The Knicks absolutely lit it up in Atlanta on Saturday, cruising to a 121-105 win with all five starters dropping double-digit points. It was one of those games where everything looked smooth—shots fell, ball movement was sharp, and the Hawks just couldn’t keep up. But let’s be real for a second—this team is still missing its heartbeat. Jalen Brunson hasn’t been on the floor.

While the Knicks have managed to hold it down without him, you can feel that gap when the pressure’s on. They’ve gone 8-6 since he went down, which isn’t bad at all, and they’re still sitting pretty as the East’s third seed. Now, here’s the thing: they’ve taken care of business against most teams, but when the lights get a little brighter? That’s where the cracks start to show. Losses against title-caliber squads like the Warriors, Clippers, and Cavs remind you that Brunson’s presence isn’t just important—it’s necessary.

And now the wait is almost over. After missing 15 straight games with an ankle injury, Brunson is set to make his long-awaited return Sunday as the New York Knicks host the Phoenix Suns reports Chris Haynes. But head coach Tom Thibodeau has been festering a team-first mindset.

When asked about the Knicks’ sharp offensive rhythm, Thibodeau stressed that individual talent alone doesn’t win games—especially in the playoffs.

“Well, I think it’s huge, I think. And to succeed in this league, you have to do it together,” Thibodeau said postgame. “No one could do it. You can’t win at the highest level in this league individually. You have to do it collectively.”

That collective mindset was on full display in Atlanta. The Knicks hit 15 of their 29 shots from deep and shot an efficient 53.6% from the field overall—45-of-84, to be exact.

Thibodeau emphasized execution and unselfishness as keys to success.

“So everyone had that to be a willingness to sacrifice. I think offense is about execution, right? So everyone has a job to do. You have to go out there and do your job, and you have to help each other,” he continued.

“And then the game, are they blitzing somebody? Are they double teaming the post? Is, are they coming from the baseline on KAT? And how can we take advantage of that and how can we create advantages from that and everyone works together and hits the open man. Pass up a good shot to get a great shot, but that willingness to be unselfish and play for each other is huge.”

With Brunson finally rejoining the lineup, Thibodeau’s message hits at a perfect moment: talent wins games, but chemistry wins series. And if the Knicks keep playing like they did in Atlanta, they might just be ready to make some serious noise come playoff time.

Speaking of Atlanta… things unraveled fast.

The Knicks put on a shooting clinic without Jalen Brunson

The Hawks just got steamrolled—and at home, no less. The Knicks, down two starters, rolled into State Farm Arena and flat-out embarrassed Atlanta by halftime. You’d think it was a Knicks home game with how hot they were shooting.

New York came out blazing. They knocked down 10 of their first 13 shots, including four straight from deep. Meanwhile, the Hawks couldn’t hold on to the ball—seven turnovers in the first quarter alone. Despite that, they somehow trailed by just seven after one.

Then came the meltdown. The Knicks caught fire in the second quarter, shooting a ridiculous 75% from the floor and 7-of-9 from beyond the arc. That 40-point explosion sent them into the locker room with a 78-53 lead. Game over.

Trae Young started strong with 13 points in the first, but disappeared after that. Towns had 17 before a quick finger scare (don’t worry, he came back), while Anunoby and Bridges added 16 each. Atlanta shot just 27% from three and never even sniffed a comeback. By the fourth, Quin Snyder emptied the bench.

And with that, the Hawks officially punched their ticket to the play-in—for the fourth straight year. Upcoming games against tanking squads like Utah and Brooklyn won’t mean much unless they show up against Orlando.

Saturday proved it: the Hawks aren’t close to contending yet.