The New York Knicks won their fourth game in a row by defeating the Phoenix Suns 138-122 at the Footprint Center in their first game of a lengthy West road trip.
The Knicks were led by their dynamic duo of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns combining for 70 points in the win, with Brunson putting up 36 points (12-21 FG) and 10 assists while Towns had 34 points (12-19 FG) and 10 rebounds. Josh Hart put in an active performance with 19 points (8-11 FG), 11 rebounds, six assists, and three steals. OG Anunoby (14 PTS) and Mikal Bridges (16 PTS) also contributed to the win.
The Suns continue racking up losses amidst Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal's absences, with Devin Booker putting up 33 points (12-23 FG) in the loss. Royce O'Neale performed well with 17 points (6-12 FG) while Tyus Jones and 15 points (6-13 FG) and 10 assists. Jusuf Nurkic had 14 points (5-8 FG), 12 rebounds, three steals, and two blocks, but the Suns couldn't keep up with the Knicks offensively.
Let's evaluate some of the key reasons this game lopsidedly went in the Knicks' favor.
Jalen Brunson And Karl-Anthony Towns Are A Powerful Duo
This game was one of the best displays of the dynamic duo play between Jalen Brunson and blockbuster summer acquisition Karl-Anthony Towns.
Towns is having a great year, averaging 26.8 points and 12.2 rebounds over 14 games and proving himself to be a capable No. 1 option on the Knicks. He had 36 points and 10 rebounds tonight, proving to be unstoppable on all ends of the court. His increased defensive intensity has also been leading to improvements on that end over this four-game win streak for the Knicks.
Brunson had a slow start to the season which has turned around on their current streak, averaging 27.8 points and 9.5 assists over this stretch. He looked comfortable tonight in getting to his spots and being a game-changing offensive force. He attacked the Suns' defenders on the perimeter and was effective as a playmaker, albeit a little turnover prone with five on the evening.
Getting 70 points from the two of them will be a recipe for success on most nights, although that isn't realistic. But they're proving to be effective scorers alongside each other as their chemistry is building. If the Knicks want to make a championship push, Towns scoring at this level is exactly what they need alongside Brunson in the Playoffs.
The Knicks Starting Five Finding Their Groove
Even though the headline performance came from the point guard and the center, the Knicks three high-level starters contributed with major performances in this win against the Suns.
Josh Hart was a two-way menace in this game with 19 points (8-11 FG), 11 rebounds, six assists, and three steals while playing 39 minutes. He was extremely effective in impacting the game with his energy, which caught the Suns off-guard defensively and allowed him to have a great scoring evening in addition to his 11 rebounds.
OG Anunoby had 14 points and seven rebounds in an impactful defensive performance which saw him grab two steals as well. Mikal Bridges played in front of his former fans on the Suns and went off for 16 points, carrying the offensive load when called upon although his defense was a little disappointing,
The offensive chemistry between the five was solid, as these five put up 119 points on the night with all of them shooting above 50% from the field. It's the kind of performance the Knicks expected given the top-heavy nature of the roster this season.
Suns Can't Compete Without Kevin Durant And Bradley Beal
Just as the Knicks rattle off four wins in a row, the Suns' fifth loss in a row has devalued their strong 9-2 start to the season. This losing streak has coincided with Kevin Durant picking up a calf injury and missing the last seven games, with the Suns going 1-6 in those games.
The situation was made worse when Bradley Beal also injured his calf, forcing him to miss the last five games.
Devin Booker is leading the team alone on the court with his performances being a mixed bag. He carried the load offensively tonight and his teammates chipped in, but their defense was completely non-existent against the free-scoring Knicks tonight.
They finally got the scoring punch that Durant and Beal's absence took away from them, but there was no defensive shape to protect them in this game. The team looks rudderless on the court and it might not change until the two veterans come back, especially Durant given the great season he was having, averaging 27.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists.
From being no. 1 in the West, Phoenix has now fallen to being tied with two other franchises for the No. 7 seed in the Conference. They're just 1.5 games ahead of the No. 12 seed, so the Suns need to arrest their losing streak as soon as possible.
