Knicks coach Mike Brown said he would have taken a win over the Philadelphia 76ers on opening night but would not have been happy with it, warning that late-game magic and the feel-good vibes of ring night are not enough to start the season on a positive note.
Before Tuesday night's opener at Madison Square Garden, the team received its championship rings. Jalen Brunson thanked Knicks fans for staying during Game 4 of the NBA Finals, when New York trailed by 29 points in the third quarter. Despite the emotion, Brunson shot just 6-of-19 from the field, including 1-for-5 in the fourth quarter, as the 76ers won 106-100.
"If Jalen Brunson hits those shots down the stretch and we win, for me personally as their coach, there's going to be something inside of me that wished it wouldn't happen," Brown said. "It's almost like you're playing with fire and you ended up winning that time without any water." Brunson finished with 21 points, five rebounds and three assists. Brown called the game "ugly," noting that Karl-Anthony Towns scored 10 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter as the Knicks shot 37% overall and 33% from three-point range.
Ring ceremony guests included Walt "Clyde" Frazier, who handed out rings to the players, and the widow of Willis Reed, who gave Brown his ring. Earl "The Pearl" Monroe and Bill Bradley also took part. Brunson acknowledged the team needed to humble itself and check its egos, adding that the season's early weeks may not reflect who the Knicks really are.
Source: ESPN NBA · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing