Brunson Takes Charge In The 4th
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By Andrew Rosario
The New York Knicks were riding high when they hosted the New Orleans Pelicans Wednesday night. New York rolled into Madison Square Garden having won their previous 6 games. The Pelicans, whose season has ben riddled with injuries all season long came into the game with a 25-48 record with sorry 9-26 road record. On the surface, it looked like the Knicks streak would extend to 7 and right from the start, the Pelicans were poised to be a spoiler.
New Orleans jumped out to 13-7 lead when the Knicks would wake up. New York exploded to out score the Pelicans 35-15 to end the first up 42-28. Knicks forward OG Anunoby leading the with 13 points. The second would all be New Orleans as it appeared the Knicks took their foot off the gas. The Pelicans blitz the Knicks 15-2 to start the second quarter and outscored New York 32-24 going into halftime only down by 6, 66-60. New Orleans making a statement that they would not go away easily.
The scrappy Pelicans outscored New York 32-27 led by power forward Zion Williamson leading New Orleans with 17 points. Knicks back-up center Mitchell Robinson coming off the bench adding 11 points, grabbing 8 rebounds, 4 of them on the offensive glass. The final quater would be a battle to see which team would want it the most. As usual, the man who has done it since coming to New York would step up once again.
Knicks guard and captain Jalen Brunson started the final qaurter with 17 points. In the 121-116 win, Brunson finished with 32 points but it a total team effort as 7 players finished scoring 10 points or more. All 5 starters scored in double figures. Pelicans Williamson led his team with 22.
The New York Knicks had a defensive lull in the second and third quarter that allowed the Pelicans tomake a game of it. Knicks first year head coach Mike Brown addressed the issue after the game. “The biggest thing was our transition. In that second quarter, we took some tough shots that led to fast break for them, and we had some turnovers that to breaks for them. In the third too, they able to get out a little bit and transition off some of our misses and a couple of turnovers as well. Our guys did a better job of taking care of the ball in the fourth quarter and our shot quality was a little better too.”
Brunson suggested to Brown that they should go to a smaller line-up down the stretch. “He (Brunson) asked me if I wanted to and I said yes. It’s a great suggestion, we’re going to go small and that’s what we did, and we ended up switching pick and rolls.” Said Brunson of his overall performance, “just trying to be myself. Stick to my habits, focus on my work ethic, what’s gotten me here. And keep it that way.”
The Knicks go on a 4-game road trip that began Thursday night in Charlotte. They move on to face the Oklahoma City Thunder Sunday night. They play the Houston Rockets the last day in March ending the trip in Minnesota to face the Timberwolves April 1st.
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