Jalen Brunson Admits Knicks' Desperation After Win Against Clippers

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Reign Amurao | Last updated Jan 7, 2026 11:28 PM ET

The New York Knicks got out of their four-game skid on Wednesday with a 123-111 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. It was a much-needed win for the Jalen Brunson-led group. The entire team worked collectively to get back on the winning side.

Brunson had a team-high 26 points on 80.0% shooting from downtown. The All-Star guard added three rebounds and seven assists. His co-star, Karl-Anthony Towns, displayed an all-around performance. He had 20 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. OG Anunoby added 20 points on an efficient 80.0% shooting.

Jordan Clarkson scored 12 points off the bench to give the Knicks the needed offensive boost.

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11)Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Following the game, Brunson admitted that there was a level of desperation from the team. The Knicks have lost four straight games, and they are missing Josh Hart, a key player to their success. Hart is dealing with an ankle injury and will be re-evaluated on Friday.

“For the most part, we played a little desperate tonight. We needed a win,” the former Villanova star reflected. “The way we competed, the way we played, even if we were down in the first half, was Knicks basketball.”

"For the most part, we played a little desperate tonight. We needed a win. The way we competed, the way we played, even if we were down in the first half, was Knicks basketball"

- Jalen Brunson on tonight's win vs. the Clippers pic.twitter.com/L7FGPCQApK
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 8, 2026

New York kept the opposing team guessing with how they moved the ball. They had 31 assists in the game, which played a significant part in the victory. Towns, who had a season-high in assists, commented on how he contributed to getting his teammates involved.

"Just trying to impact winning, man. Any time I touch the ball, I'm trying to be aggressive with my playmaking," KAT said.

The Knicks will face the Phoenix Suns on Friday, the start of their four-game road trip.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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