It Only Took Three Games For The Knicks To Learn How Dangerous Jose Alvarado Really Is

NEW YORK — The New York Knicks are riding the coattails of an eight-game winning streak heading into the All-Star break. They are flying high as they head to Cabo after a crushing 138–89 win over Philadelphia. The star of Wednesday night was the newest Knick, Jose Alvarado, who has made it clear from his first dribble that he will be a force off the bench.

It Only Took Three Games For The Knicks To Learn How Dangerous Jose Alvarado Really Is Off The Bench

Feb 10, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jose Alvarado (5) reacts after a basket and a foul against the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

New York put the game away by halftime. The Knicks carried a 30-point lead into the locker room and cruised to a 49-point victory. The starters checked out barely two minutes into the fourth quarter. Alvarado stole the show off the bench. In just his third game as a Knick, he torched the Sixers for a season-high 26 points.

The Alvarado Experience

This game perfectly captured the Alvarado experience. Trendon Watford fouled Mitchell Robinson hard. Alvarado immediately confronted him. The diminutive Puerto Rican, generously listed at six feet, stood up for his big man and embraced the role of enforcer. That incident sparked a 27–9 run that Philadelphia never recovered from. After officials assessed him his first technical foul, he buried eight threes and tied his career high. He also swiped five steals. Alvarado was named him Defensive Player of the Night.

DPOG 🦺 JOSEEEEEE pic.twitter.com/rzY8SPUhfd

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 12, 2026

“That’s what we need. That’s what we want from him,” Hart said of Alvarado. “Obviously that toughness, ability to help us get organized, ability to knock down shots. And defensively bring energy, bring physicality, get in the passing lanes, those kind of things. That’s why he’s here.”

Winning Plays, Every Night

Through three games, Alvarado has shown New York that he is exactly what they wanted and more. His transition has not been flawless. He struggled against Indiana, where his playmaking outshined his shooting. That is the beauty of Alvarado. He is a winning player. He always finds ways to make winning plays, whether by hitting a three, delivering the right assist, or generating a momentum-swinging steal. Alvarado is averaging 14 points, four assists, and two steals in 21 minutes per game off the bench.