PHOENIX — There’s something about this arena for Jalen Brunson. And it helps to have Karl-Anthony Towns as a teammate.
A year after he dropped his first 50-bomb in Phoenix, Brunson pulled off his best performance of the young season with 36 points and 10 assists to bury the Suns in a 138-122 Wednesday cruise.
Brunson shot 12-for-21, including 7 of 11 from 3, and was joined in the efficiency party by Towns, who added 34 points and 10 boards.
Knicks’ 138-122 win over the Suns on Nov. 20, 2024. NBAE via Getty Images
They took turns — Brunson had 23 points in the first half, Towns dropped 23 in the second.
The streaking Knicks (9-6), an emerging powerhouse on offense, won their fourth consecutive game.
“The guys are starting to get used to playing off of each other,” Tom Thibodeau said. “Each game you can see they’re seeing things. They’re reading the game extremely well. I think they’re creating good spacing. They’re cutting extremely well and what that’s doing is it’s opening up the floor and we’re playing into space. And everyone’s unselfish. We had 30 assists. I think that’s huge.”
In three games at Footprint Arena as a Knick, Brunson has averaged 37.7 points. He kept the game ball of his 50-point explosion from last season in Phoenix, which Brunson treasures more than the 61-point gem in San Antonio a few months later.
“That one doesn’t count,” Brunson said, “we lost.”
Ighodaro during the Knicks’ win over the Suns. Getty Images
The Knicks certainly didn’t lose Wednesday. In fact, they never trailed against the shorthanded Suns (9-7).
Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, two of Phoenix’s Big 3, were both out with injury. The Suns are very beatable and just 1-6 without Durant, who has a calf injury and no return timetable.
Phoenix had neither defense nor support for Devin Booker on Wednesday.
The Knicks (9-6) were missing important bench players but have avoided the devastating injury bug that’s plagued the NBA to start this campaign. Thibodeau, a spokesman against load management, said the secret to health is consistent conditioning.
“There’s a value of being in great shape all the time,” Thibodeau said. “So, you have to do all the things you can to prepare yourself to endure a long season. I think when you look at the players that have been durable, it’s usually the ones that are in unbelievable shape, who stay in shape year-round and prepare themselves for what they’re going to go through.”
The Knicks were certainly the healthier and fresher side Wednesday from tip-off. Their first quarter was an offensive clinic. It set the tone for the blowout.
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The Knicks scored 44 points, dished out 14 assists and shot 18-for-23, including 8-for-11 from beyond the arc. Brunson was the catalyst with 11 points and six assists on perfect shooting in that opening period.
“Ball was moving,” Brunson said. “And the ball went in the hole early.”
The lead rose to 18 at halftime. The Suns, devoid of firepower outside of Booker (33 points, 38 minutes), never responded. The Knicks shot 58 percent overall and 49 percent on treys. Josh Hart bulled his way to 19 points and 11 rebounds. Every starter scored at least 14 points, reiterating the balance that has helped carry the team through the opening 15 games.
It was a strong start to a Western Conference trip with stops upcoming in Utah, Denver and Dallas.
Brunson again handled his business in Phoenix with Towns’ assistance.
