The Knicks have the NBA's longest winning streak at seven games following Sunday's 109-106 comeback at the Indiana Pacers, where Jalen Brunson's recent surge was on full display.
Brunson's game-high 30 points on 11-of-22 shooting, including a perfect 3-for-3 clip from long range, in 35 minutes fueled the latest victory as New York (17-13) escaped Indiana (15-16) after trailing 104-98 with 1:56 left.
Brunson, whose triple at the 1:21 mark and bucket 24 seconds later brought the Knicks back within one before Julius Randle's six free throws over the final 45 ticks iced the triumph, averaged 27.3 points on 50.9 percent shooting in New York's three-game road trip from last Wednesday through Sunday.
"The point guard -- it's a leadership position," said Tom Thibodeau. "His job is to manage and control the game. And so, I think that's what he does very well. And I think Jules helps with that as well -- and RJ (Barrett) does, too, but Jalen's the point guard. He's the guy in charge of all of it."
Randle, who complemented Brunson's Sunday performance with 25 points on 7-of-17 shooting in 39 minutes, echoed Thibodeau's sentiments.
"Oh, it was huge -- it was huge," Randle said. "He made a lot of really big plays down the stretch, so that's what J.B. does."
Through 30 games this season, his first with the Knicks, Brunson is averaging 20.8 points on 46.9 percent shooting while adding 6.2 assists and 3.2 rebounds while averaging 32.1 minutes. He leveled up during a swing that included 128-120 and 114-91 wins over the Bulls (11-18) in Chicago this past Wednesday and Friday, but is not surprised.
"I just feel like I have a great set of teammates who just keep me confident, keep me level-headed and all that stuff -- and it's a credit to them," Brunson said.