The point guard shredded the Kings with precision, dropping 42 points as the Knicks won Saturday night, 98-91, riding their All-Star and trademark physical defense in front of a jacked up crowd.
Brunson was the engine, the steering wheel and the tires.
He knocked down 17 of 28 field goals in 36 minutes, including the biggest shot of the evening — a floater off a quick dribble that gave the visitors a 96-91 lead with 37 seconds remaining.
3 Jalen Brunson, who scored a game-high 42 points, shoots over De’Aaron Fox during the Knicks’ 98-91 win over the Kings.
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY SportsSacramento’s Keon Ellis, who was the primary defender on that play, took a quick glance at an incoming screen and that split second was all Brunson required to get to the basket for the Knicks’ (40-27) dagger.
He became the first Knick since Carmelo Anthony in 2014 to record back-to-back games with 40-plus scoring, and just the fourth player in franchise history with Bernard King and Patrick Ewing as the other two on the list.
“That’s elite company,” Josh Hart said.
The performance followed a 45-point game from Brunson two nights prior in Portland, when teammate Donte DiVincenzo declared, “He’s an All-Star point guard, that’s what they do.”Except Brunson has been more than an All-Star this season.
He’s on pace to become the first Knick guard named to All-NBA since Clyde Frazier in 1975, nearly 50 years ago.
Brunson is also inching up the list of best players at his position across the league.
If there’s an adjustment to remove the giant hybrid ball handlers from the conversation — specifically Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic — then Brunson could be a top-3 point guard.
It depends where he would be ranked among Steph Curry, Dame Lillard, Tyrese Haliburton, Jamal Murray, Trae Young and De’Aaron Fox.
3 Josh Hart, who had nine points and 13 rebounds, drives on Keon Ellis during the Knicks’ win.
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY SportsOn Saturday, Brunson outplayed one of the players on that list, Fox, who had an inefficient 20 points on 5 of 19 shooting.
Brunson, meanwhile, served the Kings with scoring a la carte, an assortment of 3-pointers, floaters, pivots and drives.
He found angles that shouldn’t exist, like with 5:46 remaining when he threaded an and-1 lay-up from underneath two defenders with swinging arms.
It was more impressive considering Brunson consistently drove the ball yet only took four foul shots.
“To drive the ball as many times as he does, the physicality, he’s being trapped, they’re pursing him, they’re hitting him, and he only had four free throws,” Thibodeau said.
“But that’s what I love about him.
He’s tough minded, can figure it out and he knows how the game’s being called.
He knows he’s on the road, it’s going to be tough, and that doesn’t slow him down.
He doesn’t let the officials impact in any way.”3 Bojan Bogdanovic, who had nine points off the bench, puts up a shot as Alex Len (far left) and Malik Monk defend during the Knicks’ victory.
USA TODAY Sports via Reuters ConWith DiVincenzo still misfiring, OG Anunoby way off Saturday and Julius Randle in street clothes, Thibodeau once again leaned on his point guard.
Brunson finished with 43 percent of his team’s points, two nights after finishing with — you guessed it — 43 percent of his team’s points in Portland.
The Kings, like the Knicks, are experiencing success after decades of putridness.
They’re still not considered contenders, but the combination of Fox and Domantas Sabonis have elevated them to playoff contention.
They’re also young and fast, with Fox among the NBA’s quickest, which the Knicks combated with power.
“For a defender like I am, I like to be physical,” Hart said, “so I enjoy it.”Sabonis was still a handful.
The skilled big man, who leads the league in triple-doubles, hammered the paint and dropped 21 points with 14 boards.
But the Kings couldn’t stop the surgically-precise Brunson.
“You almost come to expect what Jalen did,” Thibodeau said.
“It’s every night and it’s big play after big play.”
SACRAMENTO, California. Considering how he dissected the Kings, Jalen Brunson ought to have worn surgical masks and latex gloves while playing.
