Brunson scores 45 points and the Knicks roll past the Trail Blazers, 105-93
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Jalen Brunson scored 45 points and the New York Knicks rolled past the Portland Trail Blazers, 105-93 on Thursday night.
Donte DiVincenzo and OG Anunoby had 12 points apiece for the Knicks, who have won four of their last six as they jockey for playoff position in the Eastern Conference with 16 games left in the season.
Brunson had his sixth game with 40 or more points this season.
“What can you say, it’s unbelievable just to watch it, and you know he ended up with 17 free throws and I thought there could be a lot more,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “He’s just clever, he’s shifty and he does everything.”
Deandre Ayton had 31 points and 14 rebounds for the Blazers, playing the second of a back-to-back and the last of a six-game homestand. Portland beat the Atlanta Hawks 106-102 on Wednesday night.
The Knicks led by as many as 22 points in the fourth quarter. Portland got within 98-87 on a long jumper from Ayton with 3:54 left but the comeback bid stalled.
Brunson made 15 of his 17 free throws. The All-Star did a bit of everything, finishing with four assists, a steal and a block.
“I've just got to keep my mentality and my mind straight, and that's the one thing I can control,” Brunson said.
Anfernee Simons, who led Portland with 36 points against the Hawks, was sidelined Thursday. Coach Chauncey Billups said Simons' knee had bothered him for a while and after he played more than 40 minutes against the Hawks, the decision was made to keep him out.
Jerami Grant missed his second straight game for the Blazers because of a nagging right hamstring strain.
Anunoby played in his second straight game after returning from right elbow surgery on Tuesday for a 106-79 victory at home against Philadelphia. There was a scare when Anunoby grabbed his elbow during the first half and was later seen icing it on the bench. He returned to start the second half.
Before the game, Thibodeau offered condolences to the family of former Knicks player RJ Barrett for the death of younger brother Nathan. Barrett's current team, the Toronto Raptors, announced Nathan's death in a statement. Details were not known.
The Knicks had a 26-25 edge after the first quarter, then pulled away in the second on a 15-2 run capped by Isaiah Hartenstein's jumper that made it 44-33. The Knicks outscored the Blazers 29-16 in the second quarter.
New York went into the break ahead 55-41, led by Brunson with 21 points. When Brunson went to the line for free throws, some in the significant crowd of Knicks fans at the Moda Center shouted "MVP!"
The Knicks pushed the lead to as many as 20 points in the third quarter and went into the final period up 85-68.
“I thought we did a good job in the first quarter in matching their physicality, knowing how we were going to play. Thought we just had a good quarter," Billups said. "Then we had a tough second quarter, couldn't make a shot. Turnovers really hurt us."
Ayton finished with his seventh straight double-double.
UP NEXT
Knicks: Visit the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night.
Trail Blazers: Visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Isaiah Hartenstein vs. Deandre Ayton (Scoot Henderson gains possession) | ||
| 11:43 | | +2 | Deandre Ayton makes two point jump shot (Scoot Henderson assists) | 0-2 |
| 11:16 |  | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point stepback jump shot | 2-2 |
| 11:04 | | +2 | Scoot Henderson makes two point driving finger roll layup | 2-4 |
| 10:46 | | +3 | Jalen Brunson makes three point jump shot (Josh Hart assists) | 5-4 |
| 10:30 | | +3 | Dalano Banton makes three point jump shot (Scoot Henderson assists) | 5-7 |
| 10:07 | | OG Anunoby misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:05 | | Scoot Henderson defensive rebound | ||
| 10:02 | | Josh Hart shooting foul (Scoot Henderson draws the foul) | ||
| 10:02 | | +1 | Scoot Henderson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 5-8 |
