Will the New York Knicks FINALLY bring home a championship 👀 + NBA game recaps | NBA Today

Will the New York Knicks FINALLY bring home a championship 👀 + NBA game recaps | NBA Today

Welcome to NBA Today with Malikica Andrews live from Los Angeles. >> Coming up on NBA Today, we got takeaways from last night's mile high thriller. Who did we learn more about, the Nuggets or the Rockets? And yes, you'll also hear from Eay Udoka after the spicy showdown. Plus, Cooper Flag, his first 40point game. So, what he did last night that put him in the same company as LeBron, Melo, KD, and Anthony Edwards. Also, my exclusive conversation with Victor Wanyama, how he's readying his Spurs for the Cup Championship. Find out next. NBA Today starts right now. Hey, the Eastern Conference hopeful and a rising giant in the West. It all goes down tonight for a chance at winning the third ever NBA Cup. And yesterday, WBY and Jaylen Brunson, they spoke about what's at stake for their respective teams. Take a listen. It's um high stakes game that both teams are going to be very invested in winning. So it just shows that you know we are ready we are preparing and we will pass the next step to for more significant games in the playoffs. But um as competitors this is the complicated explanation but simple it simple as that. As competitors, we want to win every game and this one brings something new on the table. So, we want to win it even more. >> You're going out there competing. You know, you're playing uh for more than just yourself. You're playing for your team, your organization, and um your city. It's um there's a lot at stake besides the record. So, um you go out there and compete no matter what. >> Timmy Good Times taking a break from the Blackjacks table to come and spend a little bit of time with us here on NBA today. Hey Tim, this is a huge game that we get to see tonight between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks. What are the Knicks saying about their mindset ahead of this this ethical cup matchup here? >> Well, Malikica, for the Knicks, they have not raised any sort of championship banner to the rafters at Madison Square Garden since 1973 when they won the second of their two NBA championships. So, yes, this is not the Larry O'Brien trophy, but for the Knicks, this is a chance to do something they haven't done in more than 50 years. And it is something that they hope will be a springboard for them to have postseason success like obviously the Oklahoma City Thunder did last year when they got to the cup championship game, went on to win the NBA title. And the Indiana Pacers did the year before when they came out of nowhere after making the cup finals. made the conference finals two years ago and then obviously beat the Knicks in the conference finals last year to go on to the league's championship round. And to for the Knicks to do that, Malikica, obviously you just referenced Victor Webyama earlier. One thing Jaylen Brunson talked about yesterday, the Knicks have to get J Victor Webyama away from the paint. It's obviously a real challenge to do that in the minutes Victor's out there. We'll see how many he's able to play today. Expect the Knicks to try to keep the ball movement they had in Saturday's win over Orlando when they had a great showing against one of the best defensive teams in the league. try to get Victor moving around, maybe take away some of his energy and get him away from the paint, get Jaylen Brussley a chance to get another 40 points like he did in Saturday's win. >> Absolutely. It's easier said than done keeping Victor Wmanyama out of the paint. Tim, thank you very much. I'll see you in a couple of hours at tonight's game in Vegas. But as Tim alluded to, it has been a while since the Knicks have won an NBA championship. The last one, it was 52 years ago. It was back in 1973. Remember, they got to the finals twice though since then. They lost to the Rockets in 1994 and then they lost to the Spurs in 1999. So once again, the Spurs stand in their way of something significant. Not a championship, but an NBA cup. So let's get to that other side of this San Antonio here as we say hello to our Michael C right here. Michael, this is one of Web's biggest game, if not the biggest game he has played in thus far in his career. And of course, in the last game, we saw him on a minutes restriction. We saw him come off of the bench. So what is the plan here in the cup final? Well, Malik, I would not expect a full workload for Victor Women. Expect him to play somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 to 25 minutes, something like that. Now, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said that just because Victor came back in that semi-finals win over OKC. That does not mean he's 100% back. You've got to remember this guy is coming off a 12game absence and so they need to really ease him back into the mix. Now, Victor Winyama said yesterday that he will have some input into the direction that they ultimately go here. Now, that means there could be a chance that Victor comes off the bench again like he did in