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2025-26 Game Thread: Knicks vs. Cavaliers – THE CHRISTMAS GAME

The Knicks host the fairly disappointing Cleveland Cavaliers on Christmas Day on what will give the Knicks another nationally televised game to show the rest of the NBA world how much ass they are kicking these days.

Soon, I imagine that the Knicks will pass the upstart Detroit Pistons and be on top of the conference, somewhere they haven’t been since…uhmmm….1993, I think? Can that be true? I think that’s true (they had the same amount of wins as the Hawks in 1994, but the Hawks had the tiebreaker, so the Knicks were #2). That’s fucking insane.

Let’s go, Knicks!

Feeling great about 58!

Merry Christmas!

221 replies on “2025-26 Game Thread: Knicks vs. Cavaliers – THE CHRISTMAS GAME”

I’m failing to do Hannukah with Huk… really should work…
Happy Hannukah anyway! Huk’s in there somewhere…

Those were some seriously desultory offensive sets…

(lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm)

Brunson seems to be easing his way into the game which is good.

If Kat is gonna commit offensive fouls every time he’s posted up just get him threes and mid range jumpers

The fact we’ve needed two OG drives before scoring our first points is not promising

OG with the pass into traffic to the other team — glad we got that out of the way…

With all the fouls on Mitch and KAT, maybe we’ll get Huk today, so I guess I’ll keep watching…

Happy Holidays, gents.

Today, I get a rare treat to watch live from Italy bc of the afternoon start. Been following the blog and loving the game threads. Thanks to all for keeping the site running.

(Kinda feeling this is the year. But I don’t wanna say it too loudly.)

These team needs to do some serious soul searching and get their priorities back on track immediately.

Last Christmas a struggling Sixers team went to Boston and played that game like it would save their season. Seems like the Cavs are doing the same today.

Hukporti is actually useless and probably should be used as trade filler for a big with at least one NBA skill

We really lack dependable scorers beyond brunson for being a strong offense, when teams lean into us. Our other all star is gonna commit dumb fouls and where is bridges? Both offense and defense are a mess

James Nnaji has committed to Baylor. He’s 23 years old. How is the NIL system better than just having a minor league? It’s such a farce!

James Nnaji has committed to Baylor. He’s 23 years old. How is the NIL system better than just having a minor league? It’s such a farce!

He’s 21

Still annoyed by Thomas Bryant’s face and shot. Good push back by the guys without Jalen heroics. Kolek really does stabilize our guys some

Knicks finally realized , ” Oh these guys are serious”, and recalibrated their effort.

Call me crazy but I wouldn’t change the lineup in the middle of on an 18-0 run even if it is to bring in Jalen Brunson.

These team needs to do some serious soul searching and get their priorities back on track immediately.

Was that immediate enough?

I appreciate seeing a Swiffer commercial when KAT has been in full Swiffer mode today

Rama I was hoping it took longer to make my comment seem more valid! Although coming all the way back to go up 6 then immediately start playing horrible defense again to promptly lose the lead is another chance for soul searching..

Cavs blew us out in Q1, we blew them out q2, let’s hope this rent doesn’t continue in the 3rd

Mitch was completely useless that half, even had Mobley putting his nuts all over Mitch’s head on an alley oop.

Merry Christmas guys

Thought we were cooked but somehow OUR DEPTH saved us which is something (w/o Shamet & Duce).

I’ll take a 2 pt lead

When was the last time the Knicks had a true pass-first PG like this? I feel like I’m watching an alien

While simmering braised braciole in a nice tomato sauce it is extremely funny watching a bunch of seasoned NBA observers kvetch uncontrollably when their team lays an egg for the first 8 minutes of a noontime start on Christmas day on a 36 hour turnanound after traveling from Minneapolis.

It’s hard having two negative minuses against a team that fields 5 good offensive players.

Cavs blew us out in Q1, we blew them out q2, let’s hope this rent doesn’t continue in the 3rd

Technically the Cavs have blown us out whenever Jalen Brunson’s been on the floor.

Brunson -24

Kolek +15, Clarkson +13

“That is so fucking inexcusable for the foul shooter to get his own rebound”

especially on a bounce

I would say the Knicks are gifting the Cavs points for Christmas, but I don’t think the concept of giving things away for free sufficiently conveys how easy it is for Cleveland to score

I was on the road for the first half, but it looks like we got top shelf Clarkson and some good passing from Kolek in the first half.

