Tyler Kolek chases down Donovan Mitchell for a block and helps the Knicks catch the Cavaliers
Madison Square Garden has witnessed countless holiday classics, but few defensive sequences have electrified the arena quite like the one that defined the New York Knicks' 126-124 Christmas Day victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. In a game where New York erased a daunting 17-point fourth-quarter deficit, it was second-year reserve Tyler Kolek who delivered the signature moment, chasing down Donovan Mitchell for a game-saving block that completed the Knicks' comeback.
With just under two minutes remaining and the Cavaliers clinging to a 117-116 lead, Jalen Brunson lost control of the ball, sparking a Cleveland fast break. Darius Garland scooped up the loose ball and launched a pass ahead to Mitchell, who appeared to have an uncontested path to the rim. However, as the All-Star guard slowed his stride to gather for a potential highlight-reel dunk, Kolek sprinted the length of the floor. The Knicks guard met Mitchell at the apex, swiping down and dislodging the ball just as Mitchell attempted to rise.
Although officials initially whistled Kolek for a foul, the Knicks immediately challenged the call. Replay review vindicated Kolek’s emphatic reaction—he had told Mitchell while they were on the floor that it was "all ball"—and the call was overturned. The reversal sent the Garden crowd into a frenzy, with chants of "Tyler Kolek" raining down from the rafters. "I saw him running and honestly, if he ran and just did a regular layup, I wouldn't have caught up to him," Kolek admitted postgame. "He slowed down... he was trying to do something crazy."
The play proved to be the turning point. Kolek not only secured the block but kept the play alive, eventually assisting Mikal Bridges for the go-ahead jumper on the ensuing possession. Donovan Mitchell, who finished with a game-high 34 points, credited the young guard’s hustle, calling it "winning basketball." For Kolek, who scored 11 of his 16 points in the final period, the sequence cemented his status as a key rotation piece for New York, proving that hustle remains the Knicks' defining identity.
With just under two minutes remaining and the Cavaliers clinging to a 117-116 lead, Jalen Brunson lost control of the ball, sparking a Cleveland fast break. Darius Garland scooped up the loose ball and launched a pass ahead to Mitchell, who appeared to have an uncontested path to the rim. However, as the All-Star guard slowed his stride to gather for a potential highlight-reel dunk, Kolek sprinted the length of the floor. The Knicks guard met Mitchell at the apex, swiping down and dislodging the ball just as Mitchell attempted to rise.
Although officials initially whistled Kolek for a foul, the Knicks immediately challenged the call. Replay review vindicated Kolek’s emphatic reaction—he had told Mitchell while they were on the floor that it was "all ball"—and the call was overturned. The reversal sent the Garden crowd into a frenzy, with chants of "Tyler Kolek" raining down from the rafters. "I saw him running and honestly, if he ran and just did a regular layup, I wouldn't have caught up to him," Kolek admitted postgame. "He slowed down... he was trying to do something crazy."
The play proved to be the turning point. Kolek not only secured the block but kept the play alive, eventually assisting Mikal Bridges for the go-ahead jumper on the ensuing possession. Donovan Mitchell, who finished with a game-high 34 points, credited the young guard’s hustle, calling it "winning basketball." For Kolek, who scored 11 of his 16 points in the final period, the sequence cemented his status as a key rotation piece for New York, proving that hustle remains the Knicks' defining identity.
