The New York Knicks defeated the Chicago Bulls 116-100. Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, and Isaiah Hartenstein have a monster night!
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The New York Knicks crushed the Chicago Bulls 116 to 100. The Bulls competed throughout the first half, staying close in the first quarter before taking the lead against the bench unit in the second quarter. But the Knicks came out of halftime invigorated, rushing out to a lead and barely looking back. The second unit struggled to protect that lead again, but the starters returned to dominate the fourth quarter for a double-digit victory.
Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle looked unstoppable on offense, while OG Anunoby and Isaiah Hartenstein combined to put the entire Bulls’ offense in jail. The second unit needs a spark, but that player has time to emerge as long as the starters play this well.
The Knicks are 2-0 in 2024; let’s look at how they picked up their second win of the year.
New York’s starters own the night
Jalen Brunson: 31 PTS (13/22 FG, 4/9 3PT, 1/1 FT), 13 AST, 3 REB, 4 TO in 38 mins
Jalen Brunson started the game 5/5 in the first quarter, representing an immediate bounce back from his 5/23 night in Minnesota. He knocked down early three-pointers and finished smooth floaters and layups inside throughout the game. Brunson scored whenever he could attack a switch, picking on Patrick Williams and Andre Drummond in space.
Brunson’s playmaking soared for the second-straight game. He started the night overdoing his passing with a slew of first-half turnovers. But even as he turned the ball over periodically, Brunson’s creation for teammates looked impressive. He carved through the lanes and found open shooters or cutters all game long.
The turnovers are worth watching, as Brunson has averaged 3.6 TOs per game in the past five games. But he’s also averaging 9.6 assists in that span, and those numbers become 13.5 APG to 3 TPG in the two games since OG arrived. I’ll take performances like this whenever we can get them, but capping the TOs would take it to another level. Brunson gets a 4.5 out of 5 for his double-double.
Donte DiVincenzo: 11 PTS (4/10 FG, 3/8 3PT), 5 AST, 5 REB, 1 STL, 3 TO in 25 mins
Donte DiVincenzo fit beautifully in the middle of New York’s dominant scorers and overpowering defenders. He hit his open looks to space the floor and brought energy on the defensive end to help OG and I-Hart.
DiVo’s three-point shooting did the heavy lifting for his scoring. He used most of his trips inside the arc to draw defenders and pass to the open man. That didn’t always work out, as his 3 turnovers nearly matched his 5 assists. But both as a scorer and playmaker, he complimented his more ball-dominant teammates.
The Big Ragu added tertiary help in every area for the starters. He scored double-digits, provided the second-most assists, grabbed 5 boards, and defended well. DiVincenzo gave the Knicks whatever they needed on a given play without disrupting the work of his teammates. He gets a 2.5 out of 5 for complimenting every starter perfectly.
OG Anunoby: 11 PTS (5/9 FG, 1/4 3PT), 2 AST, 8 REB, 2 STL, 1 TO in 34 mins
OG Anunoby’s stat line feels modest, with just 9 field goal attempts and a reasonably low usage compared to some peers. He’s similar to DiVincenzo, providing offense without needing many touches. He rarely created for himself but seemed to always find the ball in places he could be productive. His offensive game is simple but effective.
OG’s true impact doesn’t show up anywhere on the box score. You’ll have to watch Demar DeRozan’s impact while Anunoby is guarding him compared to every other Knick. Derozan looked fantastic after OG sat with 2 fouls in the first quarter, but things changed when Anunoby returned. The new Knick put clamps on Derozan for most of the action.
I’m not sure any acquisition’s impact has ever been so noticeable so quickly. Watching Derozan stifled felt refreshing, as he’s been a thorn in the Knicks’ side many nights. Anunoby’s easy offense, off-ball hustle, and defensive dominance are a seamless fit with the rest of the starters. He gets a 4 out of 5 for his outsized impact on the game.
Julius Randle: 35 PTS (13/23 FG, 3/7 3PT, 6/7 FT), 4 AST, 6 REB, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 3 TO in 39 mins
Believe it or not, Julius Randle had an off quarter in this game. He dominated the first quarter, struggled against double-teams in the second, then overpowered the Bulls for the entire second half. Randle looked overwhelming in the paint, whether open or surrounded by defenders. His only issues came when he paired with a second unit that lacked ball-handlers to help him.
Randle’s postwork stood out immediately, as he started the game by drawing a crowd and kicking the ball to open shooters on the first two possessions. He continued to make good passes as long as he had time to attack. The only thing stopping Randle lately is a well-timed double-team, and if players don’t sneak up on him, then Randle beats the doubles just as well.
I’ll add that Randle’s defensive effort looked good, too. He deflected balls in passing lanes and played better help defense than I’ve clocked in the past month or so. Maybe OG’s effort is rubbing off on our star power forward. Randle gets a 4.5 out of 5, mainly because we know he has an even higher level of play when his rebounding kicks into gear. But this was close to perfect.