In front of an enthusiastic audience, the Knicks defeated the Kings 98-91 on Saturday night thanks to the point guard’s precise scoring of 42 points. They did this by using their all-star lineup and renowned physical defense.
Tires, steering wheel, and engine all came from Brunson. In 36 minutes, he made 17 of 28 field goals, including the game’s most important basket, a floater off a fast dribble that put the visitors ahead 96-91 with 37 seconds left.
3 During the Knicks’ 98-91 victory over the Kings, Jalen Brunson, who finished with a game-high 42 points, attempts a shot over De’Aaron Fox. From USA TODAY Sports, Kyle Terada.
It took just a moment for Brunson to get to the basket for the Knicks’ (40-27) dagger after Sacramento’s Keon Ellis, who was the play’s primary defender, glanced at an incoming screen.
He became just the fourth player in franchise history—Patrick Ewing and Bernard King are the other two—and the first Knick since Carmelo Anthony in 2014 to record back-to-back games with 40 or more points scored.
Josh Hart remarked, “That is elite company.”.
Two nights before, in Portland, after Brunson scored 45 points, teammate Donte DiVincenzo said, “He’s an All-Star point guard, that’s what they do.” Brunson’s performance came after that. “.
Brunson, though, has performed better this season than an All-Star. He is set to become the first Knick guard to be selected to the All-NBA team since Clyde Frazier, who did so almost 50 years ago, in 1975.
Additionally, Brunson is gradually rising up the list of the league’s top players at his position. Brunson might rank among the top three point guards if Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic, two enormous hybrid ball handlers, are taken out of the discussion.
Among Steph Curry, Dame Lillard, Tyrese Haliburton, Jamal Murray, Trae Young, and De’Aaron Fox, it depends on his ranking.
3 During the Knicks’ victory, Josh Hart (nine points, thirteen rebounds) drives on Keon Ellis. USA TODAY Sports’ Kyle Terada.
One player on that list, Fox, was outperformed by Brunson on Saturday as he scored an ineffective 20 points on 5 of 19 shots.
While this was going on, Brunson provided the Kings with scoring a la carte, which included a variety of drives, floaters, 3-pointers, and pivots.
With 5:46 remaining, he threaded an and-1 lay-up from underneath two defenders with swinging arms, demonstrating his ability to find angles where none should exist.
Given that Brunson drove the ball frequently and only committed four foul shots, it was even more impressive.
The physicality, the fact that he is being trapped, that they are pursuing him, that they are hitting him, and the fact that he only had four free throws all contributed to Thibodeau’s assessment. But I adore him for that very reason. He is tenacious, capable of solving problems, and aware of the rules of the game. Even though he is aware that it will be difficult, he continues on his journey without slowing down. He permits no influence whatsoever from the officials. “.
3 Playing for the Knicks during their victory, Bojan Bogdanovic (who finished with nine points off the bench) takes a shot while Alex Len (far left) and Malik Monk guard. Reuters Con via USA TODAY Sports.
Again, Thibodeau turned to his point guard with DiVincenzo misfiring, OG Anunoby far off on Saturday, and Julius Randle dressed like a pauper.
Just two nights prior, in Portland, Brunson had finished with forty-three percent of his team’s total points.
Similar to the Knicks, the Kings are enjoying success following decades of mediocrity.
Even though Fox and Domantas Sabonis together have propelled them into postseason contention, they are still not regarded as favorites.
In addition, Fox is one of the NBA’s fastest players, which the Knicks powerfully countered.
Hart said, “I like to be physical, especially for a defender like me. So I enjoy it.”. “.
Even so, Sabonis remained a challenge.
The talented big man, who now leads the league in triple-doubles, dominated the paint, scoring 21 points and pulling down 14 rebounds.
However, the surgically accurate Brunson was too strong for the Kings to stop.
According to Thibodeau, “you almost come to expect what Jalen did.”. “It’s big play after big play, every night.”. “.
