Sometimes, all it takes is one hard screen.
For a Knicks team grappling with how to match fire with fire in physical battles against grueling NBA defenses, that emphatic screen was a defining moment—a statement of intent.
It was one of the more tangible responses from the Knicks, who had been bullied by the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday.
Just days later, they faced an equally daunting challenge: the Orlando Magic, owners of the league’s top defense, determined to muck things up even further despite missing their two best scorers, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, due to oblique injuries.
The Magic threw everything at the Knicks—hand-checking, jersey-pulling, bumping, and shoving. But unlike Wednesday, the Knicks found ways to push back. It’s a skill they’ll need to refine as teams increasingly test their resolve by throwing the first punch.
“I thought we adjusted,” head coach Tom Thibodeau said after the game. “We had some fouls early that sort of changed the tone of the game a little bit for us. It was physical. I thought there was a lot of contact. But I want the contact with intelligence—body position and communication.”
The Magic may have landed the first blows, but in their 100-91 victory, the Knicks countered with calculated intensity. They did so in a manner they can replicate moving forward—by using physicality strategically, not recklessly.
Unlike the Magic, most opponents won’t have their point-of-attack defender doubling as their primary scoring option. Jalen Suggs spent the night hounding Brunson, while Mikal Bridges ensured Suggs felt the same relentless defensive pressure. The results were telling: Suggs, known for his seemingly endless motor, finally wore down, shooting just 4-of-19 from the field for a mere nine points.
On the other end, Brunson thrived, scoring 31 points on 8-of-18 shooting, including 11-of-14 from the foul line. But it wasn’t just Brunson’s scoring that made the difference—it was his orchestration of moments like this.
Midway through the third quarter, Brunson ran Suggs off three screens. First, a solid pick from Towns in the paint; then, a handoff screen from Hart; and finally, another mammoth screen from Towns that dislodged Suggs entirely. By the time Suggs regained his footing, Orlando’s Tristan da Silva had already switched onto Brunson, leaving Suggs stranded in no-man’s land.
The ball found Hart, the open man. He pump-faked; Suggs bit. Hart then drove, barreling his shoulder into Suggs’ chest, sending him to the ground as Hart finished the layup. True to form, Hart flexed over Suggs before pointing at him on his way back on defense.
It was an appropriate response to one of the NBA’s peskiest defenders—and a microcosm of how the Knicks fought back.
“By nature, the league is a lot more physical, and I think it’s good as long as there’s consistency to it,” Thibodeau said. “And this is where judgment comes in. If the contact is being done with intelligence and body position, is the player making a strong move to the basket? Is the defender gaining an advantage by the physicality? And is it illegal contact? So there’s a trained eye that has to be used, and there’s a lot that goes into it.”
The Knicks will need to keep honing this approach. On Thursday, they’ll face another stiff test in Minnesota against the Timberwolves. Jaden McDaniels is a lockdown defender, but Minnesota often deploys Anthony Edwards to guard the point of attack. That means Edwards, who also serves as the Wolves’ offensive engine, could find himself expending significant energy chasing Brunson through a flurry of screens—both on and off the ball.
For the Knicks, Thursday’s matchup is yet another opportunity to prove they can not only withstand the physicality but also deliver it in turn.