Jalen Brunson continued his exceptional performance streak in a thrilling NBA matchup on Saturday night, leading the New York Knicks to a 98-91 victory over the Sacramento Kings. Brunson, scoring 42 points, became the fourth player in Knicks history to post 40 or more points in back-to-back games, joining the ranks of the franchise’s legends.
“You almost come to expect what Jalen did,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “It’s every night and it’s big play after big play. Every time you need a big bucket, he comes up with it.”
Brunson’s achievement placed him in the esteemed company of Carmelo Anthony, Bernard King, and Patrick Ewing, highlighting his significant contribution to the team’s success.
“I don’t have the resume those guys do, so it means a lot,” Brunson said. “But I’m just happy we found a way to win.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks, De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings Updates
The Knicks’ victory was a collective effort, with Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Hart, and Isaiah Hartenstein making crucial contributions. Hartenstein, in particular, stood out on defense with five blocks and 14 rebounds, underlining the Knicks’ defensive strength.
“It was a good team win,” Thibodeau said. “I thought the defense was really good. They’re a gifted offensive team.”
The Kings, led by Domantas Sabonis with 21 points and 14 rebounds, faced a tough challenge against the Knicks’ robust defense. Despite efforts from De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk, Sacramento struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities.
“I feel like we got good looks,” Fox said. “I feel like a lot of it (was) we just didn’t make shots. But that’s a good defensive team that you have to be able to capitalize on any of their mistakes, and I don’t think we did a good job of that tonight.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks, De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings Updates
The Kings’ offensive woes were highlighted by their lowest home game score of the season, emphasizing the effectiveness of the Knicks’ defense strategy. New York’s ability to hold Sacramento under 100 points was a key factor in their victory.
“They’re a great team, explosive on offense, and Mike (Brown) has done a great job coaching them here,” Brunson said. “They present a lot of problems on that side of the ball and we were able to keep them under 100 points, which is not easy to do. Like I said, we found a way.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks, De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings Updates
The game was closely contested, featuring numerous lead changes and ties. However, the Knicks’ performance in the final quarter, outscoring the Kings 23-17, secured their win and set the stage for their next challenge against the Golden State Warriors. The Kings, on the other hand, look to bounce back in their upcoming game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
