Knicks 138, Suns 122: “Brunson-Towns combining for 70 is something I can get used to.”

In a wire-to-wire, Jalen and KAT scorch the Suns for their fourth straight win

The New York Knicks (9-6) extended their winning streak to four games with a commanding victory over the Phoenix Suns (9-7) at the Footprint Center tonight. Facing a Suns team that was without injured stars Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, the Knicks dominated early, outscoring their hosts 44-28 in the first frame. Whenever Phoenix tried to climb back, the Knicks gave them the boot again, taking a 76-58 lead into halftime. Royce O’Neale and Devin Booker sparked mini-runs in the second half, but New York kept relentlessly shooting the leather off the ball. When the dust settled, the Knicks won, 138-122.

Quoth @back: ““Brunson-Towns combining for 70 is something I can get used to.” Hell yes! The Captain finished a stunning night with 36 points and 10 assists. He shot 57% from the field and 7-of-11 from deep.

His running mate Karl-Anthony Towns added a 34-point, 10-rebound double-double, and Josh Hart added his own 19-point, 11-board double-double. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges combined for 30 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, three steals, and 4-of-9 from deep. From the bench, Cam Payne gave 12 points.

For Phoenix, Booker finished with 33, O’Neale scored 17, and Jusuf Nurkic had a 14-12 double-double.

The late nights aren’t so bad when they end in a win!

First Half

The Knicks cracked the game open with an 8-0 run, fueled by Jalen Brunson’s six points, while the Suns hurled multiple bricks. By the end of the frame, New York held a 44-28 lead over the Suns. New York had shot a remarkable 78.3% (18-of-23) from the field and 72.7% (8-of-11) from three-point range. Brunson led the way with 11 points and six assists on flawless shooting (4-for-4).

The Knicks set a franchise record with 14 assists in the first quarter. OG Anunoby added 10 points, and Mikal Bridges contributed 9 points to the lead. Meanwhile, Phoenix had shot 50% from the floor and 42% (5-for-12) from three-point range. Devin Booker collected 12 points to lead his squad.

Here the Knicks’ hotshot wings team up for the steal and the bucket.

In the second quarter, Budenholzer’s bunch showed some signs of life, but the Knicks responded with a 13-4 run, including eight more points from Brunson.

The Knicks took a 76-58 lead into intermission, powered by Jalen Brunson’s scalding 23 points on 8-of-9 shooting, including a perfect 4-of-4 from three-point range, and seven assists. He also logged his 300th career steal in the second quarter. Not bad for a guy who supposedly doesn’t play defense.

The Knicks took advantage of turnovers (seven steals!), won the battle of the boards 24-18, and outscored the Suns on fast break points 18-5. Throughout the half, the Knicks defense and ball movement on offense were immaculate.

And Josh Hart is one of the most fun players to watch in the NBA. There should be an award for that.

Booker had a team-high 18 first-half points for Phoenix.

Second Half

Midway through the third frame, The Suns mounted an 11-2 run, thanks to spirited play from Royce O’Neale and Tyus Jones. The Knicks responded with their own 11-2 stretched and regained a 20-point advantage late.

Maybe that Hukporti game stuck in Jericho Sims’ craw a bit? Because he’s finally brought the energy of late. Check this out:

After three quarters, the Knicks were ahead, 110-93. Brunson had tallied 34 points and nine assists while shooting a sterling 61.1%. Karl-Anthony Towns had added 23 points, with 12 in the third quarter.

Meanwhile, Booker’s tally reached 26 points. The Knicks first-half shooting was no fluke: heading into the fourth they had hit 60% from the field, including 51.6% from three-point range.

In the final frame, O’Neale continued to contribute for the home team. He sank his fifth three-pointer while the Suns’ 9-1 run brought the Knicks’ lead to 13. New York wasn’t about to let this one get close again, having learned their lesson against Chicago and Brooklyn recently. They outscored the Suns 9-1, thanks to Josh Hart’s seven points and three rebounds.

Even the rookies got in on the fun! Here’s Tyler Kolek contributing to the win.

Up Next

The Knicks travel to Utah for a tussle with the Jazz on Saturday. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.