| 10:02 | | Scoot Henderson misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 9:59 | | OG Anunoby defensive rebound | ||
| 9:46 | | Jalen Brunson misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:43 | | Scoot Henderson defensive rebound | ||
| 9:35 | | Scoot Henderson misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:32 | | OG Anunoby defensive rebound | ||
| 9:32 | | OG Anunoby turnover (lost ball) (Dalano Banton steals) | ||
| 9:27 | | Dalano Banton misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:25 | | Donte DiVincenzo defensive rebound | ||
| 9:16 | | Jalen Brunson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:14 | | Scoot Henderson defensive rebound | ||
| 9:07 | | Deandre Ayton misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 9:04 | | Josh Hart defensive rebound | ||
| 9:01 | | Donte DiVincenzo misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:58 | | Josh Hart offensive rebound | ||
| 8:52 | | OG Anunoby misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:49 | | Kris Murray defensive rebound | ||
| 8:44 | | Deandre Ayton misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 8:42 | | Josh Hart defensive rebound | ||
| 8:30 | | Jalen Brunson misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 8:28 | | Isaiah Hartenstein offensive rebound | ||
| 8:28 | | +2 | Isaiah Hartenstein makes two point putback layup | 7-8 |
| 8:06 | | Dalano Banton turnover (bad pass) (Josh Hart steals) | ||
| 8:00 | | Kris Murray blocks Josh Hart's two point running finger roll layup | ||
| 7:57 | | Josh Hart offensive rebound | ||
| 7:49 | | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point driving floating jump shot (OG Anunoby assists) | 9-8 |
| 7:49 | | Toumani Camara shooting foul (Jalen Brunson draws the foul) | ||
| 7:49 | | +1 | Jalen Brunson makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 10-8 |
| 7:31 | | Deandre Ayton turnover (lost ball) (Donte DiVincenzo steals) | ||
| 7:23 | | +2 | Donte DiVincenzo makes two point driving floating jump shot | 12-8 |
| 7:15 | | Toumani Camara misses two point alley-oop layup | ||
| 7:13 | | Isaiah Hartenstein defensive rebound | ||
| 7:09 | | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point running finger roll layup (Donte DiVincenzo assists) | 14-8 |
| 7:09 | | Scoot Henderson shooting foul (Jalen Brunson draws the foul) | ||
| 7:09 | | +1 | Jalen Brunson makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 15-8 |
| 7:01 | | +2 | Deandre Ayton makes two point pullup jump shot | 15-10 |
| 6:48 | | Scoot Henderson personal foul (Isaiah Hartenstein draws the foul) | ||
| 6:48 | | Trail Blazers 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:36 | | Jalen Brunson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:32 | | Ashton Hagans defensive rebound | ||
| 6:15 | | Deandre Ayton misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 6:13 | | Josh Hart defensive rebound | ||
| 5:58 | | Donte DiVincenzo misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:54 | | Deandre Ayton defensive rebound | ||
| 5:48 | | Dalano Banton misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 5:46 | | Toumani Camara offensive rebound | ||
| 5:45 | | +2 | Toumani Camara makes two point putback layup | 15-12 |
| 5:26 | | Ashton Hagans shooting foul (Jalen Brunson draws the foul) | ||
| 5:26 | | Jalen Brunson misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 5:26 | | Knicks offensive rebound | ||
| 5:26 | | +1 | Jalen Brunson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 16-12 |
| 5:12 | | Deandre Ayton misses two point jump shot | ||
| 5:08 | | Ashton Hagans offensive rebound | ||
| 5:08 | | +2 | Ashton Hagans makes two point tip layup | 16-14 |
| 5:00 | | Knicks 60 second timeout | ||
| 4:42 | | Knicks turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 4:26 | | +3 | Ashton Hagans makes three point jump shot (Matisse Thybulle assists) | 16-17 |
| 4:04 | | OG Anunoby turnover (bad pass) (Toumani Camara steals) | ||
| 3:59 | | +3 | Kris Murray makes three point running jump shot (Ashton Hagans assists) | 16-20 |
