Beneath the Christmas highlight at Madison Sq. Backyard — with the Knicks within the midst of a type of comebacks to remind you this workforce may be on to one thing — a voice within the crowd stated what everyone was pondering, although maybe solely fleetingly as a result of it would’ve felt foolish or untimely to say out loud.
“Give the ball to Tyler.”
Understand that Jalen Brunson, the King of Clutch, was dribbling and, logically, you wouldn’t need anyone else dealing with the rock with 2 1/2 minutes left and a four-point deficit.
However this fan’s instinct was right. Kolek, who has by no means been constrained by nerves or wavering confidence, took and buried that 3-pointer. Then he recorded the most important block of the Christmas 126-124 victory, a swipe on a driving and showboating Donovan Mitchell within the closing two minutes of an exciting comeback.
