The New York Knicks finished the season by beating the Chicago Bulls in overtime. They embraced a second seed that most teams seemed afraid of.
The New York Knicks took down the Chicago Bulls in overtime, 120-119. The teams brought playoff intensity on a day when most of their peers mailed it in.
Neither team could build a lead in the first half. They traded shots back and forth throughout the action. But the Bulls stormed out in the third quarter and kept the momentum to start the fourth. Chicago took a 10-point lead before New York locked in and fought back.
Jalen Brunson and DeMar DeRozan dueled through clutch time as both players made shots back and forth. DeRozan had scoring help from Coby White and Nikola Vučević, while Josh Hart and Precious Achiuwa provided surprising energy boosts for Brunson and the Knicks. But New York’s MVP would get the final laugh, as DeRozan missed a shot near the rim at the buzzer.
New York heads into the playoffs on a five-game win streak, with the second seed secured. Let’s look at the performances that closed out an incredible season.
The Knicks’ starters have an MVP with perfect compliments
Jalen Brunson: 40 PTS (14/30 FG, 1/4 3PT, 11/12 FT), 7 AST, 8 REB, 4 TO in 41 mins
Jalen Brunson might be the hottest player heading into the offseason. He’s averaging 38 points and 8 assists over the last ten games. Brunson didn’t even need his three-ball to dominate. He crushed the Bulls with midrange pull-ups, floaters inside, and plenty of free throws.
The MVP candidate turned the ball over more than usual, and I think it’s a defensive adjustment. Players have realized that Brunson changes speeds often, so they’re poking the ball loose in trailing situations. Bulls players also blocked Brunson from behind a couple of times.
But even as defenses adjust, Brunson appears to have all the answers. He’s scoring better than anyone in the league and consistently piles on assists when teams try to double him. Brunson gets a 4 out of 5 for his season closer.
Donte DiVincenzo: 25 PTS (10/21 FG, 5/14 3PT), 2 AST, 7 REB, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 4 TO in 53 mins
Donte DiVincenzo hit big shots from deep, but more importantly, he found ways to score inside when the Bulls chased him off the line. DiVo snuck in a few backdoor cuts for easy dunks, beat players off the dribble, and flashed touch around the basket.
DiVincenzo’s defensive effort can sometimes go unnoticed with so many quality defenders around him. He’s aggressive in the passing lanes, deflecting passes frequently. The Big Ragu has active hands in man defense as well, constantly poking the ball loose. He’s a disruptor.
My only concern for DiVo heading into the postseason is on inbound passes. He threw the ball through players’ hands twice on Sunday, including a pass in crunch time. Once Donte fixes those minor errors, he’s on track for big contributions. DiVo gets a 3.5 out of 5 for the win.
Josh Hart: 12 PTS (6/10 FG, 0/2 3PT), 4 AST, 10 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 3 TO in 40 mins
Josh Hart’s a double-double machine. We’re used to this script, but in short, Hart feasted on the boards and immediately raced the other way. He steals points from opponents by beating everyone down the court, and those effort rebounds and baskets add up.
Hart had his own turnover problems in the fourth quarter. I wonder if fatigue is causing some of the key players’ late-game mishaps. But regardless, Hart’s motor always makes up for any errors.
Hart gets a 3.5 out of 5 for another double-double.
OG Anunoby: 11 PTS (4/10 FG, 2/4 3PT, 1/3 FT), 4 AST, 5 REB, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 6 TO in 43 mins
OG Anunoby’s three-pointer looks comfortable again after a few games of rust. He put together a complete stat line with four assists and five rebounds to go with his scoring and stellar defense. But I’d like to see him even more aggressive.
OG hesitated on some open looks and drove instead. The Bulls caught up to those plays, often crashing on him and stealing the ball when he tried to pass out. Anunoby’s six turnovers come from these situations that could have been avoided if he’d shot without hesitation. The defensive ace is too unselfish for his own good at times.
Anunoby’s defense was great as usual, though he couldn’t stop the red-hot DeMar DeRozan late. OG had a strong game and finished with a 3 out of 5 for his quality play.
Isaiah Hartenstein: 8 PTS (3/4 FG, 2/4 FT), 4 AST, 13 REB, 2 STL, 2 BLK, 2 TO in 31 mins
Isaiah Hartenstein probably gets this game over in regulation if not for minute limits. The offense rolled with I-Hart available, and he completely controlled the glass. Hartenstein sat almost immediately after crossing the thirty-minute mark, but he was great.
