When adversity strikes, leadership is critical. For the New York Knicks, who were in desperate need of a leader, their captain rose to the occasion.
Jan. 12, 2025: Matchup
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Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson played angry on Sunday afternoon, just two days after his team was thoroughly embarrassed at home by the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Knickerbockers captain understood just how critical it was to play with a “sense of urgency” pertaining to “energy” and being “locked in,” as he told reporters after his team’s emphatic 140-106 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.
“There’s just a sense of urgency to have energy and be prepared and locked in on the game,” Brunson said at Madison Square Garden after the Knicks slapped around the Bucks.
Jalen Brunson played angrily
Brunson, 28, finished with a team-high 44 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, and 1 steal. Shooting an efficient 16 of 26 from the floor, including a lights-out 7 of 8 from three-point land, the former Villanova point guard jumpstarted this one like a madman.
Scoring 24 points in the first quarter, Brunson raced the Knicks to a 36-point first quarter. However, the Knicks’ defense didn’t start this game in the way Tom Thibodeau generally demands—yielding 33 first-quarter points.
In the second quarter, however, New York’s 39 points outscored Milwaukee by 10, providing the Knicks with a commanding 13-point halftime lead.
Amazingly, Brunson’s 44 points came in just 29 minutes. The Knicks’ captain left the third quarter with an injury, having been forced to the locker room during play. He appeared to injure himself early in the third after a drive to a basket that was ultimately blocked.
With around six minutes to go in the third quarter, he emerged from the tunnel to a Madison Square Garden ovation and checked directly back into the game. So, not only did Brunson begin this game with the direct intent of imposing his will, but he did so while battling through an injury scare.
Officially speaking, the Knicks never announced the injury during the game, and Brunson remained pretty coy about it in the postgame presser. By all indications, he’s just a bit banged up and is expected to play Monday night against the Detroit Pistons (tip-off at 7:30 p.m. ET).
With the 44 points, Brunson reached the 40-point mark for the 17th time, tying Carmelo Anthony for third on the franchise’s all-time list.
The supporting cast
The Brunson injury allowed Cameron Payne to receive extended minutes, and he took advantage. Payne was big off the bench, finishing with 18 points (6 of 10 from the floor, 4 of 7 from three) and 2 assists in 14 minutes.
New York’s other point guard, Miles McBride, looked much better in his second game back from injury. The man the kids affectionately call Deuce scored just 6 points, but he looked much more comfortable in his 20 minutes off the bench.
As per usual, Karl-Anthony Towns supported Brunson in the scoring department. The Knicks big man tallied 30 points, 18 rebounds, and 4 assists in 36 minutes.
Thanks to the monstrous lead throughout the second half, Thibodeau went 13 deep. In addition to Precious Achiuwa’s 15 minutes, Landry Shamet (6 minutes), Ariel Hukporti (5 minutes), Jacob Toppin (5 minutes), Matt Ryan (3 minutes), and Tyler Kolek (3 minutes) all made cameo appearances late in the fourth quarter.
Leading the way for the Bucks was Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 24 points and 13 rebounds, whereas Damian Lillard chipped in with 22 points on the night.
Next for the Knicks
The 26-14 Knicks remain locked into the second spot in the Atlantic Division, 2.5 games back of the Boston Celtics.
Unfortunately, when considering the fatigue factor, the Knicks get right back into action Monday night when the Detroit Pistons visit MSG. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET, and MSG Networks will broadcast the game locally.
