Jalen Brunson might be sidelined, but the Knicks have found a way to survive.
By clamping down on defense.
Since their All-Star captain sprained his right ankle in overtime of a March 6 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Knicks have gone 2-1, proving they can still win without their top scorer.
The reason?
An aggressive, swarming defensive approach that has vaulted them into elite territory over the last three games.
New York ranks fifth in the NBA in defensive rating (107.3 points per 100 possessions) in that span, holding two of their last three opponents under 106 points. The Portland Trail Blazers only eclipsed that mark in overtime, where Mikal Bridges’ buzzer-beater sealed a dramatic 114-113 victory on the road.
Before Brunson’s injury, the Knicks’ defense was middle-of-the-pack, ranking 17th in defensive rating through the first 62 games of the season.
Now?
They’re stringing together stops in a stingy defensive effort only outdone analytically by the Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors.
THE MCBRIDE EFFECT
Brunson’s injury led to Miles McBride stepping into the starting lineup, and his defensive impact has been immediate.
The fourth-year guard has energized the perimeter alongside Bridges and OG Anunoby, forming a relentless trio that pressures ball-handlers, forces turnovers and creates easy transition opportunities.
In just three games as a starter, McBride has been a defensive menace:
- He logged four steals and two blocks in Portland
- He has at least one steal in each of his last five games
- The Knicks are holding opponents to 99.5 points per 100 possessions when he is the floor
- And he leads all guards in defensive rating over the last seven games
The results speak for themselves.
The Knicks lead the NBA in both turnovers forced (18.3 per game) and points off takeaways (24.3 per game) since inserting McBride into the lineup. They’ve also held opponents to just 41.3 points in the paint per game, tied for fourth-fewest in the league over that stretch.
BIG MITCH’S BIG IMPACT
It’s no coincidence the Knicks’ defense surged when Mitchell Robinson returned from his ankle injury. Before his Feb. 28 season debut, New York ranked 21st in defensive rating.
Since then? Third, behind only the Detroit Pistons and Raptors.
Robinson has quickly reestablished himself as one of the league’s most impactful interior defenders. In six games since his return, he owns a top-10 net rating among centers (plus-11.9 per 100 possessions) and has provided the paint protection New York lacked when Karl-Anthony Towns was the lone big man.
Mitchell Robinson’s return has already raised the Knicks’ ceiling
His presence has allowed Anunoby and Bridges to wreak havoc on the perimeter without worrying about rim protection behind them.
OFFENSE FUELING THE DEFENSE
Anunoby has scored 20 or more points in five of his last six games and is averaging 21.7 points in the month of March. Coincidentally, his impact on the defensive end has also reached a new high for the team’s most capable defender.
Anunoby, now fully back in rhythm after his own foot injury, has recorded at least one block or steal in four of his last six games, including a five-steal performance against the Sacramento Kings, Brunson’s second game missed due to injury.
The Knicks signed him to the richest contract in franchise history — a five-year, $212.5 million deal during the offseason — and his play on both ends of the floor has been worth every penny.
A DEFENSIVE IDENTITY FORMING
There’s no sugarcoating the obvious: The Knicks have been better defensively without Brunson — but this stretch has also revealed what needs to happen when he returns.
Defense wins playoff series, and the Knicks have rediscovered their defensive DNA in his absence, though the stops immediately coincided with Robinson’s return to action, suggesting New York was already improving on defense before the captain went down due to injury.
There have also been obvious lapses on Brunson’s part on the defensive end, the kind that happen less frequently with McBride on the court.
The Knicks need to find a way to bottle the defensive intensity they’ve captured and pop the cork when the captain returns to action.
The Knicks said on March 7 they would provide an update on his status in around two weeks. Given the severity of his ankle sprain, a return closer to the end of the month — if not in April — seems more realistic.
When he does return, the challenge will be balancing their offensive firepower with the defensive intensity that has emerged over the last three games.
For now, and until Brunson returns, New York has found its formula: Turn defense into offense, disrupt opponents and let the stops fuel their attack.
If they can keep this up, their unexpected success without Brunson might just be a preview of what’s to come when they’re fully healthy — and ready for a deep playoff push.