Jose Alvarado enjoyed a strong first outing for the New York Knicks, helping a serious NBA championship contender beat the Boston Celtics 111-89. Alvarado contributed 12 points in 25 minutes on Sunday as the Knicks moved to 34-19, strengthening second place in the Eastern Conference and responding well after a poor performance against the Detroit Pistons.
The guard, who joined from the New Orleans Pelicans last week, is especially pleased that the move brings a title chase. As reported by AFP, Alvarado said: "We're just trying to win games. Everyone has welcomed me with open arms. Being on a team that is fighting for the championship is something special. " Those comments underline how quickly Alvarado has settled into the New York Knicks environment.
Alvarado was born in Brooklyn, so representing the New York Knicks carries extra meaning. The debut felt like a natural step in a longer journey rather than a sudden change. Alvarado explained: "It just feels like it was meant to be. It feels like Ive been part of it for a while, even though it was the first game. It felt like nothing. It felt like home. It felt like it was supposed to happen this way. "
Defence remains central to Alvarado’s game and New York Knicks team-mates already understand that edge. Alvarado said: "Obviously, [my team-mates] know my passion is defence, and they trust in me and believe in me, and they let me be myself. They keep saying go out there and be yourself, and everything will go the way we need it to go. " That trust supports Alvarado’s high-energy style off the bench.
just having fun with it pic.twitter.com/AGFqgz3MGHNEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 8, 2026
The New York Knicks needed a reaction after losing to the Eastern Conference leaders, the Detroit Pistons. Head coach Mike Brown highlighted how the group handled that setback, stressing the mindset shown against Boston. Brown linked the improved display to a longer pattern of responding well after poor performances or sequences of defeats.
"Our group is resilient, Brown said, as reported by the New York Post. Sometimes, like in Detroit, that happens. None of us like it. None of us want to go through it. Give Detroit a lot of credit, but we know its not who we are. We played a lot better than that. We will. But I do think this group is resilient because they've shown time and time again, after tough losses or multiple losses, playing the next game, usually doing a pretty good job of playing again. "
That resilience, combined with Alvarado’s defensive intensity and scoring support, strengthens the New York Knicks rotation as the season continues. The team’s current 34-19 record, standing second in the East and chasing the Pistons, underlines why Alvarado views this opportunity as something special and why Brown values the group’s response to pressure situations.
