Jalen Brunson delivers MVP effort, gets help from supporting cast as Knicks gain ground on Bucks with win
The Jalen Brunson-led Knicks outplayed the star-studded Milwaukee Bucks, including 20-plus-point performances by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, in a 122-109 road win.
New York (46-32), which has the same record as the third-place Orlando Magic, is one game behind Milwaukee (47-31) for second in the Eastern Conference.
Here are the takeaways...
1. When Brunson produces like this and gets help, the Knicks can beat any team in the league. Brunson scored a game-high 43 points on 16-of-32 shooting, including a 2-for-6 clip from deep and nine makes over 11 attempts at the charity stripe, in 39 minutes to lead the Knicks (46-32) past the Bucks (47-31).
Brunson, who scored 23 first-half points to keep New York within striking distance at 61-50 entering the break, has proven himself as a No. 1 option throughout this season. He did so again in Milwaukee.
2. There are times when Donte DiVincenzo looks like a legitimate No. 2, and that was the case at Fiserv Forum -- his old stomping grounds. He complemented Brunson with 26 points, headlined by an 8-of-11 line behind the arc, while adding two made free throws over 37 minutes.
DiVincenzo, whose NBA career started with the Bucks (2018-22), is polishing off a personal-best season. He's averaging 15.4 points per game, which is a whole five points better than his previous best mark of 10.4 with Milwaukee in 2020-21.
3. It's time to give Isaiah Hartenstein his flowers. He's a big reason why the Knicks came back and outscored the Bucks in the second half, which included a 39-24 third quarter.
Hartenstein, who started and logged 29 minutes, notched his ninth double-double of the season with an 18-point, 10-rebound effort. He and DiVincenzo ultimately outperformed Antetokounmpo (28 points) and Lillard (23 points), especially down the stretch of a decisive fourth quarter where the Knicks outscored the Bucks 33-24.
4. Off the bench, Bojan Bogdanovic had one of his best games as a Knick. He contributed 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including back-to-back buckets at the fourth quarter's 9:22 and 8:38 marks during a pivotal 10-0 run that put the Knicks ahead double-digits (99-89).
Who is the MVP?
Brunson. What more is there to say about him at this point? The guy has a legitimate case for league MVP -- forget just this game. While it remains to be seen how far this team can advance without Julius Randle, Brunson won't let the Knicks go without a fight.
Highlights
What's next
The Knicks continue their four-game road trip with Tuesday's 8 p.m. tip-off at the Chicago Bulls.
