LAST CHANCE: SEE HOW THE KNICKS STUNNED CLEVELAND IN A HISTORIC HOLIDAY THRILLER
Jalen Brunson’s 34 points and Tyler Kolek’s spark off the bench led the Knicks to a wild 126-124 Christmas comeback over the Cavs.
The New York Knicks were way behind, like 17 points, in the fourth quarter, but they pulled off a major comeback against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Christmas Day. They won 126-124, making their season record 21-9.
New York struggled to guard Cleveland throughout much of the game. It looked really bad when they were down 17 early in the fourth. But instead of giving up, they bounced back, just like they have all season.
Jalen Brunson, who was way in the negative earlier in the game, really stepped it up in the fourth. He scored 13 points, hitting 3 of 4 three-pointers, ending with 34 points. He showed why he got Clutch Player of the Year last season.
Brunson started slow, but he really came through when it mattered most. The captain did it again at the most important time.
The Knicks' bench really changed the game's momentum. The guys coming off the bench, even without Miles McBride and Landry Shamet, were key. Tyler Kolek, who's been playing great recently, was super important in the comeback, sinking a couple of important shots to cut Cleveland's lead in the fourth.
Kolek had 16 points and nine assists off the bench. Also, he had the best plus-minus on the team at +24, killing it when he was on the court and helping them catch up.
Jordan Clarkson also had his best game this season, coming off the bench. He scored a season-high 25 points and hit five of 10 three-pointers, providing a lift when New York was struggling.
Mitchell Robinson's rebounding was amazing, and without those offensive rebounds, they wouldn't have had the extra chances needed to come back. Robinson didn't score, but he grabbed 13 rebounds (eight offensive) in just 17 minutes, including eight in the fourth quarter.
The Knicks' defence was still a bit slow.
New York's defence put them in that hole to begin with. They let Cleveland score 38 points in both the first and third quarters, struggling with the three-point shot.
Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell were causing the Knicks the most trouble. Garland ended with 20 points and 10 assists, and Mitchell led the Cavs with 34 points.
Thankfully, the Knicks were able to shut them down late and score a bunch on offence. However, they'll need to tighten up their defence going forward if they don't want to keep making these big comebacks.
Overall:
The Knicks showed their usual fight and toughness, and it led to a big home win. Now, New York hits the road to play the Atlanta Hawks.
KENDRICK BOURNE REVEALS THE STRICT DISCIPLINE THAT SPARKED THE PATRIOTS' TURNAROUND
Kendrick Bourne speaks out! Discover why he thinks Mike Vrabel is the right fit and why he’s eyeing a 2026 return to the 49ers.
Kendrick Bourne’s path through the NFL has zigzagged all over – some highs, plenty of lows, and now, another fresh start. He took a shot with the Patriots in 2025 after building his reputation with the 49ers. But honestly, that New England chapter ended before it even got going. Bourne didn’t just slip out the back door. He left with a lot to say about what he saw brewing in New England as Mike Vrabel took charge.
Once Vrabel arrived, you didn’t need to listen for rumours about a culture shift; it was obvious. Bourne noticed right away. He’s already got his eyes set on home, back with the 49ers, but even from a distance, he could see the Patriots were heading somewhere new long before their record showed it.
Talking about his exit from New England, Bourne didn’t sugarcoat anything. Losing the job itself wasn’t the hardest part. What stung was watching Vrabel put his stamp on the team, laying down the kind of structure and discipline Bourne knew would eventually pay off. He was blunt; things just felt different under Vrabel compared to before.
He put it like this: “After going through OTAs and camp with Vrabes, you just knew. Nothing against Mayo, but he just wasn’t ready. With Vrabes, the structure was totally different in how we studied, how we met, and just the whole vibe. Honestly, I was sad about it.”
This wasn’t just a guy being bitter. Bourne respected what was happening in New England and genuinely wished he could have been part of it, especially with a Super Bowl push on the horizon. He even admitted he’d wanted to be in that locker room when the Patriots finally made it back to the big stage.
Now he’s back with the 49ers, hoping to stick around. At 30, Bourne wants a new contract in San Francisco. He had a solid 2025, racked up 551 yards, picked up a contract bonus, and gave the offence a spark. The 49ers needed reliable hands, and Bourne delivered. He’s clear: he wants to stay, but only if the deal makes sense for him.
So now, the offseason gets interesting. Bourne knows where he fits best, but he’s still keeping an eye on what’s building in New England. That mix of looking back and chasing what’s next makes this part of his career one to pay attention to.
MRI SCARE: STEVE KERR ADMITS STEPH CURRY’S "NEBULOUS" KNEE MAY REQUIRE SECOND IMAGING
Warriors crisis! Discover why Steph Curry may need another MRI and how Jimmy Butler’s ACL tear shifts GSW to the play-in.
The Warriors have been scrambling since Jimmy Butler went down with that ACL tear. He’s done for the year, and now Stephen Curry has to carry the offence on his own.
Right after the All-Star break, the Warriors are sitting in eighth place out West. That’s already shaky, and now Curry’s dealing with a knee injury too. The team calls it runner's knee; basically, he just needs time to heal. But then Steve Kerr gave an update that didn’t exactly inspire confidence.
Turns out, Curry might need another MRI. He tried to push through a full workout, but his knee just wasn’t right. Now, they’re waiting on imaging to figure out how long he’ll actually be out.
Meanwhile, Kristaps Porzingis still hasn’t suited up for Golden State. If Curry misses significant time, everyone else needs to step up in a big way. The Warriors already have one of the most average offences in the league, 15th at the break. No curry, and things get ugly fast. He’s already missed 16 games this season, and the team went 6-10 without him.
Losing Butler already knocked the Warriors out of serious contention. They’re pretty much locked into the play-in. Unless Curry suddenly goes supernova, it’s hard to see them catching the Thunder or making any real noise out West.
So, what’s next? The front office tried to swing big at the deadline, going after Giannis Antetokounmpo, though who knows if the Bucks ever really considered it. Giannis stayed put, but you can bet the Warriors will chase him again this summer.
If that doesn’t work, they’ll turn to other stars. They know the championship window is closing with Curry still on the roster. He’s still elite, but time’s ticking.
LeBron James even comes up as a possibility. If he declines his player option and hits free agency, maybe he’d team up with Curry for one last run at a ring.
Most likely, though, Golden State will look at trades instead of free agents to try to reload. Curry’s health isn’t what it used to be, and the Warriors know they have to make the most of whatever prime he’s got left.