Jalen Brunson leads Knicks, but team effort is big difference in win over Kings
Jalen Brunson #11 of the Knicks reacts after a basket during the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, April 4, 2024. Credit: Jim McIsaac
The Knicks got delivered a dose of bad news Thursday with Julius Randle ruled out for the season. Maybe it was expected with him out since Jan. 27 but still crushing for a team prepping for playoff mode.
But with the Kings in town, the Knicks showed what it’ll take for a postseason run. They went from trailing by 21 points to dominating the visitors from Sacramento for 120-109 win at Madison Square Garden.
It matched the 21-point comeback earlier this season to defeat the Heat on Nov. 24. That comeback was maybe more thrilling since it started in the third quarter.
This one, with the Knicks (45-31) down 21 in the second, felt like a bigger statement. It came with a team needing to respond after learning Randle’s shoulder surgery will keep him sidelined.
“The morale’s a little low when one of your guys goes down and he’s fighting to comeback and just unable to be where he wants to be,” Jalen Brunson said. “It’s definitely sad but he’s our brother and it’s just what it is at this point.”
Brunson and Josh Hart carried the Knicks Thursday as Brunson’s done most of this season. He scored 13 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter and put the Knicks up for good with a three-point play that made 97-95 with 8:20 remaining.
He added more flair by blowing a kiss to the crowd after a 28-foot three-pointer put the Knicks up 105-95 with 6:28 left.
Hart, who was battling a sprained right wrist, added nine points in the fourth and finished with 31 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Donte DiVincenzo added 21 points. The Knicks finished with 34 assists, including 11 by Brunson and a career-high nine by center Isaiah Hartenstein.
Most importantly, the win snapped a three-game losing streak and moved them to 2 1/2 games ahead of the Pacers for fifth in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks are also three games ahead of the Heat, who lost Thursday to the 76ers, for seventh place and the first spot in the play-in tournament.
It seemed unlikely the Knicks would celebrate anything after De’Aaron Fox’s three-pointer put the Kings (44-32) up 46-25 in the second. Before it went in, he turned to face the Knicks bench and gestured to celebrate early.
It finally woke up the Knicks, who responded with a 19-4 run that included a steal and rare dunk by Brunson. The Knicks eventually got within six and after the Kings pushed back, Brunson added a three-pointer before the halftime buzzer as the Knicks trailed 60-52.
“I didn’t even know he did it,” Hart said of Fox’s celebration. “What fired us up was being down (21). This was a must-win for us so we had to go out there and play our game and handle business.”
The Knicks finally broke through on a three-pointer by DiVincenzo that tied the game at 84. He then gave them their first lead since 10:10 in the first quarter with a trio of three-pointers.
The Kings made 12 three-pointers on 42.9% shooting. Fox finished with 29 points but shot 5-for-17 in the second half. Domantas Sabonis added 17 points and 11 rebounds.
It was the type of effort the Knicks need with Randle sidelined. Brunson did what he’s done all year but he got the help from teammates. With six games left, every win matters if the Knicks hope to get a top-four seed and avoid a slide into the play-in tournament.
“It was a big hole to climb out of but we found a way to win,” said coach Tom Thibdoeau. “The defense was terrific in the second half.”
Evan Barnes covers the Nets for Newsday. He previously covered Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
