Jalen Brunson becomes 4th Knicks player with consecutive 40-point games, leads New York past Kings 98-91
SACRAMENTO, California. Jalen Brunson scored 42 points, becoming the fourth player in franchise history with 40 or more in consecutive games, and the New York Knicks beat the Sacramento Kings 98-91 on Saturday night.
Brunson scored 45 points in Thursday's win at Portland. He has seven 40-point games this season, when he was named to the All-Star Game for the first time.
“You almost expect what Jalen did,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “It's every night and it's one big play after another. Every time you need a big bucket, he gets it.”
Brunson is the first Knicks player to reach 40 in consecutive games since Carmelo Anthony on February 19 and 21, 2014. Hall of Famers Bernard King and Patrick Ewing are the other Knicks to do so.
“I don't have the resume that those guys have, so it means a lot,” Brunson said. “But I'm happy we found a way to win.”
Donte DiVincenzo scored 15 points and Josh Hart had nine points and 12 rebounds. Isaiah Hartenstein was a force on the defensive end, blocking five shots and grabbing 14 rebounds to go along with seven points.
“It was a good team win,” Thibodeau said. “I thought the defense was really good. They're a talented offensive team.”
Domantas Sabonis led the Kings with 21 points and 14 rebounds for his 49th consecutive double-double.
De'Aaron Fox added 20 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, but was limited to 5 of 19 shots. Malik Monk scored 18 off the bench.
“I feel like we're looking good,” Fox said. “I feel like a lot of it just didn't make shots. But it's a good defensive team that you have to be able to capitalize on any of their mistakes, and I don't think we've done a good job.” of that tonight.”
The Kings' 91 points were their fewest in a home game this season. Sacramento fell to 0-8 by scoring fewer than 100 points, while New York held its fifth consecutive opponent under that number.
“They're a great team, explosive on offense and Mike (Brown) has done a great job coaching them here,” Brunson said. “They had a lot of problems on that side of the ball and we were able to keep them under 100 points, which is not easy to do. Like I said, we found a way.”
It was the Kings' first loss in allowing fewer than 100 points, falling to 6-1.
The match featured 20 lead changes and 13 ties.
The Knicks led 53-48 at the half and extended the lead to nine early in the third quarter on a pair of Brunson layups.
Sacramento responded with a 15-4 run to take a 63-61 lead, but New York took a 75-74 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Knicks outscored the Kings 23-17 in the fourth quarter.
UNTIL NEXT TIME
Knicks: In Golden State on Monday night.
Kings: Host Memphis on Monday night.