I’ve preached plenty about Hartenstein’s passing recently and not enough about his defense. I-Hart rose to meet would-be dunkers at the rim on two occasions, both against players with a full head of steam. Hartenstein turned the players away, bringing the Garden to life with his defense.
It’s hard to explain how massive Hartenstein’s impact has become. His passing is crucial when Brunson is double-teamed, and his defense makes it easier for the wings to take risks. Hartenstein gets a 3.5 out of 5, which would be higher without minutes restrictions.
New York’s second unit shows nice chemistry
Miles McBride: 7 PTS (3/4 FG, 1/2 3PT), 3 AST, 2 REB in 14 mins
I wondered why Miles McBride didn’t get more minutes through the first three-quarters of action. I’ll assume it was due to the illness that sidelined him against Brooklyn. When Deuce got significant minutes in the fourth quarter, his impact was undeniable.
McBride hit big jumpers in the fourth quarter and compounded his scoring with a pair of drive-and-kicks for open three-pointers. He spelled Brunson long enough for the Knicks’ star to come in fresh and seal the deal.
I’m not entirely sure why McBride didn’t play more, especially with DiVincenzo getting less than a minute of rest throughout an overtime game. But either way, Deuce was great when he played and gets a 2.5 out of 5 for good production in a limited time.
Bojan Bogdanovic: 13 PTS (4/9 FG, 3/6 3PT, 2/2 FT), 1 AST, 2 REB in 17 mins
Bojan Bogdanovic is fully integrated into the offense now. He’s comfortable hitting quick trigger threes and attacking mismatches off the dribble. Bogey’s offense rarely feels forced anymore, and he’s cut back on the ugly turnovers.
While Bogdanovic didn’t compile assists, his passing looks more comfortable. Depending on the situation, he knows where to look for teammates and which players to pass to. When a play broke down in the fourth, he found Deuce McBride to make something happen late in the shot clock. Small decisions like that can keep an offense in rhythm.
Bogdanovic has found his game at the perfect time. New York will need his offense to advance in the playoffs. Bogey gets a 3 out of 5 for nearly scoring a point per minute.
Precious Achiuwa: 4 PTS (2/3 FG), 2 AST, 5 REB, 1 BLK, 2 TO in 19 mins
Precious Achiuwa got an extended burn because Mitchell Robinson didn’t play after halftime. Achiuwa’s offense didn’t pop, with half his points coming from a putback. But I can’t compliment his defensive versatility enough.
Nikola Vučević can shoot, and that causes headaches for New York’s big men who prefer drop coverage and hard hedging. But Achiuwa has the mobility to run out to a shooting big man, even when he’s caught helping on a ball-handler. Precious showed as much with his late-game rotations.
Achiuwa is a fantastic utility big to have. He can big the PF in big line-ups and the small ball C in others. The big man gets a 2.5 out of 5 for a solid contribution in clutch time.
Mitchell Robinson: 0 PTS (0/0 FG), 1 REB in 7 mins
Mitchell Robinson didn’t get much going in the first half and wasn’t cleared to return after halftime. I’m unsure what was wrong, so let’s hope it was something minor. He has a week to get into shape for the playoffs.
Tom Thibodeau only knows winning
Tom Thibodeau had every excuse to sit players. By the fourth quarter, New York was certain to finish in the top three, and third place would face a young Pacers instead of the Sixers or Heat. But throwing games will never be Thibs’ mentality.
Thibodeau played four starters over 40 minutes, sending a message to the league that New York isn’t afraid of anybody. It’s the perfect embodiment of the Knicks’ resilience and fearlessness. This is New York basketball!
Closing Thoughts:
Now, we relax for a week. We watch other teams fight scrap and pull their way into the final slots of the playoffs. Then, on Saturday, the real journey begins. The Knicks don’t get an easy first-round opponent. They’ll face either one of the best players in the league, Joel Embiid, or one of the toughest playoff teams of this era, the Miami Heat.
But the Knicks clearly aren’t worried. They have an unstoppable force of their own in Jalen Brunson. They’re bringing a more cohesive team with more experience than last year. The quest to 50 wins was fun and exciting, but now the real journey begins.
I’ll see you after the first postseason game, with more breakdowns and plenty of hype for future battles. This season has already been one of the most memorable of my life, and I truly feel that it’s only the beginning. I’ll see you next time, Knicks fam!
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