The Knicks rode the battle bus for many of Tuesday night. Then Jalen Brunson took the wheel and steered them to victory.
Brunson scored 10 of his game-high 25 factors within the ultimate 3 ½ minutes — with 15 total within the fourth quarter — because the Knicks toppled the Magic on the street, 102-98, shifting nearer to the Miami Heat and the sixth seed.
It wasn’t fairly the 21-point comeback from two nights prior towards the Sixers, however the Knicks trailed by 10 within the first quarter and regarded sloppy. Brunson mentioned coach Tom Thibodeau used some “choice words” at halftime, offering the Knicks with motivation that carried them within the fourth quarter towards the rebuilding Magic (22-33).
The four-point victory was the Knicks’ largest lead of the evening.
“We can’t take these teams lightly,” Brunson instructed MSG community.
The Knicks (30-26) obtained 22 factors and 14 rebounds from Julius Randle. Jericho Sims hit three necessary buckets within the fourth quarter, together with a dunk off an help from Brunson that gave the Knicks a 3-point lead with 40 seconds remaining.
The ultimate eight seconds grew to become a free-throw contest, and the Knicks nailed all six of their makes an attempt (Brunson knocked down 4 of them). The Magic enviornment, crammed with followers for the guests, erupted in a loud, “Let’s Go Knicks” chant on the ultimate buzzer.
Markelle Fultz paced the Magic with 21 factors and 6 assists. Paolo Banchero, the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year, added 16 factors however missed 9 of his 15 pictures.
A struggling RJ Barrett returned from a one-game absence as a consequence of an sickness and shot simply 5-for-16.
The Magic have been enjoying with out Harlem native Mo Bamba, who was suspended following an altercation on the court docket with Minnesota’s Austin Rivers within the earlier sport.
JOAKIM PICKS KNICK
Quentin Grimes was chosen by coach Joakim Noah in Tuesday’s Rising Stars draft.
There are 4 groups on this 12 months’s showcase at All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City, with Noah, Pau Gasol and Deron Williams serving as coaches (the fourth crew is G Leaguers). Grimes was picked fifteenth out of 21 gamers.
Perhaps not coincidentally, Grimes is a favourite of Thibodeau, who additionally coached Noah in Chicago.
“Someone who can lock up and really shoot it,” Noah mentioned about his Grimes choice.
JALEN BRUNSON’S CHANCE?
The Eastern Conference may have not less than another All-Star.
Kevin Durant will miss the sport due to his sprained knee, in keeping with a number of experiences, that means the NBA should decide the harm alternative.
Brunson is a candidate however the league may additionally fill Durant’s spot with one other ahead, that means Toronto’s Pascal Siakam and Miami’s Jimmy Butler can be in line.
Guards James Harden and Trae Young may also declare they have been snubbed.
ZEKE’S NEW JOB?
Former Knick government Isiah Thomas was reported as having a “prominent role” within the Suns’ entrance workplace below new proprietor Mat Ishbia, in keeping with TNT, however the crew rapidly denied it.
“Thomas won’t have a position in the team’s front office and isn’t part of the team transition,” a spokesperson instructed the Arizona Republic.
Thomas oversaw the Knicks throughout a few of their most dysfunctional years within the 2000s, which included the sexual harassment lawsuit filed by Anucha Browne-Sanders. Thomas, a Hall of Fame participant, grew chummy with proprietor James Dolan and in addition served because the GM of the New York Liberty.
Ishbia was accepted because the Suns proprietor Monday after shopping for the franchise from the disgraced Robert Sarver for $4 billion.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com