New York Knicks Exact Revenge Against the Sacramento Kings

They say revenge is a dish best served cold, but on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks served it piping hot in the fourth quarter. Just two weeks ago, the Sacramento Kings embarrassed New York, handing them a loss that Head Coach Mike Brown described as getting “punched in the mouth.” It was a stinging defeat, especially considering the narrative: Brown, the man who ended Sacramento’s historic playoff drought only to be unceremoniously fired less than a year later, was coaching against his old squad.

Tuesday was the rematch. And for three quarters, it looked like the Kings might play spoiler again. But then Jalen Brunson woke up, the Garden crowd got loud, and the Knicks turned a tie game into a 103-87 blowout that felt much more comfortable than the box score suggests.

Brunson and the Knicks Flip the Switch

If you turned the game off after the third quarter, you missed the actual show. The game was knotted at 72-72, a muddy, grind-it-out affair that felt like both teams were running in quicksand. The Kings, despite missing nearly half their starting lineup due to injuries, were hanging around largely because DeMar DeRozan decided to turn back the clock and torch the Knicks’ defense for 34 points.

But the fourth quarter was a different story entirely. The Knicks outscored Sacramento 31-15 in the final frame, and honestly, it felt like the Kings just ran out of gas while New York was just getting warmed up.

Karl-Anthony Towns kicked things off with a pair of massive three-pointers early in the fourth, giving the Knicks a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. It was a crucial sequence, especially since Brown has been tinkering with his rotations, often leaving Towns on the bench while Brunson runs the show, and vice versa. This time, the staggering worked to perfection. When Brunson checked back in with under seven minutes to go, he didn’t just manage the game; he closed it.

Brunson, who finished with a team-high 28 points, went on a personal 13-0 run alongside OG Anunoby that essentially put the Kings to bed. There was a three-pointer, a technical free throw, and a few crafty mid-range buckets that left the Kings’ defenders looking at each other for answers that weren’t there.

Mike Brown’s Sweet Vindication

Let’s be real for a second: coaches will always tell you it’s “just another game.” They’ll say the opponent doesn’t matter. Brown is a professional, so he stuck to the script. But you have to imagine this one felt a little better than a random Tuesday night win against the Hornets.

Brown was the unanimous Coach of the Year with Sacramento in 2023. He changed the culture there. Then, after a rough start the following season, he was shown the door. Since firing him, the Kings have spiraled, posting a dismal 39-59 record. Meanwhile, Brown has the Knicks sitting at 28-18 and looking like a legitimate threat in the East.

When asked before the game what the Knicks needed to do differently compared to their loss in Sacramento earlier this month, Brown didn’t mince words. “Everything,” he said.

He wasn’t joking. The Knicks cleaned up the turnovers late, clamped down defensively, and actually responded to the physicality that Sacramento brought. It was the first win for Brown against his former employer as the Knicks’ head coach, and judging by the handshake line, it was a weight off his shoulders.

Knicks Survive DeRozan’s One-Man Show

You have to give credit where it’s due—the Kings were fighting with one hand tied behind their back. No Domantas Sabonis. No Keegan Murray. No Malik Monk. It was essentially DeRozan and a prayer.

And for a while, the prayer was working. DeRozan was spectacular, dropping 22 of his 34 points in the first half and capping a second-quarter run with a three-pointer that briefly gave the Kings the lead. He was hitting those contested mid-range jumpers that make analytics nerds scream, and old-school hoop heads smile.

But basketball is a 48-minute game, and the Kings just didn’t have the bodies to keep up with the Knicks’ depth. Mikal Bridges quietly added 18 points, providing that steady second (or third) option the team needs. Mitchell Robinson was a menace on the glass, pulling down 13 rebounds and reminding everyone why he’s so vital to this rotation.

The play of the night might have been Robinson’s buzzer-beating put-back dunk to end the first quarter, or perhaps Anunoby’s thunderous slam in the fourth that extended the lead to 14. Either way, the Knicks showed that they have too many weapons for a depleted team to handle for a full game.

What’s Next For New York?

This win marks three in a row for the Knicks, washing away the bad taste of that four-game skid sparked by the loss in Sacramento earlier in the month. They’ve stabilized the ship.

There’s no time to celebrate, though. The team heads north of the border to face the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night. If the Knicks want to keep climbing the Eastern Conference standings, they’ll need to bring that fourth-quarter energy for the full 48 minutes. But for one night, at least, Brown can sleep easily knowing he got the last laugh.