and 4-of-5 from long range. The former second-round draft pick hit a 3-pointer that pulled New York within one point with just over two minutes left in the game, and was certainly a credit to his coach.

“He coaches me hard. You want a head coach who’s on top of you — if he’s not, that’s a bigger problem than the other way around,” Kolek said of Brown.

“When you’re the point guard, you’re an extension of the coach. If he’s trying to get his message across, he’ll tell you. Maybe he didn’t mean it to you, but he’s trying to get it across to everyone on the team.”

Robinson has also been a vital component of the Knicks’ comeback. The Florida native had four offensive rebounds and eight total points in the final 12 minutes, giving New York the second chances they needed to eventually pull away.

That kind of performance was needed, considering that Karl-Anthony Towns was fouled and collected just 11 points and 14 rebounds in 27 minutes of play. When asked how he is able to secure the offensive boards, the center offered simple answer.

“My will,” said Robinson. “Go out there and fight.”

The win moved the Knicks to a 21-9 record on the season, and while fans and pundits will surely focus on the stars, the group’s bench showed a swagger that was hard to ignore.

“We kept fighting,” Brunson said. It starts with Tyler, JC and Mitch, they brought the energy that we needed, they really picked us up.”