New York is on pace for their second straight 50-win season and are currently 29-16 on the year. With Towns and captain Jalen Brunson becoming the first duo in decades to be named All-Star starters, the sky appears to be the limit for the Knicks.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 25 points and 16 rebounds, Jalen Brunson scored eight points down the stretch and finished with 17 as the New York Knicks beat the Brooklyn Nets 99-95.

Perhaps the best indication of what’s important for these Knicks — or what’s most relevant to their status as either contenders or pretenders — was the theme of Wednesday night’s postgame locker room interviews.