Another 30 Point Night For Brunson
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By Samori Benjamin and Andrew Rosario
OG Locks Down MVP Jokic
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
The Knicks lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-99 last Friday, January 17th. After an eight game streak for the Knicks which spanned from December 15th through January 1st, they lost six of their last nine games. Friday night’s loss was against their former All-Star, three of the last four seasons, power forward Julius Randle. Randle was traded from the Knicks to Minnesota days before training camp began this season for Karl Anthony Towns who has played so well that he’s ranked number four on the NBA.com MVP ladder halfway through the season. The Knicks got the better of the matchup on December 19th when Towns went for 32 points and 20 rebounds. New York won by 26 that night but last night Towns did not play due to an injured finger. Randle finished with just eight points to go along with seven rebounds, and six assists but his All-NBA teammate Anthony Edwards was the best player on the court with a game high 36 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists.
For Julius Randle it was a happy homecoming and he reflected postgame on the nice reception that he received from the crowd. “It was good, this is a place that will always be like a home to me. My family, so many great people and fans that I have here,” Randle said in the postgame media scrum sitting at his locker after the game. “I enjoyed every second that I played here at Madison Square Garden, so it was fun.” Randle let the game come to him as he had more assists (7) than he had shot attempts (6). “I felt at home to be honest. This is a place that I am familiar with, so it was good to be back.” When Randle signed with the Knicks in the summer of 2019 the franchise had just come off its lowest win total, of 17, in franchise history. Five and a half years later the Knicks are now one of the top teams in the league with aspirations of winning a championship. “I like to think I played a part but there were a lot of people, there were a lot of hands-on deck and I just tried to give my best every single night I came out here.”
Randle’s contributions to the Knicks franchise will not be forgotten and for him it was a pleasure playing in front of the New York fans for five seasons, the longest he has been with any franchise. “It was amazing. Knicks fans are amazing. The energy that they bring and the passion that they bring every single game, in the playoffs and everything is unmatched. So, I had a tremendous time here.”
New York rebounded the following Monday afternoon January 20th when they played the Atlanta Hawks on their annual Martin Luther King, Jr game. Atlanta had beat the Knicks the previous two times they played with the last game on their home floor. Hawks guard Trey Young taunted the home crowd with his on court antics after the game. The home crowd booed Young from the moment he was introduced and every time he touched the ball.
New York overcame a early 10 point deficit in the first quarter to cut the Hawks lead to 1 point at 27-26. Knicks guard
Jalen Brunson paced the Knicks with 19 first half points taking a 62-54 lead. Young tallied 18 points and looked like he was ready be a thorn in the Knicks side once again.
Brunson would have none of that as he finished the third quarter with 31 point as the the Knicks outscored Atlanta 40-27 in beating the Hawks for the first time this year 119-110. Brunson finished with game high 34 points. Mikal Bridges chipped in with 26 points with Cameron Payne contributing 10 points off the bench. Sevem Hawks finished in double figures with Young leading the team with 27. De’Andre Hunter came off the bench to score 22 points.
Said Brunson afterwards, “It was a big win for us.” Head coach Tom Thibodeau talked about trying to defend Young. “He ‘s such a tough cover. Sometimes, you can defend them really well and he can still make a shot. So l thought we were really disciplined. You have to be that.”
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