Brunson Dagger Wins Crazy Game. NY 149 Atlanta 148 in OT

February 13, 2025 LouV 2024-25 0
Jalen Brunson hits a dagger with 11 seconds left to put Knicks ahead. Photo courtesy NY Knicks.

If the Knicks had lost this game, NY fans would have been sick to their stomach this morning — and would have felt it throughout the next week off for the All Star game — as the Knicks blew a 6-pt lead in the last 10 seconds of regulation, and then fell behind Atlanta by 5 points in Overtime after the Hawks had not led all evening.

But Jalen Brunson and the Knick defense took over at the end — Brunson nailing a 19 footer with 11 seconds left to give NY a 149-148 lead, and then Georges Niang missing a corner jumper at the buzzer for a crazy Knick win at an uproarious Madison Square Garden on a Wednesday night.

It was like watching 3 games in 1:

  1. The first game had Karl-Anthony Towns DOMINATING inside and out — driving and scoring to the basket at will, and then popping 3’s from the outside — as he rang up 44 points on 14-25 shooting (7-10 from 3 and 9-11 in free throws). NY was up by 16 pts in the 2nd quarter and on verge of blowing Atlanta out.
  2. Then came the 2nd game, where Atlanta came back to pull within 3 pts at the end of 3 quarters; Cameron Payne led NY back up by 12, Atlanta roared back to within a point with 2 minutes left, but the Knicks closed it and took a 6-pt lead with 10 seconds left. And then Not — as Atlanta tied the game due mainly to a Dyson Daniels steal of an inbounds pass with 7 seconds left.
  3. And then the crazy see-saw Overtime.

“Obviously we didn’t play as well as we would like. But I love the resolve,” said coach Tom Thibodeau afterwards. “What happened at the end of the game and go into overtime and just find a way to win. That’s what this team has done all year.”

NY improves to 36-18; Atlanta drops to 26-29.

1. KAT & Brunson Dominate Early

The Knicks were playing the 2nd game of a back-to-back but came out with the same energy that won the game for them in Indiana the night before. Karl-Anthony Towns was again TAKING IT TO THE RIM and dominating, and Jalen Brunson was scoring at will as well — NY jumped out to an 18-10 lead in the 1st quarter.

2. Game within Game: Brunson vs Daniels

The game within the game was the matchup of Jalen Brunson against Dyson Daniels, the athletic 6’7 guard who leads the NBA in steals. Brunson cleaned up on Daniels in the prior game between Atlanta and NY in January, and this game was no different as Brunson used his clever footwork to dominate Daniels. Brunson came on strong early, and came on strong late — finishing with 36 pts on 13-21 shooting (3-7 from 3, 7-10 in free throws) with 8 assists.

Daniels provided scoring in this game — 23 points on 10-15 shooting (2-3 from 3).

Mikal Bridges had the job of guarding Trae Young most of the night and did a good job, keeping Young at bay in the 1st half and causing Young to miss a lot, and turn the ball over a lot. Young got his — 38 pts — but on 11-28 shooting with 8 turnovers (and 19 assists).

3. KAT Dominates Inside & Out: NY Goes Up by 16 in 2nd

NY led 29-18 after 1, and then continued to build the lead in the 2nd quarter as Karl-Anthony Towns started to steamroll Atlanta and then also hit 3’s from the logo.

“If not bouncin’ and announcin’, he’s drainin’ and painin’ from the 3-pt line!” said Walt Frazier on the broadcast after Towns drained Another 3 giving NY a 55-39 lead. At that point Towns had 21 pts on 6-10 shooting (2-3 from 3) with 6:31 left in the 2nd quarter.

But Atlanta — coached well by Quin Snyder — is an athletic, quick team and they do not give up. Caris Lavert — recently acquired by Atlanta for DeAndre Hunter — was a pain in the ass, scoring 20 pts off the bench on 8-13 shooting (2-4 from 3). Zaccharie Risacher, the 6’8 Frenchy who was the #1 pick in last June’s draft — was active with 16 pts on 6-11 shooting, and Onyeka Okongwu, the 6’10 forward who was the #6 overall pick in the 2020 draft, was super active inside with 21 pts on 9-10 shooting and 14 rebounds. Atlanta pulled back within 8 pts at intermission.

4. Atlanta Closes to 3 Points at End of 3rd

The Knicks pushed back their lead early in the 3rd — two consecutive 3’s by Karl-Anthony Towns gave NY a 14-pt lead with 8:13 left in the quarter.

