The Knicks took down the Bucks 122-109. They avoided another slow start thanks to Jalen Brunson, who turned in an MVP-caliber night.
The New York Knicks took down the Milwaukee Bucks 122-109. The Knicks broke their slow start curse…kind of. While the team struggled to catch a rhythm early, Jalen Brunson got going from the opening tip.
Most players took the first half to find their offense, but Brunson did enough to keep the game within reach. New York kicked into another gear in the second half. Their defense locked the Bucks down while the shooters came alive. Bobby Portis made enough shots to keep the game interesting, but the Knicks rolled to victory.
New York moved into a tie for third place with four games left to go. Let’s examine their victory through individual performances.
The Knicks’ starters pour on the offense
Jalen Brunson: 43 PTS (16/32 FG, 2/6 3PT, 9/11 FT), 8 AST, 6 REB, 1 TO in 39 mins
Jalen Brunson broke New York’s streak of slow starts by himself. He had 17 of the Knicks’ 25 first-quarter points. The Knicks’ MVP did everything we’ve seen from him during his recent scoring explosion, but he also got the benefit of some whistles. That gave Brunson an added boost en route to a 40-point night.
Brunson’s playmaking shines whenever teams blitz him. If a defense shows him the same look too often, he picks them apart. It looked like Brunson knew how to trigger the doubles, picking spaces on the floor to draw defenders and splitting them with bounce passes to his screeners.
Brunson provided another MVP-type performance to add to his collection. He’s heading toward the playoffs, playing the best basketball of his career, single-handedly carrying the offense at times. Brunson gets a 5 out of 5 for being the best player in a game that featured Giannis.
Donte DiVincenzo: 26 PG (8/14 FG, 8/11 3PT, 2/2 FT), 3 AST, 4 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 37 mins
Donte DiVincenzo made timely three-pointers whenever the Knicks needed. While Brunson shouldered the offense in the first half, DiVincenzo found his moments to knock down threes to help. But I thought DiVo passed up some good looks early and settled into a more aggressive approach after halftime. DiVo was firing away by the fourth quarter and knocking down nail-in-the-coffin shots.
DiVincenzo’s defense is always good, but OG Anunoby’s presence boosts Donte’s impact. DiVo is at his best playing the passing lanes and helping off his man. With OG and Hart defending the opposing team’s best players, DiVincenzo focuses on those off-ball aspects of his defense.
Donte gets a 4.5 out of 5 for hitting big shots and giving Jalen Brunson a second option on offense.
Josh Hart: 7 PTS (2/9 FG, 1/2 3PT, 2/2 FT), 9 AST, 9 REB in 37 mins
Josh Hart grabbed at his sprained wrist a few times, which may explain why he missed so many bunnies. Hart got to the rim and found his spots for floaters and jumpers from close. But his offense never got going.
Luckily, the rest of Hart’s game was unaffected. He stole boards from Brook Lopez and Giannis. On offense, he consistently found teammates for open looks. Hart made a positive impact despite the injured wrist.
Hart played well, and it’s a compliment to his season that this isn’t one of his standout games. With a few lucky bounces, he could have been on triple-double watch. Hart gets a 3 out of 5 for a strong night.
OG Anunoby: 4 PTS (2/10 FG, 0/5 3PT), 2 AST, 3 REB, 4 STL, 2 BLK, 1 TO in 38 mins
OG Anunoby’s offense looked rusty. He missed a handful of open looks from three and even clanked a few looks inside. Given his elbow injury, I want to go back to his jump shots to check for his follow-through.
But OG still turned in a gem, thanks to his defense on Giannis. Anunoby couldn’t shut Giannis completely down, but he wore the Greek Freak down with pesky swipes at the ball and physicality. I lost count of the times OG jarred the ball loose before Giannis could get into a comfortable gather for a shot.
Once Anunoby locked in defensively, the team took on a different look. The Bucks seemed lost on offense, even with Dame and Gianinis leading the way. OG gets a 3.5 out of 5 for defending one of the best in the league so effectively.
Isaiah Hartenstein: 18 PTS (8/9 FG, 2/3 FT), 1 AST, 10 REB, 1 STL, 2 TO in 28 mins
Isaiah Hartenstein is right back in the form he showed before his Achilles issues kicked in. Thanks to his combination of passing skills and lethal floaters, he’s a one-man answer to teams blitzing Jalen Brunson. The Bucks didn’t let I-Hart find cutters in this game, so he settled for 18 points that came mostly off floaters near the top of the key.