that semi-finals game against OKC. In the first in the first half of that game, I got a text from a source that told me that the Spurs were looking to strategically maximize Victor's minutes. So, that could very well be the case here. But, it's important to note again that Victor will have a say in this. Yeah, that's going to be interesting particularly because on that minutes restriction by him coming off of the bench and not playing in that first quarter, where was he available? He was available at the end of the game when it was a tight one and they needed him to be able to close out the Oklahoma City Thunder. So, that's going to be something that's interesting to watch. Michael C. Wright is on the case for us. We will come back to you if you have any updates on Victor's status here because the stars, they are going to be out in Vegas, but of course the stars are also out in our studio. Our own Chennai Agumay, our own Danny Green. I feel like a game show host. Well, let's start with Jaylen Brunson here today and what you're watching for from him. >> Malikica, there are some games that you never forget. Do you remember this? In March of 2024, Jaylen Brunson scored a career-high 61 points against who? The Spurs. That's the second most points in Knicks history behind only Melo's 62. Respect to the legend. I'm going to break down how he's able to play this fencing match. You're funny, Danny, because you you play fencing trying to know when to strike. This is drop coverage. Great read by Brenton who averages 29 points per game. The defender is late Jeremy and he strikes in the mid-range. Again, when there's a pick and roll situation, this time in transition, WBY is off of the ball, which means he's going to attack. Webby tends to go back thinking that it's a full attack to the rim. Instead, look at this nice drag dribble to create separation on his kill spot, which is the elbow. Expect Jaylen Brunson to have more plays just like that. >> Yeah, but that was year one, Victor. This is year three. It's a lot different. the clips that we're about to show you, as you can see, with him on the floor, they're ranked second, top three in the league. With him off the floor, 22nd at a big difference with him off the floor. But as these clips will show you, he's a lot different this year than he was in year one. As he's up on the screen, see this arm? Look at this hand. That's SGA. He wasn't doing that with Brunson. Now, it's deter SGA to get that pull up that mid-range. He has to kick it back to Dort, get back and box out. He's covering a lot of ground. Here is where the IQ comes into place. Look at this pre- switch. He's telling the guards to get up so he can get down. They're trying to bring him away from the paint with a big on the perimeter like Isaiah Hartinstein, like Chet Hunger. He says, "No, we're going to switch the guards out and make sure I can get to the paint where I'm not in rotation and everybody can run around and he can still protect the rim." So, it's going to be a very different winyama than it was in years. >> You're right. You're right. And that's why Jaylen Brunson is saying we've got to keep him out of the paint. It's not just cuz he can dunk on your head. It's because the attention that he can can can pull and on the defensive side of the ball as well. >> Up to NBA today. So, Cooper Flag made some history last night as the Mavericks faced off against the Utah Jazz. He's been on a tear lately and he continued it in this game. He came out aggressive in this one. He scored 24 points, Chennai, in the first half. >> I like the uh the physicality that he has embraced. And by the way, I I know our producer isn't here, but the Jazz, they're kind of fun to watch. They're high-flying, but I like the confidence he's built from three levels of the game. >> He's only 18, right? >> Yeah. And this is a game down the stretch here. So, the Mavs down by three. Okay, we pick it up with about a minute to go here. Flag drives to the paint >> and then finishes it here plus the foul. >> Strong left hand finish. I like it. Said like Chen was saying, the confidence is building and he he's showing it. >> Well, we'll go into overtime in this one. Keonte George though. He's been balling. >> He has. He has been a bright spot not just for the Jazz, but also the future of the NBA here. Nice, beautiful pitch TO THE CORNER. >> AH, LOWRY. >> Lowry there for the put back and the slam. funny. >> So, the Jazz here go on to finish this one spoiling Flags 42-point game. But here's Flag on his career night. >> I think it's just, you know, my teammates putting me in the right positions, you know, let me get myself out there, give me that confidence and um, you know, I just saw, you know, a lot of gaps out there tonight and wanted to take advantage of. It's tough though. I mean, I want to look at it, you know, wins and losses. Obviously, we didn't win, so it was tough for me to, you know, want to be happy or any of that, but obviously it's, you know, it's success and, you know, going to try and keep getting better from here. >> You confused me, Danny. >> How many days were there in a year? >> 365. >> Good job. All right. Flag became the first 18year-old, to your point, Danny, to score 40 in an NBA game. >> LeBron James had been the youngest player to score 40. Previously, he did it at 19 years and 88 days against Richard Jefferson. Take it, Richard. >> We were you guys caught us as we were coming out of that sound debating over how many how many days are here. All right, let's run through some notable teenagers to also put up 40, shall we? Here because of course we'll start with LeBron James. 