Knicks lose 2nd-round pick for tampering
NEW YORK » The New York Knicks will lose a draft pick for getting started too soon with their Jalen Brunson pursuit.
The NBA penalized the Knicks a second-round selection in the 2025 draft on Wednesday after finding that the Knicks began free-agency discussions involving Brunson before the date when they were allowed.
Brunson was the Knicks’ big acquisition in the summer and the point guard has been terrific, leading them to an eight-game winning streak that is the longest current one in the league.
They were the favorites to land the New Jersey native all along if he decided to leave the Dallas Mavericks. The Knicks had hired his father, Rick, as an assistant coach under Tom Thibodeau. Rick Brunson had played for the Knicks and his agent was Leon Rose, who is now the Knicks president.
Yet the NBA found after an investigation that the Knicks went even further to increase their advantage by taking part in discussions involving Jalen Brunson before free agency opened on June 30. The league said the Knicks cooperated with the investigation.
Brunson is averaging 20.8 points and 6.2 assists, by far the best of his five-year career.
CAVALIERS 114, BUCKS 106 » Donovan Mitchell scored 36 points and Cleveland finally put together a complete game against Milwaukee, withstanding superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo’s seasonhigh 45-point performance to beat the Bucks.
Darius Garland added 23 points and Jarrett Allen had 19 for the
Cavs, who lost their first two games against the Eastern Conference’s top team this season — both times collapsing in the third quarter and losing by 15 in Milwaukee.
Cleveland didn’t stumble in the third this time, and barely held on in the fourth.
NETS 143, WARRIORS 113 » Kevin Durant scored 23 points, all but two in a 91-point first half that was the third-biggest in NBA history, and Brooklyn routed Golden State Warriors to send the reigning champions staggering home with their second blowout loss in two nights in New York.
With Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins all sidelined, the Warriors finished 1-5 on their trip to the East and will hope to get healthy before they have to get back on the court on Christmas against Memphis.