Jalen Brunson had an impressive 36-point performance, with Karl-Anthony Towns contributing 34 points, in the New York Knicks’ 138-122 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday evening. The Knicks’ fourth consecutive win demonstrated their offensive strength and depth as a team.
Balanced Scoring Fuels Knicks
All of the five main players for the Knicks scored at least ten points, including Josh Hart who had 19 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. New York started strong, hitting its first eight shots, including four 3-pointers. The Knicks established a strong 44-28 advantage in the first quarter and maintained a 76-58 lead at halftime. Brunson scored 23 points in the first half, making all 4 of his three-point attempts, establishing the tempo.
Suns Struggle Without Durant and Beal
Phoenix was led by Devin Booker’s 33 points, with Jusuf Nurkic contributing 14 points and 12 rebounds. Nevertheless, the Suns had difficulty on defense and lost their fifth consecutive game without Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, both sidelined with left calf strains. Even though Phoenix made a strong effort in the third quarter to reduce the gap to 88-77, they were unable to sustain their energy as the Knicks responded with an 11-2 streak.
Key Takeaways
The Knicks resembled the team fans desired when they acquired four-time All-Star Towns. Phoenix was unable to handle their strong offensive abilities and defensive concentration. On the other hand, the Suns were lacking in both energy and defensive focus, resulting in New York scoring easily on fast breaks and getting open three-point shots.
Stat of the Night
New York had an impressive shooting performance in the first quarter, hitting 78.3% of their shots, with 72.7% coming from three-point range, paving the way for their start-to-finish win.
What’s Next?
The Knicks aim to continue their winning streak, while the Suns need to regroup and wait for their injured stars to come back.
Comments