Brunson takes over at end to lead Knicks past Magic
The Knicks rode the struggle bus for most Tuesday evening. Then Jalen Brunson took the wheel and steered them to victory.
Brunson scored 10 of his game-high 25 points in the final 3 ½ minutes — with 15 overall in the fourth quarter— as the Knicks toppled the Magic on the road, 102-98, moving closer to the Heat and the sixth seed.
It wasn’t quite the 21-point comeback from two nights prior against the Sixers, but the Knicks trailed by 10 in the first quarter and looked sloppy. Brunson said coach Tom Thibodeau used some “choice words” at halftime, providing the
Knicks with motivation that carried them in the fourth quarter against the rebuilding
Magic (22-33).
The four-point victory marked the Knicks’ largest lead of the night.
“We can’t take these teams lightly,” Brunson told MSG network.
The Knicks (30-26) got 22 points and 14 rebounds from Julius Randle. Jericho Sims hit three important buckets in the fourth quarter, including a dunk off an assist from Brunson that gave the Knicks a 3-point lead with 40 seconds remaining.
The final eight seconds became a free-throw contest, and the Knicks nailed all six of their attempts (Brunson knocked down four of them). The Magic arena, filled with fans for the vistors, erupted in a loud, “Let’s Go Knicks” chant at the final buzzer.
Markelle Fultz paced the Magic with 21 points and six assists. Paolo Banchero, the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year, added 16 points, but missed nine of his 15 shots.
A struggling RJ Barrett returned from a one-game absence due to an illness and shot just 5-for-16.
The Magic played without Harlem native Mo Bamba, who was suspended following an altercation with Minnesota’s Austin Rivers in the previous game.
JOAKIM PICKS KNICK
Quentin Grimes was selected by coach Joakim Noah in Tuesday’s Rising Stars draft.
There are four teams in this year’s showcase at AllStar Weekend in Salt Lake City, with Noah, Pau Gasol and Deron Williams serving as coaches (the fourth team is G Leaguers). Grimes was picked 15th out of 21 players.
Perhaps not coincidentally, Grimes is a favorite of Tom Thibodeau, who also coached Noah in Chicago.
BRUNSON’S CHANCE?
The Eastern Conference will have at least one more All-Star.
Kevin Durant will miss the game because of his sprained knee, according to multiple reports, meaning the NBA will have to pick the injury replacement.
Brunson is a candidate, but the league could also fill Durant’s spot with another forward, meaning Toronto’s Pascal Siakam and Miami’s Jimmy Butler would be in line. Guards James Harden and Trae Young might also claim they were snubbed.
ZEKE’S NEW JOB?
Former Knick executive Isiah Thomas was reported as having a “prominent role” in the Suns’ front office under new owner Mat Ishbia, according to TNT, but the team quickly denied it.