‣ Jalen Brunson scored his sixth 40-point game of the season, finishing with 45 points, one rebound, four assists, one steal, and a block in a win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
‣ Brunson is averaging career highs this season with 27.2 points, 6.5 assists, and 35.2 minutes per game, showcasing his significant impact on the New York Knicks‘ performance.
‣ Despite Brunson’s outstanding performance and the Knicks’ success, NBA betting sites rank them with the 13th-best odds to win the championship, indicating skepticism about their ability to secure the title.
Jalen Brunson was in his bag dropping 45 PTS to carry the Knicks to the win against Portland 🎒🗽
— NBA (@NBA)
Details
Jalen Brunson, the guard for the New York Knicks, really outdid himself Thursday night. He scored a whopping 45 points in their game against the Portland Trail Blazers. The final score? A solid 105-93 victory for the Knicks.
Brunson, only 27, also managed to snag one rebound, four assists, a steal, and even a block. And he did all that in just 37 minutes on the court. Talk about efficiency, right?
The game had its turning point in the second quarter. New York ramped up the heat, outscoring Portland 29-16. By the fourth quarter, they were leading by as much as 22 points.
Brunson’s shooting was on point too. He finished the game 14-of-30 from the field. Though his 3-point shots were a bit off (2-of-10), he more than made up for it at the foul line, hitting 15-of-17 shots.
Now, if you’re into betting, here’s something interesting. According to several NBA betting sites, the Knicks are ranked 13th in odds to win the championship. It seems like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat are considered better bets.
Oh, and there was this tweet from the NBA, showing Brunson in action. The caption? “Jalen Brunson was in his bag dropping 45 PTS to carry the Knicks to the win against Portland .”
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau had nothing but praise for Brunson. He mentioned how Brunson ended up at the free-throw line 17 times, but it could’ve been even more. Thibodeau called him “clever” and “shifty.”
In the first half alone, Brunson scored 21 points. This performance helped the Knicks secure a 55-41 lead by halftime. Some fans even started shouting “MVP!” when he went for free throws.
This season, Brunson is hitting career highs. We’re talking an average of 27.2 points and 6.5 assists per game.
Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups admitted his team had a tough time with Brunson. He praised Brunson’s patience and ability to manipulate the defense. Billups described the performance as “magical” and “masterful.”
So far, Brunson has played 61 games this season, all starts. His shooting accuracy is impressive: 47.5% from the floor, 40% beyond the arc, and an 84.4% success rate at the line.
There’s also a teaser for a Knicks All-Access feature on Brunson. It promises to drop some legit insights.
Remember Brunson’s career-high 50 points against the Phoenix Suns last December? He was on fire, hitting 17-of-23 shots from the floor and all nine of his 3-point attempts.
Brunson’s not just scoring points. He ranks seventh in points, 15th in assists, and seventh in field goals for the season. Plus, he’s 11th in free throws and seventh in offensive win shares.
Next up for the Knicks? They’re off to face the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night. It’s gonna be a game worth watching, for sure.
