New York, N.Y.- The New York Knicks welcomed back their star point guard Jalen Brunson for their matchup against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night at the Garden.
After being out for a month and missing 15 games for the Knicks, Brunson suited up again and was back in action for his team. The Knicks also welcomed back point guard Miles ‘Deuce’ McBride to the rotation.
The Knicks were in sole control for much of the first half, and that’s a credit to their defensive play as they held the Suns to a 36 percent field goal percentage and 10 percent from the three-point line. The only threat to the Knicks was Devin Booker, who scored 20 points in the half on 56 percent shooting from the field.
The Knicks enjoyed a 10-point lead going into halftime, being led by Karl-Anthony Towns with 15 points and 8 rebounds; Mikal Bridges also had 12 points in the half.
As the Knicks continued to pull away in the third quarter, it was the OG Anunoby show for the quarter. The forward poured in 19 points in the quarter, hitting five threes on five attempts and all of his seven shot attempts.
After the third quarter, the Suns would not lay down in the fourth and made the game close going down to the wire. With two minutes remaining, they had cut the lead down to seven points; it was Jalen Brunson’s time as the star guard pulled up to make a three-point dagger with under two minutes remaining to push the lead to 10 points.
The Knicks went on to win the contest 112-98, Anunoby led the team in scoring with 32 points, Bridges contributed with 22 points and six rebounds, and Towns had a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds.
In his return, Jalen Brunson scored 15 points on 33 percent shooting, as he was looking to find a rhythm and his shot all night. But, it all came together in the final minutes of the game, when he hit a big three to put the game to bed and a few free throws to help propel the Knicks to the win.
After the game Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau seemed pleased with the performance for his first game back.
“For a first game back… he hit a big shot late in the fourth, got to the line; he (Jalen Brunson) found some rhythm by getting to the line and attacking the basket so that was a real positive,” said Coach Tom Thibodeau.
The Knicks seemed to be getting healthy here down the stretch going into the playoffs getting their top two point guards back (Brunson and McBride) will be a nice boost for them as they look to make a strong push in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
“It’s just good to have everyone back, and so you get your rhythm going in… our goal since the start of the season is to improve every day and to be strong on both sides of the ball, and that’s what we are striving for,” said Coach Tom Thibodeau.
The Knicks are back in action against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night at the Garden. This season, the Knicks are winless in three against Boston, and they will be looking to avoid the season sweep.
