Brunson Comes on Like Firestorm in 2nd Half. NY 104 New Orleans 93

December 22, 2024 LouV 2024-25 0

Jalen Brunson shook off a hounding, physical Pelican defense and came on like a firestorm in the 3rd and 4th quarters — hitting drives and 3’s from everywhere en route to 39 points on 13-19 shooting (7-10 from 3) — to lead NY to a 104-93 comeback win in New Orleans on a Saturday night.

The Knicks were down by 14 points with 8 minutes left in the 3rd quarter and by 13 points with 6:50 left when Brunson took over the game. To that point the undermanned Pelicans were giving the Knicks everything they could handle and more — playing a frenetic, physical defense and hitting 3’s. New Orleans, without Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, used length, athleticism, defensive aggressiveness, and a zone to put NY on their heels. The lanky 6’7 Herbert Jones was doing a job on Brunson, preventing him from penetrating the middle, and Trey Murphy III was pouring in points from the outside.

And then Brunson took over — starting with a drive, and then 3 after 3. Other Knicks joined in — Mikal Bridges (18 pts) and OG Anunoby (16 pts) hitting 3’s, Jericho Sims (+18) playing tremendous defense and ripping down rebounds, Josh Hart (14 pts, 8 rebounds, 5 assists) doing his thing, and Karl-Anthony Towns (only 11 pts due to early foul trouble but 10 rebounds and good floor game) getting key buckets down the stretch.

“In our 2nd quarter we struggled, and then we were searching,” said coach Tom Thibodeau afterwards. “I thought Jericho came in and gave us a big lift, and then Jalen obviously — the shot making and just lifting everyone up. We were struggling and then just found a way to win. We had a good stretch defensively in the 3rd that led us into the open floor; played a little faster and got into a good rhythm, and the shot making was terrific.”

NY improves to 18-10; New Orleans drops to 5-24.

1. Undermanned Pelicans Put Knicks on their Heels

The 5-24 Pelicans came in without their 2 stars: Zion Williamson is out with a hamstring pull and has only played 6 games this year, and Brandon Ingram is out with an ankle injury. But coach Willie Green had New Orleans playing a tough, physical defense, and also deployed a zone which confused the Knicks early.

The 6’7 Herbert Jones was giving Brunson a hard time with a physical defense, and the refs were “letting them play”. The 6’11 Yves Missi countered Karl-Anthony Towns at center, and Towns was having an off-night offensively, missing his 3’s. Towns also got into early foul trouble. At one point Towns had his shot blocked inside by Herbert Jones, who was everywhere.

“The foul trouble with KAT kind of got us out of rhythm,” noted Thibs afterwards.

Trey Murphy III was lighting up the scoreboard and Dejounte Murray was adding buckets and New Orleans took a 10- to 14-point lead in the 2nd quarter.

2. Brunson Takes Over Midway thru 3rd

New Orleans held that lead early in the 3rd, but something seemed to happen at halftime — the refs came out of intermission calling a slightly tighter game, and soon Jones, Murray, Murphy, and Javonte Green all picked up their 3rd foul midway through the 3rd.

Still Javounte Murray hit a 3 off a CJ McCollum assist with 6:50 left in the quarter to give New Orleans a 13-point lead and it was starting to look like it was just not NY’s night.

That is when Jalen Brunson took over — first with a drive, then a drive with a floater, then a 3 from the corner and NY was within 6 at 65-59.

Brunson was just getting started. He hit another 3, and then another. New Orleans 69 NY 65.

Mikal Bridges chipped in with a corner 3 to bring NY to within a point, but Murray countered with a 3. Karl-Anthony Towns finally hit a 3, and then Brunson again with a running pullup 3 and NY had a 74-72 lead.

Bridges and Hart hit drives late in the quarter and NY had a 78-75 lead heading into the 4th.

3. Knicks Control the 4th

Jericho Sims came in to start the 4th and continued to do a JOB on defense and on the boards. But he was the only 2nd-team player to come in; Thibs kept Brunson and Bridges in the game to lay the hammer down.

And lay the hammer down they did — Bridges with a 3, Brunson with free throws off a drive, and another drive to start the quarter and NY was up by 10.

The Knicks maintained control throughout the 4th, with Brunson and Bridges doing much of the scoring.

Miles McBride came in with 8:57 left to spell OG Anunoby and NY up 10, and Cameron Payne came in with 5:20 left to give Brunson a breather with NY up 14.

The closest New Orleans got down the stretch was 9 points down, after a CJ McCollum free throw, but KAT countered with a 3 for a 99-88 NY lead with 1:37 left and ballgame.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401704950

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