Isaiah Hartenstein: 10 PTS (4/6 FG, 2/3 FT), 1 AST, 20 REB, 5 BLK, 2 TO
Isaiah Hartenstein’s numbers tell you everything you need to know for a change. He had a 20-rebound double-double with 5 blocks along the way. I-Hart did that while matching up with Andre Drummond, who has quietly played exceptionally well for the Bulls recently.
Hartenstein’s work in the middle is best exemplified in his blocks at the rim. He started the game by denying a dunk attempt by Patrick Williams and continued to decline dunk and layup attempts throughout the game. With his scoring and rebounding, the extra defensive effort is a bonus that tips his performance into dominant territory.
It’s safe to call this Hartenstein’s best start of the season and even the best of his career. He smothered the boards or boxed out for teammates, finished shots in the paint, and shut down opponents at the rim. For my money, Hartenstein’s monster performance is the standout of the night. I’m giving him the 5 out of 5 that Randle and Brunson just barely missed out on.
The Knicks’ second unit can’t get into the paint
Deuce McBride: 3 PTS (1/3 FG, 1/2 3PT) in 10 mins
I hate to describe Miles McBride’s performance as disappointing, but it was. He played a passive role in the offense, only shooting when the clock was low. Even if there were space before a closeout, McBride would pump fake and dribble instead of firing. That timid approach hurts spacing for the entire offense.
But he did knock down a three-pointer, and I’m hoping he’ll show more comfort as he gets more reps with the second unit. He has to step up soon or lose his opportunity to Malachi Flynn or someone else.
Quentin Grimes: 8 PTS (3/9 FG, 2/6 3PT), 1 REB, 1 STL in 18 mins
While Quentin Grimes didn’t play his best basketball, I was happy to see him play an assertive role. He fired three-pointers whenever the defense gave him an inch and looked willing to probe with his dribble. While he struggled with limited spacing with the second unit, he provided some offense for a group that didn’t get much out of anyone else.
I need Grimes to attack the paint more if this second unit wants to survive. They relied solely on Julius Randle’s post-ups to collapse the defense, which got Randle in trouble. The rest of the second-unit offense was pump fakes and swing passes.
It looks like Grimes wants to step up and take a more prominent role in the second unit. He wasn’t his best against Chicago, but Grimes’ aggression is promising. He gets a 2 out of 5 for a respectable effort that could be a precursor to improvement.
Josh Hart: 3 PTS (1/5 FG, 1/2 3PT), 3 AST, 5 REB, 2 TO in 25 mins
Josh Hart’s chaotic brand of basketball didn’t always work out against the Bulls. He sailed a pass into the twelfth row in the night’s funniest moment. But he also managed to chip in some key rebounds in the fourth and a few assists.
Hart’s been the biggest victim of the loss of Immanuel Quickley with the second unit so far. He’s looked far better running with the starters in these first two games, particularly in the fourth quarter against Chicago.
Hart has a chance to take on a more ball-dominant role with the second unit, if only because they lack that element. He can muscle his way into the paint and has a knack for hanging in the air and finding a shot or pass before he lands. But this is hypothetical for now, and his performance against Chicago gets a 2 out of 5.
Precious Achiuwa: 4 PTS (2/2 FG), 1 AST, 3 REB, 1 BLK in 11 mins
Precious Achiuwa is still getting his feet wet, but he looked much better against Chicago than against Minnesota. He stuck with Andre Drummond and boxed out well. That led to some rebounds and nice work on a pair of finishes. I want Achiuwa to play his way into a 15-20 minutes per night role to give Isaiah Hartenstein more time to rest.
Tom Thibodeau has his players now
I heard an interview with Austin Rivers about this new-look Knicks team, where he mentioned something interesting. He said that while most teams build around their top player, the Knicks had built the team around their coach. This Knicks team has interesting parallels to Thibodeau’s old Bulls squad. They have a dynamic scoring point guard, a jack-of-all-trades wing with elite defense, and big men who attack the boards and pass well.
This roster makeup puts Thibodeau’s scheme to good use. The biggest issue for New York last night was sharing the ball too much and trying to make perfect passes instead of taking the easy ones. That tells me that players are seeing multiple options and testing the waters. Tom Thibodeau has built an identity for this team, and the players have embraced it.
Closing Thoughts
I hate to pin too much on a single game, but I’m suddenly extremely excited for the Philadelphia 76ers matchup on Friday. The Knicks have placed themselves firmly in the discussion for top-4 in the East, but I don’t think they’ve cemented a spot in the top-3 argument. Beating the Sixers less than a week after defeating the Wolves would be a loud statement for the league to witness.
I’m also excited about the matchups. I want to see how the OG and Hartenstein combo handle this season’s most likely MVP, Joel Embiid. I’m ready for Jalen Brunson to match up with another young rising star in Tyrese Maxey. The fact that I can look forward to this game instead of dreading the formidable opponent is a testament to how far the Knicks have come in the past couple of years.
The Knicks are good; we only need to find out how good they can be. I’ll see you next time, Knicks fam!
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