Jalen Brunson ignited the New York Knicks' offense, scoring 22 of his 33 points in the first quarter of their decisive 135-105 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. The emphatic win helped the Knicks (4-4) temporarily silence criticism regarding their offense and reach a .500 winning percentage.
The Knicks tied a 38-year-old franchise record by scoring 84 points in the first half, shooting an impressive 63 percent from the field and 50 percent from beyond the arc before halftime. The game was largely decided by the second quarter, with New York establishing a 37-point lead.
Brunson finished the game shooting 10-for-17 from the field and recorded a plus-33 rating in his 28 minutes of play. Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 17 points and 12 rebounds, while OG Anunoby added 18 points and three steals. The Knicks also capitalized at the free-throw line, converting 30 of 37 attempts, contributing to a combined 65 free throws for both teams.
All Knicks starters were substituted out for extended garbage time, which encompassed the entire fourth quarter. This dominant performance followed a closer contest the previous week, where Brunson scored 38 points to help the Knicks rally past the Bulls (1-7).
Prior to this offensive surge, the Knicks ranked 21st in the NBA in offensive rating. Forward Josh Hart, who missed Wednesday's game with an ankle injury, suggested the team was still recovering from a short offseason following their championship run. "So, you’re doing all of that, so that takes a little bit of a wear on you. And then you get into it. So, sometimes the body has to kinda catch up,” Hart stated. Landry Shamet started in Hart's place, scoring seven points in 24 minutes.
The Knicks are set to face the Cleveland Cavaliers (4-4) on Saturday.