I’ll reiterate what I said in jest earlier, this team ever since winning the Cup have load managed twice and have stopped making winning games a priority.

They’re reaping what they sowed right now.

Brunson trying to do too much on offense and not enough on defense.

Did Thibs take over at halftime?

Call me crazy but I wouldn’t change the lineup in the middle of on an 18-0 run

Cavs have outscored us 40-20 since this

I’ll reiterate what I said in jest earlier, this team ever since winning the Cup have load managed twice and have stopped making winning games a priority.

They’re reaping what they sowed right now.

How do you explain the fact that they’re losing to teams that have been load managing all season?

1

Entire Knicks organization deserves this embarrassment. They go all out for the Cup yet don’t consider winning it important enough to put up a banner. They stop prioritizing winning regular season games and now they’re embarrassing themselves on Christmas, they fucking deserve this.

They shouldn’t bother with the “defense” chants because it’s obvious we don’t care to play it

That three guard lineup of Brunson, Kolek, and Clarkson can’t guard anyone. Brown not making the adjustment defensively is what’s causing this deficit.

I’m hoping Atlanta beats the shit out of the Knicks on Saturday too but they’re playing so bad right now Knicks might be able to sneak out a win.

Every team except the Knicks & Spurs load managed for 5 days by not making the Cup Finals. It’s not the load management.

“Jaylon Tyson looks like what we needed Yabu to be.”

i.e., 215 pounds.

2

Ouch.

That didnt seem dirty like when Carter did it to Brunson but the league probably needs to protect landing zones in the paint, too.

And yet…… Mitch…….. Kolek
Someone must have told Mitch he was being shaded on the national broadcast wrt his O rebounding

Z-man I’m half watching while also watching my 1yo nephew play with his new toys and playing with my brother’s new arcade simulator on a separate TV! Multitasking at its best.

This team is so weird. They looked dead in the water like 5 mins ago. I think it speaks to how bad the defense was and how mediocre Cleveland actually is

Jarrett Allen drove by Mitch for that dunk and Mitch finally remembered he owns Allen.

Kolek 16 points and 8 assists in 23 minutes, 4-5 from three.

Helluva box score.

I’d really put robinson back in here. Towns has been a meh on O and negative on defense … Need those offensive boards, at least play them together!

Think they’re benching Mitch because of the bonus and Hack-a-Mitch. After 2min mark hopefully returns

“Z-man I’m half watching while also watching my 1yo nephew play with his new toys and playing with my brother’s new arcade simulator on a separate TV! Multitasking at its best.”

I hope he bites your leg really hard.

I don’t hate Mitchell. A real competitor. But I did not appreciate that crazy 3.

It WILL be the worst win of the season!

I love and hate that this team can mail it in for 2 quarters and still win.

Phew

All I’ll say is that both times I could turn on the TV they were down 15 and came back. Then I had to do other stuff and they went down again. So I apologize for putting you guys through hell.

Wow that was unexpected

To quote the worst Christmas song ever written:

“Simply having a wonderful Christmas time!”

That Jekyll and Hyde performance made me relatives question my sanity. Merry Xmas Knickerbloggers!

First Knicks Christmas game I remember watching is blowing an 8pt halftime lead at Chicago Christmas 1992.

Mr Kolek has worked his way firmly into both the rotation and the circle of trust and Diawara is starting to make little scratches on that door.

1

Apologies to Monsieur Clarkson. Been playing great lately.

Kolek is putting up some rather robust lines for a guy who I said looked like a high schooler last year. Just awesome.

And shout out to 4q Mitch.

1

This Tyler dude really Kolekts the Knicks together…
He makes even Clarkson good.
Brunson is cool.

My son and I have been walking around in the Knicks pajamas and shirt that my wife bought for us. Might just keep them on all day! She also bought me a bottle of Lagavulin 16. Cheers!

So when we’re healthy our bench is

Kolek
Clarkson
Deuce
Mitch
Shamet
Maybe Diawara

Is there a deeper bench in the league? Maybe OKC?

Now let’s hope Hart is ok. That was a really bad ankle turn.

He was walking without a limp when they were shaking hands at the end of the game on the court.

Kolek certainly feels like finding the coin in your boureka. This spurs thunder game getting some juj.

Not sure there is a team that folds as easily as these Cavs. The sample size is pretty large right now that they are just so weak mentally.