43 times this is a teenager and as mentioned one was against our friend Richard. Any chance to mention that? And then babyface LeBron he shot 15 of 29 from the field and to a Cavaliers comeback in the win. Richard had 35 though in the loss. >> Justice for Richard. >> How about Carmelo Anthony 2004? This one was against the Sonics. 19 of 29 for 41 points. Only one free throw attempted, by the way. >> Ethical basketball. Uh Kevin Durant as a supersonic in 2008 against his future team, the Golden State Warriors. Easy money. 42 points, 13 and six here in a Seattle win. All right. How about he still looks >> just a couple of years ago in 2021, Anthony Edwards in Phoenix. This was his first time. I made an additional 40point night a month later, all before turning 20 years old. So, Cooper Sporting Piece, it was one of five games on the slate last night. How about we go coast to coast on some of the other action here. Why don't we start with Perk Racic Park Jurassic Park starting with the Raptors snapped a four-game losing streak. Brennan Ingram 28 in this one against the Heat. But the Heat, their loss extends to five, their streak there. So, Danny, what's going on with Miami? I mean, I love what Toronto is doing, but on Miami side, they're playing free, which could be a good and bad thing. And lately, we've seen a lot of bad too many ill-advised shots. Not enough defense on the perimeter, but guys are just taking bad contested shots, and we need to see better, more efficient shots. Obviously, they have injuries, too. >> How about the Grizzlies? Handed the Clippers their 20th loss in 26 games. Woof. All right. Led by 31 points, Jared Jackson, 27 from Cam Spencer, friend of the show off the bench. Not all good news for Memphis though. John Morant left late in the third with an ankle injury. Ch. How concerning is that? >> It's tough because this is a team that has not had the consistency to be successful. They're currently under 500. They're ninth in the West. I do want to credit Jiren Jackson Jr. shot 70% from the field. But still, you need you need that continuity for them to make a push upward. >> And you need John Morant being the jaw that we have. >> That would help, >> right? All right. How about the motorcade hit the road to take on the Boston Celtics here. We're going to pick this one up early in the fourth quarter. The Pistons up by six. Cunningham drives knocks down that midi. >> Smooth. Oh, Minnie. >> By the way, y'all should have seen Danny's face when he said smooth. >> I know. He looked disgusting. >> Dang face. >> Okay, Kazo. >> Hello. >> That's a green boy right there. >> One of the green brothers still getting up. >> We're not related though. We're not related. >> Doug get it all over Derek. >> I could never do that. I couldn't. >> Big three nominee. Maybe we're going to see this again later in the show. And then minutes later, the Celtics down by nine here. Derek White kicks it over to Jaylen. >> He's been cooking y'all. >> Create space. Let him cook. >> Should be in the MVP MVP conversation as well. Well, >> I mean, >> 34 points so far for him. >> I love my guy. >> Nobody expect him to be top three in the East. >> That's true. >> 31 for Derek White to >> also speaking of MVP conversation. >> Yeah, definitely. Absolutely. Killer Cade. >> Kade on the other hand, ISO crosses, spins, Chanel. >> Did you know he's number two in clutch time points in the NBA behind Shay Gilas Alexander, the MVP? Put some respect on that name. Veru, >> what a move from Cunningham. Ices the game with that one. Rev your engines. He had 32 points, 10 of six, six of 10 from three-point range. Now, the Pistons, they trailed by 12 and they came back to win. They improved to 8 and three when trailing by double digits this season. That's the most in the NBA and that's the kind of grit you're going to need to win some playoff series. Jimmy C is feeling

On NBA Today, Tim Bontemps, Michael C. Wright, Chiney Ogwumike and Danny Green join Malika Andrews to discuss:

0:00 The NBA Cup
0:50 Victor Wembanyama’s comments
1:35 Jalen Brunson’s comments
1:53 What are the Knicks saying about their mindset?
3:17 The last time the Knicks won an NBA title
3:40 The plan for Wembanyama
5:15 Expectations for Jalen Brunson and breaking down his play
6:20 Expectations for Victor Wembanyama and breaking down his play
7:05 Cooper Flagg’s performance
7:40 The Utah Jazz vs. Dallas Mavericks
8:05 Cooper Flagg’s comments
8:30 Copper Flagg breaking records
9:05 Throwback to NBA record breakers
9:50 NBA game recaps

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