The New York Knicks will look to bounce back from their third straight loss after falling 135-125 to the undefeated Chicago Bulls on Halloween night.

With their record now sitting at 2-3 heading into November, the Knicks find themselves struggling to find consistency on the defensive end to begin the 2025-26 season under new head coach Mike Brown.

After the loss, team captain Jalen Brunson didn't mince words about what went wrong. The two-time All-NBA guard took full responsibility for the team's lack of execution, stating what many fans were thinking.

Brunson Takes Blame

"We didn't have any game-plan discipline. We didn't do what was asked of us," Brunson said. "Coach came up with a game plan and it's on us to deliver."

Despite leading the Knicks with 29 points on 12-of-25 shooting, Brunson's leadership was tested as New York allowed the Bulls to score 135 points and shoot over 53 percent from the field.

The Bulls got whatever they wanted offensively, with Josh Giddey torching the Knicks for a career-high 32 points alongside 10 rebounds and nine assists.

Is This Concerning?

Brunson's comments reflect a troubling pattern that has emerged early in the season. The Knicks have now allowed 125 or more points in three consecutive games, a far cry from the defensive identity they built last season.

Ayo Dosunmu came off the bench to score 22 points on an efficient 8-of-10 shooting, repeatedly attacking the same way possession after possession.

Coach Brown pointed to a lack of game-plan discipline as the root cause, specifically noting how the Bulls reserve got to his preferred right hand seven times.

The breakdowns extended beyond individual matchups, as New York surrendered 17 three-pointers and allowed Chicago to spray the ball whenever help defense arrived.

For Karl-Anthony Towns, who added 22 points and 10 rebounds despite playing through a right quad strain, the defensive struggles have been frustrating. OG Anunoby contributed 26 points on efficient shooting, but his defensive impact wasn't enough to slow the Bulls' attack.

Why New York Is Struggling

The defensive struggles extend beyond talent or effort, however.

With a new coach in Brown, the team is still adjusting to different schemes and expectations. The chemistry issues are compounded by Robinson missing the first four games and the overall adjustment period of integrating new pieces into the rotation.

Brunson's acknowledgment that the team isn't following the game plan could suggest the issues are mental rather than physical. Until the Knicks can commit to playing with discipline and executing Brown's defensive schemes, they'll continue to struggle against high-powered offenses.

The Knicks will have a chance at redemption when they host the Bulls on Sunday at Madison Square Garden for the rematch.