In an impressive comeback during Thursday’s NBA action, the New York Knicks overturned a 21-point deficit to defeat the Sacramento Kings 120-109, breaking their three-game losing skid.
This victory came just hours after the team announced Julius Randle‘s season-ending shoulder surgery, highlighting their resilience and depth.
Jalen Brunson spearheaded the Knicks’ effort with 35 points and 11 assists, while Josh Hart, despite a sprained wrist, achieved a season-high 31 points alongside nine rebounds and eight assists. Donte DiVincenzo added a significant 21 points, demonstrating the team’s collective response to adversity.
“For us as a team, we started very slow and eventually got it picked up,” Brunson said. “And definitely the morale was a little low, when one of your guys goes down and he’s fighting to come back and just unable to be where he wants to be.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks, Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings Updates
This win places the Knicks on par with the Orlando Magic for the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference, though the Magic hold the tiebreaker advantage. The Kings, on their end, missed a crucial opportunity to climb the Western Conference standings, with De’Aaron Fox leading their scoring with 29 points.
The Kings’ Domantas Sabonis also had a notable performance with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists, but it wasn’t enough to sustain their early lead. Sacramento had hoped to make significant progress in their playoff positioning during this crucial stretch of their schedule.
The Knicks had to overcome not just the absence of Randle but also a formidable early-game performance by the Kings. However, a pivotal 16-2 run helped them regain composure and eventually take the lead in the fourth quarter, capped by a decisive 13-0 run.
“Guys played very, very unselfishly, just made the right play,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “It was a big hole to climb out of but we found a way to win.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks, Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings Updates
The game’s turning point came when the Knicks managed to transform a three-point deficit into a ten-point lead, demonstrating their clutch performance in critical moments. This shift in momentum was a testament to the team’s determination and strategic execution.
Sacramento’s initial success from the three-point line in the first quarter set a challenging pace, but according to Kings coach Mike Brown, a shift away from their successful early strategies allowed the Knicks to gain confidence and mount their comeback.
“And that’s a product of not consistently doing what we did to start the game,” Brown said. “Move it easy to the open guy and if you’re open let it fly.”
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