New York-The star shipowner of the Knicks, Jalen Brunson, returned on Sunday after an absence of injuries of almost a month, registering 15 points and six assists to help New York a 112-98 victory over a desperate Phoenix Suns club.
It was not Brunson’s most beautiful performance. It ended only 3 of 9 from the field, with some non -characteristic lost jumpers. Even so, the leader of the league in clutch points per minute reached a huge triple with just under two minutes to extend the advantage of the Knicks to 10 and essentially seal the victory.
“It could be better, it could be worse. Definitely a lot of improvement margin of me,” Brunson said, adding that these many games had never been lost due to an injury.
Brunson played 34 minutes upon his return, with his teammates making his fair part of the uprising. Apart from the Mikal Bridges wing, bring the ball along the floor to start the offensive a handful of times to relieve Brunson’s workload, Wing Og Anunoby was fantastic, scoring 32 points, including 19 during a third period in which he shot 7 of 7 from the floor, to continue his recent hot streak.
Anunoby, playing more aggressively, has averaged almost 24 points since Brunson twisted the right ankle in Los Angeles last month. Anunoby was averaging 16.5 points before Brunson’s injury.
“I don’t mean [my injury] It was a positive side, but every time someone comes out, it is a collective team effort, and everyone takes a step forward, “Brunson said.” It gives everyone the opportunity to join and improve. “
When recovering their leader scorer and having the backup guards thousands McBride and Cameron Payne in the rotation this weekend, the Knicks were as close to Sunday of all their strength as they have been throughout the season. And the moment could not be better, with New York with the hope of demonstrating that he can compete with the best of the NBA in the last week of the regular season.
The Knicks-0-8 against Oklahoma City (64-14), Cleveland (62-16) and Boston (58-20)-they receive the Celtics on Tuesday and the CAVs on Friday. New York (50-28) has a road game on Thursday against the Pistons, whom the club could face in the first round.
But recovering Brunson was the most important.
It seemed to grow more comfortable by drawing offenses, including one and 1 against Royce O’Neale in the third quarter, and making contact as the game continued.
“Usually, what happens when a player returns is that he needs to have a sensation, and there are generally one or two plays in which he will be tested a bit. And then, once he realizes that he is good, he takes off,” said Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, about Brunson. “I thought about the second half, there was a different team for him.”
With the victory, the Knicks, who achieved consecutive seasons of 50 victories for the first time since 1993-94 and 1994-95, approached to officially block the east seed number 3. (With one more victory, or one more loss of paers, they will ensure).
The Knicks also pushed the humble Suns (35-43), who have the highest payroll in the league, one step closer to missing the postseason. With four remaining games, Phoenix is 2½ games behind Dallas for the tenth place and the last play of the West.
