Brunson & KAT Lead Knick Blowout. NY 140 Milwaukee 106

Karl-Anthony Towns drives against the Greek Freak. Photo courtesy NY Knicks.

The Knicks rebounded from the horrific thumping they took at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder Friday night at Madison Square Garden, to crush the Milwaukee Bucks, 140-106 on Sunday afternoon in the same building.

On the broadcast Friday night, Walt Frazier said someone on the Knicks needed to step up and provide leadership — and on this night Jalen Brunson stepped up from the start, scoring 23 points in the 1st quarter en route to 44 pts in the game, and then Karl-Anthony Towns stepped up in the 2nd quarter, en route to 30 pts and 18 rebounds.

NY had a 13-pt lead at the half, and then scored the first 10 points of the 3rd quarter to break the game open. NY led by 28 at times in the 3rd quarter then survived a scare — as Jalen Brunson injured his shoulder on a collision and went straight to the lockerroom. Meanwhile Milwaukee pulled back to within 16 points in seemingly the longest 3rd quarter ever.

But Brunson re-emerged from the lockerroom late in the quarter and got back on the court, and continued to score at will — leading NY to a 32-pt lead midway through the 4th and utter blowout.

“Just had a little bit of a (shoulder) stinger and went to the lockerroom to get checked out and he’s fine,” said coach Tom Thibodeau afterwards about Brunson’s injury.

On the game he said: “I thought it was a good response, in all areas — strong both sides of the ball; played with good pace, both in transition and the halfcourt. I thought the rebounding was real good, and sharing the ball, and taking care of it.”

NY improves to 26-14; Milwaukee falls to 20-17.

1. Brunson Scores 23 in 1st Quarter

Milwaukee came in having won 3 in a row and were 19-8 in their last 27 games. The Knicks came in needing to get back on track after their drubbing by Oklahoma City on Friday night.

Jalen Brunson came out on Fire with Fire in his eyes. He took it to the rim time after time for drives or free throws, and then started hitting 3’s.

NY jumped out to an 11-7 lead, but Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo answered with drives and jumpers and Milwaukee took a 20-16 lead.

The Knicks and Brunson enforced their will back — Brunson with several drives for free throws, a 3, and another drive at the end of the quarter to give NY a 36-33 lead. Brunson finished the quarter with 23 points.

2. Towns Dominates 2nd Quarter; NY by 13 at Half

Cameron Payne entered the game for Brunson to start the 2nd quarter and Karl-Anthony Towns took over the Knick offense, driving repeatedly inside against the 36-year-old Brooke Lopez, and scoring efficiently.

Payne and Miles McBride added 3’s, and Towns added a traditional drive-and-1 and NY jumped out to a 49-42 lead.

Towns, McBride, and Payne continued to do most of the scoring for the Knicks in the quarter — until Josh Hart hit a 3 off a Brunson assist, and OG Anunoby hit a 3 next time down off a Brunson assist and NY had a 16-pt lead at 71-55.

Khris Middleton came off the Milwaukee bench with a deuce and a 3, but Brunson countered with back-to-back pullups for NY and a 75-62 Knick lead at the half.

3. Knicks Score First 10 Pts of 3rd Quarter

Brunson came out of the half pushing the pace — scoring on a drive, passing to OG Anunoby for a dunk, and then hitting a 3 for an 82-62 NY lead.

Karl-Anthony Towns hit a 3 and NY had scored 10 in a row to take a 23-pt lead.

4. Brunson Goes Out in 3rd

But the good times suddenly ended — not when Taurean Prince hit a 3 but on the ensuing play when Jalen Brunson injured his shoulder and asked out — going straight to the lockerroom.

Play continued and the Knicks continued to increase their lead — Miles McBride with a 3, Josh Hart with a deuce, and Anunoby scoring on a drive to give NY a 27-pt lead.

5. Bucks Pull to Within 16 in LONG 3rd Quarter

And then the 3rd quarter seemed to last into eternity.

Milwaukee would not go away — launching a comeback with Middleton and Antetokounmpo doing damage on drives to pull back within 19 down.

6. Brunson Returns — Good as New

Good news: Jalen Brunson came out of the lockerroom with 3:34 left in the quarter, and not only that — but went straight back into the game.

And not only that — started scoring again — hitting a deuce and a 3 late in the quarter to put NY up by 21 again.

7. Knicks Continue Blowout in 4th

Brunson continued to take it to the Bucks to start the 4th, starting the quarter with a 3, joined by Bridges and Hart on drives, then hitting a deuce.

Karl-Anthony Towns joined the fray with a tip shot, Cam Payne hit a 3, and Towns scored again inside and NY started to pull away with a 124-98 lead.

Brunson hit a step back, and Towns scored again inside and NY was up by 30 with 5 minutes left. The blowout was on.

NY would increase their lead to 32 points before emptying the bench with 3:21 left.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401705105

 

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