Jalen Brunson‘s streak of four consecutive 40-point games came to an end on Wednesday, but it was another incredible performance for the Knicks guard, who scored a team-high 29 points and returned to the game to lead New York to a double-digit comeback after exiting in the first half due to a right foot injury. No Knick had a better plus/minus in Game 2 than Brunson’s +26 mark, and his teammates suggested it was no coincidence that his return spurred their comeback.
“When he’s out there, there’s a level of calmness,” Donte DiVincenzo said, per Fred Katz of The Athletic. “We’ll get the right shot every single time. There’s a level of confidence from everybody that we have him on the court with us. Everybody can settle down and play their own game.”
Brunson set a new Knicks single-game playoff record by scoring 47 points in Game 4 of the Philadelphia series and is currently averaging 35.6 PPG in this postseason, which would also be a franchise record. The Knicks’ previous single-game playoff record belonged to Bernard King (46 points), who also holds the club record for points per game in a postseason (34.8). King said he has no problem with Brunson taking his place in the record books.
“Records are made to be broken,” King said during an appearance on ESPN’s NBA Today, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. “But to have somebody like Brunson break those type of records and providing the leadership that he provides, and understanding the game and looking at how much he loves the game. And the crowd responds to him, it’s just wonderful. I love watching him play. So I’m delighted that he’s the one that actually broke those records.”
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- Already ruled out for Game 3 on Friday due to his left hamstring strain, Knicks forward OG Anunoby is also unlikely to be available for Game 4 on Sunday, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN said during an appearance on NBA Countdown on Thursday (Twitter video link).
- With Anunoby joining Julius Randle, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Mitchell Robinson on the injured list, the Knicks’ “next man up” mentality will be put to the ultimate test as they attempt to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, writes Steve Popper of Newsday (subscription required). “There’s a lot of guys on this team that can start with other guys in this league, so when we say (next man up), it’s not cliche,” forward Josh Hart said. “It’s not just we’re saying it just because it sounds good. We’re actually saying it because we believe it. I’ve got faith in every one of our guys.”
- Peter Botte of The New York Post looks at some of the Knicks’ lineup options with Anunoby out, suggesting that Precious Achiuwa could enter the starting lineup, with Miles McBride earning more minutes. Alec Burks and Jericho Sims will be candidates for rotation roles, though Botte suggests it’s not entirely out of the question that head coach Tom Thibodeau tries a six-man rotation.
- This Knicks season is starting to feel like a fever dream, according to Howard Beck of The Ringer, who argues that it’s getting harder and harder not to fall in love with this year’s team.
6 man rotation is crazy. I get it, but burning out before knowing the fate of Celtics series seems unnecessary. Cavs proved that it’s possible to knock the Cs out. And the Knicks can definitely beat the Cavs.
Cava didn’t prove anything yet. Miami won game 2 then got rolled. Slow down.
Thibs will have to just play Josh Hart 49 MPG
Adrenaline time of the year boys and girls
I think you start Precious Achiuwa for OG Anunoby for he can guard Pascal Siakam.
Then I would play Miles McBride and Alec Burks off the bench and play a seven man rotation. This is the reason you go out and get Alec Burks at the trade deadline.
It is the reason, but he was awful for us this year. Thibs pushed to get him and then eventually nailed him to the bench because he played himself out of the rotation.
That said, we need a body, and we don’t have any clearly better options. May as well go with the guy who knows the system and had success once upon a time.
Burks has been terrible. If he only plays catch and shoot, maybe he can be fine. But otherwise he literally never passes the ball. He just dribbles around and bricks it.
Howard Beck will get a reality check vs Boston.
You forgot to add the note that the refs are corrupt
You forgot your tin foil hat
I have been a Knicks fan since the early ‘80’s, and I agree that this one of my favourite Knicks teams over these past 40 years. The antithesis of Load Management, tough, resilient, and great hustle, they’re hard not to like them.
PA will almost certainly start at the 4, but neither he nor anyone else on the roster has the skill set to play all the roles OG played for us. If the idea is to keep the same approach, with less talent, then we need to play Burks and Sims, though neither would necessarily need to play major minutes. If Milton plays, its because Burks is either hurt or Thibs has lost confidence in him.
Can the Knicks go get Omari spellman? He played with the nova boys on the title team lol
Achiuwa ….. tried telling you. He can handle starter mins. McBride we need a solid gm. Sims is the guy Thibs has to use. Give Hartenstein rest. Sims can give you 15 mins. Burkes and Milton are next man up.
We can hold on and win here. It’s there for taking. We do t have to get crazy with 6 man rotation. Thibs is a maniac at times. He needs to be saved from himself. Just be smart and win one gm at a time. Let’s go
This is a fair assessment of the rise of the Knicks……
link to espn.com
We will enjoy this ride. And get ready for next yr. With Randle back and everyone back. With a major trade coming, perhaps. Knicks are definitely in the right path. After 4yrs of Thibs. Keep on ……. tru tun tunturunt . Keep on
does everyone realize we still have to beat the pacers in this series to begin start worrying about minutes and celtics?
Knicks lose game 3 no one thought Knicks in a sweep. Let’s Go Knicks. Knicks in 6.