Jalen Brunson led the New York Knicks to a 113-109 victory over the Washington Wizards with 41 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists during Thursday’s NBA action.
During a crucial phase in the fourth quarter, Brunson scored 18 out of the Knicks’ 21 points, extending a narrow one-point lead to eight with just over a minute left. His ability to navigate through seemingly blocked paths to the basket or to draw fouls left the Wizards struggling to contain him. Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. acknowledged Brunson’s challenging play style, describing him as “very shifty.”
“It is frustrating, and to his credit, he’s a hard one to guard,” Unseld said. “Very shifty.”
Donte DiVincenzo, Brunson’s former teammate at Villanova and current colleague, praised Brunson’s knack for making the right play under pressure.
“That’s what great players do to teams, is they get you frustrated, they get you upset,” DiVincenzo said. “You do everything you can defensively, and they still make a tough shot. But I think Jalen, what makes him special is he makes the right play every time.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks, Washington Wizards Updates
Brunson’s performance was all the more remarkable considering his recent return from a bruised left calf, which had sidelined him for two games.
“You’re at the end of the game, you’re trying to win, so it’s a little different,” Brunson said. “But I mean, the approach stays the same. I think I had the same attacking mindset.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks, Washington Wizards Updates
Julius Randle contributed 21 points to the Knicks’ win, while DiVincenzo and OG Anunoby added 19. The team has shown significant improvement since Anunoby joined them in January. New York’s next game is a notable matchup against the Toronto Raptors, marking the first meeting since the Anunoby trade.
On the Wizards’ side, Jordan Poole led with 24 points, and Marvin Bagley III, in his starting debut for the team, contributed 20 points and 11 rebounds. Deni Avdija and Kyle Kuzma both scored 15 points. With Daniel Gafford out due to a concussion and new additions from a recent trade, Washington faced some lineup challenges.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks, Washington Wizards Updates
Meanwhile, the Knicks played without Josh Hart and experimented with Evan Fournier in the rotation, resulting in heavy minutes for the starters. Despite a close game, with the Knicks leading by a slim margin in the final quarter and never ahead by more than 10 points, Brunson’s stellar play ensured a victory.
Next up, the Wizards will host the San Antonio Spurs, while the Knicks will face the Toronto Raptors at Madison Square Garden.
