The New York Knicks have unlocked a new identity: the best defense in the NBA.

New York put up one of the best defensive performances the league has seen this season, defeating the Milwaukee Bucks 117-85. This is the fourth win in a row for the reigning champs, who now sit at 6-4 and fourth in the Eastern Conference. 

This matchup has been a one-sided affair in recent years, with the Knicks winning eight of their last nine games against Milwaukee. In these games, the Knicks have an average 16.1-point differential. 

Ryan Rollins kept the Bucks in the game throughout the first quarter, but it was all Knicks after that. After leading by just three points early in the second, the Knicks went on a 20-three run over the next seven minutes. 

Tyler Kolek had one of the better quarters of his career, kicking off the run with a corner three, a blocked 3-pointer on the other end, and finishing a fastbreak layup to force a timeout. 

Kolek racked up seven points and a block in the quarter and finished the game with a season-high 12 points, as well as 4 assists on five-for-six from the field and two-for-three from 3-point. Even with limited minutes, it seems as if he’s won the backup point guard job.

The Knicks are now 3-0 in games Landry Shamet starts, with an average point differential of 24.67. In these games, Shamet is averaging 8.7 points and two made 3-pointers per game. Josh Hart is a phenomenal player, but with the way New York is playing, is it time to talk about who should start?

In these continuous blowouts the Knicks keep finding themselves in, the end of the bench shines. 14 different players hit the hardwood against the Bucks, with Pacome Dadiet making the most of his minutes. He ended the game with eight points and a made 3-pointer, as did Dalton Knecht.

Rookie draft picks Tyler Nickel and Jaden Akins were the only active players not to play, with Nickel still not seeing any NBA action. The Vanderbilt sharpshooter will more likely than not see no action in his rookie season.

The 6-4 Knicks aim to grab their fifth straight win against a very familiar opponent, the Cleveland Cavaliers, on Wednesday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. EST.