The Knicks’ Jalen Brunson scored 12 points as the Eastern Conference scored a surprise win over the Western Conference, 211-186, in the 73rd edition of the NBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis.
The 397 total points scored set a new record for the game, and the East set the record for most points scored.
Brunson got off to a slow start after entering the game late in the first quarter. He missed his first couple of shots before he finally rattled in a three early in the second quarter to extend the East’s lead to 15.
Moments later he grabbed an assist on a pass for a monster dunk by Toronto’s Scottie Barnes.
In 10 first-half minutes, he had just the three points on 1-for-5 from the floor (all threes), but he did add three rebounds and three assists and was a +8 as the Eastern Conference built a 104-89 lead entering the intermission.
With 104 points, the East tied the all-time mark for points in a half.
After sitting the entire third quarter, during which time the East pushed the lead to 160-136, Brunson returned at the start of the fourth only to miss his first two three-point attempts.
Brunson would make his next three buckets to get into double-figures for the game on a 10-foot jumper, grabbing a steal and starting his own fastbreak for a layup and connecting on a corner three.
He got his second assist of the period – on a Jaylen Brown three – forced the West to call timeout as the game began to peter out with under seven minutes to play and the lead at 26.
Brunson capped his night with a dunk, that former teammate in Dallas Luka Doncic believed was goaltending as the Knicks’ guard may have been grabbing the rim before the ball went through the hoop.
He finished with 12 points on 5-for-12 hooting (2-for-9 from beyond the arc) with four rebounds, five assists, a steal and a turnover for a plus-6 in 17 minutes.
On Saturday, Brunson was eliminated in the first round of the Three-Point Competition, scoring 24 points, falling just two shy of advancing.
Julius Randle was named a starter for the East but was not in attendance as he rehabs from a dislocated shoulder that has kept him out of action since he sustained the injury in a win over the Miami Heat on Jan. 27.
The Knicks return to action Thursday against the 76ers in Philadelphia.
Brunson's time was limited as the East's starting guards, Milwaukee's Damian Lillard and Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton, dueled for MVP honors.
Lillard finished with 39 points (on 14-for-26 shooting), six assists and three rebounds to beat out Haliburton for the honors. The Pacers guard finished with 32 points (on 11-for-15 shooting), six assists and seven rebounds.
Minnesota's Karl-Anthony Towns led all scorers with 50 points on 23-for-35 from the floor, he finished minus-6.