The Knicks defeated the Bulls 128-120 on Wednesday to extend their winning streak to five games.
Despite Jalen Brunson nursing an injured foot, the first-year Knick was in the starting lineup alongside: RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson and Quentin Grimes.
Here are the takeaways….
- The Knicks got off to an 8-0 run thanks to a couple of threes from Randle and Barrett. While the Bulls would fight back, the combo of Randle and Brunson kept the Knicks out in front for a while until Chicago went on an 8-0 run of their own with three minutes remaining in the first quarter. Both teams would trade buckets as the first quarter ended with New York up 29-28.
It was a great start for Randle who scored 15 of the team’s 29 points. It’s the fifth time this season Randle has scored 15+ points in the first, the most in the NBA. The team, however, shot just 35 percent in the first as opposed to the Bulls’ 48 percent. Brunson dished three assists in the opening frame.
- the unit of Immanuel Quickley, Barrett, Jericho Sims, Isaiah Hartenstein and Miles McBride started the second quarter. The energy of this unit on both ends of the floor helped the Knicks build a 42-31 lead with nine minutes to go thanks to back-to-back threes from McBride. The Knicks maintained a double-digit lead for the majority of the second quarter with their shortened rotation and went into the half up 64-55.
Randle put up just three points in the second for a total of 18 in the first half, but Brunson found his offense, scoring 10 in the frame. Barrett also reached double digits with 10 points. But it was the offensive efficiency that propelled the Knicks to a first-half lead. They shot 72 percent in the second on the seventh-best defensive team in the league. Chicago shooting 55 percent kept the game within striking distance, however.
- The Knicks started the third hot with a Brunson three, but the shots stopped falling coupled with turnovers helped Chicago cut the lead to six early in the frame. Grimes picked up his fourth foul with more than seven minutes remaining in the quarter. With four minutes left, the Bulls took their first lead of the game with a 10-0 run to take a 76-75 lead. The Knicks would control the game thanks to Brunson's ability to find shooters and convert a four-point play in the final minutes. The Knicks came back to take a 92-88 lead into the final quarter.
The Bulls' hot shooting continued in the third and helped them overtake their deficit. They shot 70 percent in the third to the Knicks' 53 percent. The difference so far is the Knicks are making their threes. At this point in the game, they are 13-for-26 from downtown.
- The second unit started the fourth quarter. Both teams continued to trade buckets and runs and were tied at 107 with 4 and a half minutes to go. With less than two minutes to go, and the Knicks up three, Robinson picked up an offensive board and allowed Randle to take an off-balance shot, but he was fouled. Chicago challenged the call and won, allowing for the Bulls to get the ball back after a jump ball. Up just two, Randle found Grimes in the corner after being tripled team and the second-year Knick drained the three to put the Knicks up 117-113. Barrett would foul out with less than a minute to go. The Bulls would tie the game after causing a Randle turnover. With their last possession, Randle took the inbounds pass and milked the clock until he took a fadeaway jumper that didn't even hit the rim. Chicago failed to convert with 0.7 second left and the game went to overtime tied at 117.
Chicago shot 63 percent in the fourth while the Knicks shot 43 percent.
- Randle turned the ball over early in the overtime, his sixth of the game and the team's 14th at this point. With New York up 122-119, Randle drove to the hoop and kicked it out while he was tripled team to Grimes, who hit a three. Brunson followed with a three of his own to put the game away. The Knicks would salt the win, 128-120.
- Randle led the Knicks with 31 points on 8-for-19 shooting. Brunson posted 30 points on 11-for-21 shooting and seven assists. Barrett ended with 22 points on 8-for-17 shooting including 4-for-7 from three before fouling out.
This is the Knicks' first five-game winning streak since April 2021.
Highlights