1

I know that Gilbert just reassured Atkinson that his seat wasn’t hot, but when he walked off the court it definitely looked like there were scorch marks on the back of his trousers….

That looked like a 2-week ankle sprain for Hart, but hopefully not. The good news is that it’s looking like Deuce will be back next game.

How can we keep Kolek off the floor even when Deuce is back?

Did I ever tell you how much I love Clarkson? 😉😉😉😉

Seriously, great game by him. That version is going to win us some extra games.

Clarkson is obviously going to be inconsistent, and when bad, infuriating. But he is immune to pressure, and doesn’t let the last bad play bother him. Today was an example of how he can win a big game for you when no one else has it going. And if he doesn’t, you can just pull him and sit him, and the next game he’ll be the same unflappable guy. There’s value in that kind of player on a minimum deal.

1

That was a great and gutsy win. I’m happy.

I’m even half happy that Donovan Mitchell got to show off on the MSG floor. Because we all know he was raised in Elmsford, NY (not far from where I now sit) and I’d love for him to “come home” via free agency, as long as it’s on a crazy affordable contract.

I think he’s the only actual NYer on the floor?

Anyway, right now, this week, we have the better Mitchell, especially per the $$$ spent.

What’s up with the spurs owning okc? Some crazy athletes on the spurs! The most athletic team in the NBA?

Missed the whole damn game. Picked my daughter up today so she could have Christmas with her mom too, and I missed- as CP would say on KFTV- another cardiac Knicks affair. Sheesh! Sorry I missed this one. I just hope we don’t have to dig that deep in the grit bag too many more times this season

“I love that Mitch got 8 ORs and 5 DRs for 13 rebounds in 16.5 minutes.”

It’s funny that it turned out that way because for most of the game he was terrible, just like everyone else not named Kolek or Clarkson. Then he turned it on for like 5 minutes and totally changed the game.

Merry Knicksmas to all !!! 🧡💙

Couldn’t catch this one, but the game thread is hilarious as always. Great work, thanks. 😄

Like Brian, i’m “feeling good about 58” !! 🙂

Mitch is king of the quote:

“When the game is getting tight like that and you need a little energy, you crash the glass,” Robinson said. “I just keep crashing. Sometimes I get it.”

1

Maybe we did get some real actionable intelligence from the IST brouhaha. San Antonio coming for it.

My mom watches one Knicks game a year, and it’s the Christmas one because I’m visiting.

In the span of ten minutes or so, she said both that Mitch must be our best player and that she doesn’t get how he’s in the NBA. It was funny. The free throws are annoying, but man that guy is one-of-one game changer. We go down quietly without that onslaught of offensive rebounds.

It was nice of Kolek to read the thread from the other day and decide to become an elite 3PT shooter accordingly. There’s no way we can take him out of the rotation when Deuce gets back, but Brown will have some tough decisions to make huh?

I don’t really think so, the 9 man rotation will be the usual starting 5 with bench of Mitch and the 3 guards. Shamet is the player who might be screwed right now but injuries will always keep the rotation in flux.

Interestingly enough it did turn out to be “a banner day for Mike Brown’s vaunted offense.” We shot 44 threes and made 48% of them! We had 29 assists. And our 122.3 ORtg would rate 2nd in the NBA.

It was also a banner day for Mike Brown’s flexibility. Our starting lineup had a net rating of negative 65! He stopped playing it in the 3Q and went to something else.

This team wasn’t built like a battering ram that should keep playing its 5 best players over and over, but it has lots of options. Many times the key to unlocking a game will be using a different combination.

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Man, these are good problems to have! Brown has situational choices, like, really good ones! Today, the starting unit was dogshit. In comes Clarkson and Kolek and Mitch, with a sprinkle of Diawara. Voila!

Speaking if Diawara, obvioulsy he has the positional size and skill package we need to have a “complete” team but he’s so young and raw that he fills me with just as much fear as excitement. The size difference between him and Shamet is just too much of a dropoff, and Yabu just falls deeper and deeper out of legit NBA player territory. That backup PF spot is really our only depth issue.

I kinda hope that Hart rests that sore ankle for a few games so Diawara can get some real reps. We need to speed his development until we figure out what to do with Yabu.

What’s up with the spurs owning okc?

I mentioned this when we were discussing Giannis trades…

The key to beating OKC is not overwhelming them with high end talent.

