The New York Knicks celebrated a dominant 140-106 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. This was considered a potential Playoff-caliber matchup with two motivated winning teams, but the Knicks easily outclassed the Bucks led by a ridiculous performance by Jalen Brunson.
Brunson suffered a shoulder injury in the third quarter which saw him miss a majority of the quarter. The Bucks cut the 20-point deficit to just 19 points in the 27-year-old's absence, but his sudden return at the end of the quarter led to Madison Square Garden showering their franchise point guard with MVP chants.
Jalen Brunson ended the night with 44 points (16-26 FG), five rebounds, and six assists in under 29 minutes played. It was one of the best offensive performances we've seen from any player this season, as Brunson outclassed the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard to get this result for the Knicks.
Brunson's excellence was enabled by his superstar teammate Karl-Anthony Towns, who had 30 points (10-16 FG) and 18 rebounds in the win where he was a team-high +28. He helped keep the Knicks afloat in non-Brunson minutes and was the perfect offensive complement to him on the court.
This win improved their record to 26-14 and kept them as the No. 3 seed in the East. They're now 4.5 games ahead of the 20-17 Milwaukee Bucks who are the No. 6 seed right now. If the Playoffs were to start right now, these two franchises would be pitted against each other in what would be a fascinating matchup.
Jalen Brunson's Injury Doesn't Appear Serious
Many Knicks fans held their breath when Brunson got hurt, as he's leading the franchise to a title push.
He returned to the game after the injury and continued dominating the Bucks defense, so it seems he was healthy enough to ward off any fan concerns. Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau elaborated on his status after the game.
"A little bit of a (shoulder) stinger. He got checked out, he's fine."
Brunson is averaging 25.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 7.5 assists this season and will be a bonafide All-Star starter. One could argue he's the best guard in the Eastern Conference and he legitimately can help the Knicks fulfill their dream of competing for an NBA Championship this season.
They went seriously all-in with moves for Towns and Mikal Bridges in the summer, so they want to maximize this era with success after decades of mediocrity.
Brunson's performance tonight proved why he's the perfect man to lead the Knicks into this new era of contention. If he and his teammates stay healthy, the Knicks will be as competitive as any of the title contenders in the NBA during the Playoffs.
