Jalen Brunson addresses initial worries about the Knicks with a victory against the Bulls

Brunson Leads Knicks to Victorious Night Against Bulls

Jalen Brunson has clearly had enough.

After three back-to-back losses, questions began swirling around Mike Brown’s health, leading to some troubling vibes for the Knicks. It was a lot—almost too much.

Brunson, known for being a steady presence, quickly took charge. Following the Knicks’ initial setback during Brown’s time as coach, he set the tone early, contributing 19 of the team’s first 34 points.

By the end of the fourth quarter, the chants for MVP rang through Madison Square Garden as Brunson notched a game-high 31 points, helping the Knicks take down the Bulls with a score of 128-116. This win marked the start of a crucial seven-game homestand.

Sunday felt pivotal for Brown and the team. Unlike last year, when the Knicks, under Tom Thibodeau, never lost four consecutive games, they found themselves at risk of repeating that feat in just Brown’s sixth game. The last time they faced such a streak was in February 2024.

The Bulls, undefeated before this game and fresh off a win against the Knicks just two days prior, presented a serious challenge. The Knicks, however, needed to show their strength as contenders in the Eastern Conference, and they did just that, bouncing back confidently.

In a regular-season game on November 2, the urgency was palpable, revealing a tension not often seen so early in the season.

Early on, OG Anunoby took a misstep, allowing a fast break that put the Bulls ahead 3-2. Even as the Knicks initially struggled, Bridges stepped up, and soon enough, Brunson led the team on a 24-14 scoring run to wrap up the quarter.

After trailing 68-60 at halftime, Brunson’s hustle quickly turned things around. A long rebound led to a fast-break opportunity for Okoro, which swiftly changed the game dynamic, prompting Brown to call a timeout a mere 39 seconds into the second half. The Knicks then regained control, stretching their lead and forcing the Bulls to regroup.

Brunson’s support was solid, with Anunoby contributing 21 points and Karl-Anthony Towns adding another 20. Many of Brunson’s points came from clean, catch-and-shoot opportunities, aligning with Brown’s strategy to enhance ball movement and give Brunson more chances to play off the ball. With this win, Brunson also crossed the 9,000 career points mark.

Jordan Clarkson has started to make an impact since joining the Knicks during free agency, making crucial plays and contributing 11 points in just the second quarter. Meanwhile, Josh Hart shook off a rough start to the season and scored 14 points. Together, the Knicks reserves outperformed the Bulls’ bench, 46-30.

Despite some struggles during his tenure, Brown’s presence was clearly effective on Sunday, as evidenced by the team’s performance. The Knicks held a 24-19 edge in fast break points, distributed 31 assists—three more than their opponents—and shot an impressive 47.6 percent from three-point range.