But Hartenstein did more than score. He returned to rebounding everything in his orbit and defended with energy. Tom Thibodeau’s favorite moment of the night had to be when Hartenstein dove for a loose ball in the fourth quarter. You don’t see big men diving like that often.
Hartenstein’s scored double-digits in seven of the past eleven games. His offense is coming on strong, while his defense hasn’t faltered. Depending on who New York faces in the postseason, he could be an X-factor. The big man gets a 4 out of 5 for his double-double.
New York’s second unit rounds into defensive shape
Miles McBride: 8 PTS (3/6 FG, 2/4 3PT), 1 AST, 2 REB, 3 STL in 17 mins
Miles McBride’s role dipped to true backup territory, but he used his minutes well. McBride, Anunoby, and Mitchell Robinson joined forces to form a lockdown unit late in the third and early in the fourth quarter. Deuce’s presence as an on-ball pest made OG and Mitch look even more effective.
Deuce’s jumper looked strong as ever, even with less frequent attempts. When he didn’t have to rush his jumper, he knocked it down cleanly. McBride’s third field goal came on a nifty pull-up jumper from close range.
The second unit, with McBride at the head and Mitch as the anchor, has the potential to lock teams down. Their second-half performances gave us a taste of that potential. Deuce gets a 3 out of 5 for making good use of his time.
Bojan Bogdanovic: 15 PTS (6/9 FG, 1/1 3PT, 2/2 FT), 1 AST, 1 REB in 17 mins
Bojan Bogdanovic drew double-teams from the Bucks in the first half. That’s how comfortable he’s gotten in the offense. When everyone but Jalen Brunson could score, Bogey drew double-teams off the bench. The key is that he’s picking his spots more effectively, likely because he’s gelled with his teammates.
Bogey picked out mismatches and attacked inside. He’d catch the ball in motion against smaller defenders and bump them for space before knocking down bank shots or midrange jumpers. When the Bucks kept a big man on him, Bojan saw the opportunity to fire a quick three-pointer over him.
This is the Bogdanovic I expected to see after the trade. He can shoot in space or pick on smaller defenders, something we’ve seen even against a defender like Grimes in the past. Bogey gets a 3.5 out of 5 for providing the bench offense.
Precious Achiuwa: 0 PTS (0/1 FG) in 5 mins
Precious Achiuwa hasn’t had much luck against bigger opponents, and the Bucks play quality big men. So, Achiuwa found himself outside the rotation looking in. He played for five minutes, which wasn’t enough to show anything.
Mitchell Robinson: 1 PTS (0/2 FG, 1/2 FT), 6 REB, 3 BLK in 19 mins
Nothing says, “Mitchell Robinson is getting his legs back,” better than Robinson’s three blocks, including one that sent a Giannis layup into the third row. Robinson showed impeccable timing and improved mobility while blocking shots. He flew across the lane to send a Pat Connaughton fast break back the other way, which is the best he’s moved since returning.
The Blockness Monster also powered his way to some rebounds, but he hasn’t dominated the paint yet. His hands looked shaky, and he fumbled some passes and missed opportunities in the middle. A quick second leap is one of his best qualities, but we haven’t seen that trait since the injury.
Overall, Mitch’s performance was promising. He shut Giannis down a few times and patrolled the paint effectively. He’s trending up, even with the modest numbers. Robinson gets a 3 out of 5 for a great defensive showing.
Tom Thibodeau has reversed the third-quarter curse
Remember the third quarter of death? It’s felt like years of watching the Knicks play well for a half and then fold after halftime. We’d blame adjustments or fatigue or whatever else might explain the collapse. Not anymore!
Tom Thibodeau has the Knicks improving as the game wears on. He tweaks the players’ approach, and their style wears down opponents. It’s a complete reversal of everything we’ve grown accustomed to, and I mean that in the best way.
Closing Thoughts:
The Knicks have restored the feeling with this win. We’re seeing signs that OG and Mitch are rounding into form, and the rest of the team has looked prepared for months now. There isn’t a hint of greed or laziness on any player that takes the floor.
It’s a perfect place to be as the playoffs approach. The Knicks are getting healthier, and the only question is, “Who do we play in the first round?”
The second and sixth seeds are separated by 2.5 games, with New York smack in the middle. I’d prefer to play one of the inexperienced squads, Orlando or Indiana, but I’m curious to hear what everyone thinks. Who’s our most favorable first-round opponent?
The Bulls are next, and I’d like a dose of revenge. The Knicks were tired and lost a key player ten minutes into their loss in Chicago last time. It’s time to send them a message. I’ll see you next time, Knicks fam!
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