But Atlanta came back again — as Trae Young began to cook — hitting a 3 from way outside and then driving for quick layups or floaters.

KAT fired back with another 3 but no matter what he did — Atlanta kept getting closer — pulling to within 3 at the end of the 3rd.

5. Payne & Precious Lead NY Back up by 12 Early in 4th

And then Cameron Payne came to the rescue to start the 4th — slashing to the basket time after time — for drives, free throws, or splendid passes to the likes of Precious Achiuwa for a slam.

Precious was Splendid this game — playing the starting power forward role with OG Anunoby out with the foot sprain. Precious had 26 pts on 12-16 shooting with 8 rebounds and 2 blocks. Payne had 10 pts and 4 assists in 15 minutes. Landy Shamet also played well with the 2nd team.

6. Atlanta Comes Within 1 Pt with 2 Minutes Left

But Atlanta kept coming back — their quickness on defense causing Knick turnovers.

Trae Young hit a 3 with 6 minutes left to pull Atlanta within 5 and then Georges Niang hit a deuce to make it a 3-pt game; KAT responded with a 3 to put NY up 5; Young re-responded with a 3 to pull Atlanta within 3 again. It was like that.

A Dyson Daniels drive pulled Atlanta within 1 pt with 1:56 left.

But Jalen Brunson answered with a HUGE 3 to give NY a 4-pt lead with 1:33 left, and after a Trae Young free throw (he missed the 1st of 2) — Brunson again came down and hit a HUGE pullup with 1:08 left to give NY a 4-pt lead.

Young came back with an immediate drive and score, and on the other end Brunson missed a jumper but Precious Achiuwa grabbed a HUGE offensive rebound and put it back in for a 4-pt Knick lead with 29 seconds left!

Young missed a 3, Josh Hart scrambled for the loose-ball rebound, and was run over by Georges Niang — hit his free throws and NY had the game won with a 6-pt lead and 18 seconds left.

Clyde Frazier on the broadcast was congratulating the Knicks on their win. Jinx!

7. Knicks Blow 6-Pt Lead in Last 10 Seconds

But it wasn’t over — Georges Niang hit a 3 from the corner with 9 seconds left for a 3-pt game, and then Dyson Daniels stole the inbounds — as KAT tried to feed Mikal Bridges — and was fouled going back to the hoop. He hit the 1st free throw but missed the 2nd — and grabbed his own rebound!

The Knicks defended by Hart was called for a foul on Trae Young — he hit 2 free throws with 2.2 seconds left and it was a tie game.

After a Knick timeout, Brunson got off a good look from 23 feet out on the left side but missed.

8. Brunson Commands Crazy, See-Saw OT

A Devastating final 10 seconds for the Knicks — and so it was on to overtime and Atlanta jumped on top — taking their first lead of the game on a Trae Young floater and then going up by 5 pts on a Caris Lavert 3.

But then it was the Knicks who regrouped and came back — KAT with a drive and then Brunson fouled by Dyson Daniels swiping his hand and the ball away — the Atlanta challenge unsuccessful — and 2 free throws pulled NY within 1.

See Saw

  • Brunson took charge. He hit Another J with 3:20 left to give NY back the lead, 143-142.
  • The Knick Defense was intense — but Okongwu tipped in an offensive rebound with 2:18 left to give Atlanta a 1-pt lead.
  • Josh Hart answered — drawing a foul on a drive and hitting both free throws for a 1-pt Knick lead with 2:06 left.
  • Young missed a 3, and Jalen Brunson came down and — made a spectacular pass to Precious Achiuwa underneath for a dunk and NY was up by 3 with 1:25 left.
  • Young hit a floater to pull Atlanta within 1 again with 1:01 left, 147-146 NY.
  • Bridges missed a baseline 10-footer and Okongwu was fouled on the other end — his free throws put Atlanta back up 148-147 with 24 seconds left.

Brunson Wins It

But Brunson came down and hit the HUGE 19 footer with 11 seconds left for a Knick lead, 148-147! Hawks timeout. Bedlam at Madison Square Garden.

“Jalen Brunson has won at levels for a reason,” noted NBA Analyst Ross Kreines. “As he puts himself in position to succeed and the Knicks in position to succeed by always wanting the ball in his hands, never fears the moment, knowing time, situation and the moment, trusting his hard work and delivering. Trust ur work.”

Final Play

On the final play, Trae Young drove but Mikal Bridges partially blocked his shot — Okongwu grabbed the rebound, fed Niang for a corner jumper — which hit the front of the rim and the Knicks had the win!

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401705339

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