The New York Knicks didn’t just win in dominant fashion Wednesday night; they watched history unfold. In a 138-89 demolition of the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena, the Knicks’ trade deadline acquisition delivered a performance the NBA won’t be forgetting anytime soon.
And he did it in under 20 minutes.
Jose Alvarado Makes NBA History in 19 Minutes
Acquired at the trade deadline in a deal that brought his $9 million contract to New York, Alvarado is already paying dividends. He erupted for 26 points, 8 three-pointers, 3 rebounds, and 5 steals in just 19 minutes of action. That stat line alone would be impressive over a full game. In limited minutes? It’s historic.
He became the first player in NBA history to record 25+ points, 5+ made threes, and 5+ steals in under 20 minutes.
The pro-Knicks crowd in Philadelphia turned the road arena into a celebration. “Jose! Jose!” chants echoed throughout the building as each three-pointer splashed through the net. He tied a career high with eight triples and added his trademark defensive chaos, including multiple deflections and his patented sneak-attack steal known as “Grand Theft Alvarado.”
“He was really, really good for us,” head coach Mike Brown said. “He ignited us in many different ways.”
And Alvarado indeed ignite a 49-point blowout.
New York acquired Alvarado from the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Dalen Terry, two second-round picks, and cash considerations. The move came shortly after Miles McBride underwent core muscle surgery, leaving the Knicks thin at backup point guard behind Jalen Brunson.
The New York front office had targeted Alvarado for months. They wanted ball-handling. They wanted a point-of-attack defense. Most importantly, they wanted energy.
With Jose, they got all of it.
Alvarado, a Queens native who starred at Christ the King High School, is under a two-year, $9,000,000 contract, with a $4.5 million cap hit this season. Definitely a manageable number for a contender looking to maximize depth.
For a team pushing toward a deep playoff run, this contract suddenly looks like a bargain.
The Emotional Homecoming
This is more than just numbers for Alvarado. After spending five seasons with the Pelicans, the organization that gave him his first NBA opportunity as an undrafted free agent. This trade brought mixed emotions.
“There was a lot of mixed emotions when I heard the news,” Alvarado said earlier this week. “It was exciting to come back home. Putting the Knicks jersey on is pretty surreal for me.”
His Madison Square Garden debut didn’t explode the way this one did. But in just his third game with New York, he looked completely comfortable.
Teammate Karl-Anthony Towns summed it up best: “He was that Jose Alvarado you see on TV all the time.”
Alvarado has built his reputation on grit. Since entering the league in 2021, he ranks second in backcourt steals, trailing only T.J. McConnell. His relentless defense and fearless shot-making have always energized teams.
Now, that energy belongs to New York.
And if this is what Game 3 looks like, the $9 million investment may end up being one of the smartest moves made by the Knicks at the deadline.
