The New York Knicks return to Madison Square Garden with their playoff series tied 2-2, and head coach Mike Brown is emphasizing composure over emotion as the deciding stretch begins.
Following a 114-98 win over the Atlanta Hawks in Game 4, New York regained control through execution on both ends, highlighted by Karl-Anthony Towns posting 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists for his first postseason triple-double.
The Knicks built a 68-44 halftime lead and never allowed Atlanta to recover, showing the type of control Brown believes is rooted in mental discipline rather than sideline intensity.
Speaking to Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, Brown pointed to his coaching foundation under Gregg Popovich when explaining his approach.
“That’s a great question. I mean, I’d have to think about it. But, you know, you draw a lot from the people that you’ve worked with in the past—people that you’ve experienced things with,” Brown said.
“For me, working for Pop [Gregg Popovich], I drew a lot. I feel like I drew a lot from a lot of the guys I’ve worked with, but he always used to say: during the regular season, that’s the time to get up, go crazy on the sidelines and all that stuff, because it’s just one game at a time—you practice and you move on to the next game.”
That philosophy shifts in the postseason, where every possession carries weight and emotional swings can impact execution.
“But during the playoffs, you have to have laser focus,” Brown explained. “If I’m going too crazy on the sidelines, it’s a different type of pressure, and the anxiety level for everybody else can increase.”
New York’s Game 4 performance reflected that steadiness, particularly on defense against CJ McCollum, who scored 17 points but failed to convert from three-point range after hitting nine triples across the first three games.
The Knicks also limited Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jalen Johnson to 15 and 14 points, respectively, reinforcing a defensive scheme built on adjustments rather than overreaction.
Offensively, Jalen Brunson added 19 points and credited carryover from late-game execution in Game 3 despite the loss.
As the series shifts back to New York for Game 5, Brown stressed continuity over reinvention.
“So, I have to make sure I keep these guys—at this time of the year—I have to keep giving them confidence more than anything else,” Brown said.
“For the most part, the regular season and the preseason prepare you for this moment, so you should have a pretty good flow of what you should be doing.”
