What happened: Mike Brown addressed Jalen Brunson's missed shots in the closing minutes after a tight preseason loss. Brunson had chances to tie or win it late but could not convert. Brown said escaping with a win there would have masked risky late-game execution.

Why it matters: New York opens as defending champions with closing-minute roles still unsettled. Early foul trouble for Karl-Anthony Towns extended Andre Drummond's minutes and altered the late rotation. How Brown handles Brunson's workload and defensive assignments matters before the 2026-27 opener.

What to watch: New York continues preseason with a chance to tighten late-game rotations and foul management.