It’s having a team with no glaring weaknesses, like Indiana did, and like San Antonio does. They find your holes and drive a tank though them.

So if you’re Leon and you want to beat the Thunder, shore up the front court. They will put KAT in foul trouble, and they will dominate the Yabusele/Hukporti minutes.

Interestingly, there was a point made about the importance of the mid range and how spurs have many competent mid rangers so don’t need to challenge the 7 footers at the rim and don’t have to rely on bombing away from three which okc does a good job of defending or running you off the line.

It also doesn’t hurt having a center that can shoot threes. We have two players that can consistently get to and make mid range jumpers (mikhal and brunson) and towns can stretch the floor, but hart, Robinson, even JC don’t do that. That’s where Deuce and Shamet healthy potentially becomes important, if we get to that point.

Fun facts… (I put my family in a food coma hours ago, so I’ve got time):

At 21-9 this team is now tied with the 2013 Melo team for the best 30-game start since the ’96-’97 team.

Looking at the schedule… we had that disappointing early three game losing streak when the team was highly ungelled… we’ve had the two ridiculous schedule losses against Orlando and Philadelphia… we lost to Miami & Minnesota without Brunson & OG… and we lost to Orlando and Boston without OG… soooo we’re basically undefeated at full strength.

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ho ho ho, merry holidays…

new york knicks with a christmas day miracle…sure looked like cleveland came to win…

tylericious with some delicious point play…

wow, we may have solved a HUGE obstacle of another team constantly doubling and pressuring jalen, especially end games…

oh heck kolek may not be just a back up point guard, but another key ball handler (which neither josh or mikal are)…

ha, he may actually be like a key roster piece for us…that’s nearly unbelievable…

okay then, if not huk time, let’s hope it’s mo time…6’9″ 225 lbs, 20 years old, 4 years of good pro processing in france…

we were looking for a back up pg, found one…need a backup 4, maybe just maybe, we already have one 😊

Kolek is for real, he was a great college basketball player and he’s figuring out how to play in the league despite his athletic limitations. Being able to put 2 guys on the floor who can really handle the ball is a huge advantage for us against pressure teams.

If this Kolek had been there last year, they would have had a much easier time handling Indiana (and the Pistons to some extent). They have desperately needed a second ball handler. Though Thibs probably would not have used them together, going by the Quickley experience.

As promising as it looks, I don’t want to get out over my skis about Kolek yet…let’s see what happens when the word gets out and he’s on opposing teams’ scouting reports. But for now, it’s glorious and there is zero reason to not believe in the kid because he seems tough as nails and has a massive chip on his shoulder. In Brown’s postgame, he talked about how he reamed Kolek out at halftime of the TWolves game, saying that he took 10 shots and only made 3, and some of the misses were airballs, and then in the second half he went 6-12 and talked some cute smirky shit back to Brown. Not only is that ballsy, but he went out today and put the team on his back for a stretch in the 4th in a national showcase game. The kid seems to have no fear. That play on Spida was exquisite.

Honestly, he might even push Deuce to get better.

KAT seems to be in a bit of an identity crisis right now. I don’t think he has any feel for his role, and he doesn’t seem to be able to get into a game-to-game rhythm. In one way, it’s a good thing. He has to figure out how to impact winning rather than how to just do the same thing every game. He’s being held a bit more accountable on D and on making little winning plays off the ball. That offensive putback on Kolek’s miss was a massive positive play.

Maybe he has some issues with it being Brunson’s team specifically, and the ‘Nova boys’s team more generally. Maybe the criticism in the press and the constant rumore re: Giannis bug him. But for all my misgivings about him, I respect the way that he’s handling everything and trying to just go out there and ball. The off-arm shit on drives has to stop, and the costant whining to the officials is off-putting. But I do sense a bit of maturing of his game on both ends and whatever his faults are, he’s not soft. Just too slow on the uptake for my taste.

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While I think Clarkson will be getting DNPs coaches decision in the playoffs, this is exactly where he is useful. Get us a couple of wins in December, January and February by being who he is.

Kolek is closer to Josh Giddey than he is to TJ Mconnell. If the game slows down a little more for him, in two years, he’ll be a starting level PG in this league. He’s a rebel and has the GFY instict but looks like a textbook St. Theresa choirboy. Don’t be fooled by the baby face.

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