Boos could be heard by Knicks fans inside Madison Square Garden before the team was handed its ninth loss in 11 games during Monday night’s 114-97 defeat to the Dallas Mavericks.
Knicks Remain In A Slump
Knicks fans were hoping to see their team get the victory on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Instead, they watched them get blown out on their home court and pick up a fourth straight loss.
Fans voiced their displeasure before the end of the first half.
“There was nothing to be said at halftime except for lock in and do your … do your job,” Brown told reporters after the game amid New York’s recent struggles.
The Knicks have gone from NBA Cup champions to what would appear to be a mediocre squad. New York got off to a 23-9 start in Brown’s first season coaching the Knicks, but the team is now 25-18.
For the second straight night the Knicks hear loud boos from the MSG crowd. pic.twitter.com/EhWBDKCios
— KNICKS BEAST (@KnicksBeast) January 19, 2026
The Knicks get booed off the court at half
Mike Breen “The worst half of the season” pic.twitter.com/pVBfS1ytgn
— KNICKS BEAST (@KnicksBeast) January 19, 2026
It could have been a great day for the Eastern Conference contender.
Jalen Brunson was announced as an NBA All-Star starter earlier Monday, then he and fellow starter Josh Hart were cleared to return from ankle injuries.
However, New York trailed 16-4 just minutes into the game and 75-45 before halftime. It marked only the sixth time the Knicks have allowed 75 points in an opening half at home.
“There’s been a lot of things to pinpoint, but I mean as a team we know what we have to do,” Brunson said. “It’s either we do it, we care enough to do it, or we don’t.”
Karl-Anthony Towns Was Subbed Out
Although the boos stopped in the second half, they returned in the fourth quarter when Karl-Anthony Towns was subbed out of the game.
“Fans are doing their part and we’ve got to do our part,” Towns said.
Towns finished with 22 points and 18 rebounds for the Knicks, and Brunson also had 22 points. Mitchell Robinson ended his outing with 12 points and 15 rebounds.
“I haven’t seen this kind of effort that we had today. It was embarrassing,” said Josh Hart, who recorded eight points and six rebounds.
While the Knicks outscored Dallas 50-39 in the second half, the damage had already been done.
Mavs guard Max Christie scored a season-high 26 points, and rookie star Cooper Flagg had 18 in his first pro game at Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks host the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday.