| 3:32 | | +2 | Josh Hart makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 18-20 |
| 3:17 | | +3 | Matisse Thybulle makes three point jump shot (Ashton Hagans assists) | 18-23 |
| 3:04 | | Jalen Brunson misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:02 | | Matisse Thybulle defensive rebound | ||
| 2:56 | | +2 | Matisse Thybulle makes two point driving floating jump shot | 18-25 |
| 2:37 | | Kris Murray shooting foul (Donte DiVincenzo draws the foul) | ||
| 2:37 | | +1 | Donte DiVincenzo makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 19-25 |
| 2:37 | | +1 | Donte DiVincenzo makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 20-25 |
| 2:20 | | Josh Hart personal foul (Ashton Hagans draws the foul) | ||
| 2:16 | | Matisse Thybulle turnover (double dribble) | ||
| 1:53 | | +2 | Miles McBride makes two point pullup jump shot | 22-25 |
| 1:36 | | Kris Murray misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:33 | | Josh Hart defensive rebound | ||
| 1:20 | | +2 | Bojan Bogdanovic makes two point driving layup (Precious Achiuwa assists) | 24-25 |
| 1:05 | | Duop Reath offensive foul (Miles McBride draws the foul) | ||
| 1:05 | | Duop Reath turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 0:48 | | Bojan Bogdanovic turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 0:33 | | Matisse Thybulle misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:29 | | Josh Hart defensive rebound | ||
| 0:16 | | Alec Burks misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 0:14 | | Alec Burks offensive rebound | ||
| 0:14 | | +2 | Alec Burks makes two point tip layup | 26-25 |
| 0:06 | | Alec Burks personal foul (Take) (Dalano Banton draws the foul) | ||
| 0:01 | | Dalano Banton misses two point driving layup | ||
| 0:01 | | Duop Reath offensive rebound | ||
| 0:01 | | Duop Reath misses two point tip layup | ||
| 0:01 | | Justin Minaya offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:43 | | +3 | Alec Burks makes three point pullup jump shot | 29-25 |
| 11:24 | | Miles McBride personal foul (Dalano Banton draws the foul) | ||
| 11:10 | | Ashton Hagans misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 11:08 | | Precious Achiuwa defensive rebound | ||
| 10:53 | | Bojan Bogdanovic misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 10:50 | | Josh Hart offensive rebound | ||
| 10:49 | | Bojan Bogdanovic misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:46 | | Justin Minaya defensive rebound | ||
| 10:41 | | +2 | Dalano Banton makes two point driving floating jump shot | 29-27 |
| 10:26 | | Alec Burks misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 10:24 | | Matisse Thybulle defensive rebound | ||
| 10:08 | | +3 | Justin Minaya makes three point jump shot (Matisse Thybulle assists) | 29-30 |
| 9:49 | | Alec Burks turnover (lost ball) (Dalano Banton steals) | ||
| 9:45 | | Josh Hart shooting foul (Justin Minaya draws the foul) | ||
| 9:45 | | Justin Minaya misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 9:45 | | Trail Blazers offensive rebound | ||
| 9:45 | | +1 | Justin Minaya makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 29-31 |
| 9:33 | | Alec Burks misses two point pullup bank jump shot | ||
| 9:30 | | Justin Minaya defensive rebound | ||
| 9:11 | | Dalano Banton misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:07 | | Justin Minaya offensive rebound | ||
| 8:53 | | Justin Minaya misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:51 | | Isaiah Hartenstein defensive rebound | ||
| 8:47 | | Miles McBride turnover (bad pass) (Matisse Thybulle steals) | ||
| 8:47 | | Matisse Thybulle turnover (out of bounds step) | ||
| 8:37 | | +3 | OG Anunoby makes three point jump shot (Bojan Bogdanovic assists) | 32-31 |
| 8:20 | | Miles McBride personal foul (Scoot Henderson draws the foul) | ||
| 8:18 | | Dalano Banton turnover (bad pass) (Miles McBride steals) | ||
| 8:15 | | +2 | Miles McBride makes two point running layup | 34-31 |
| 7:56 | | Dalano Banton misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 7:56 | | Trail Blazers offensive rebound | ||
| 7:56 | | OG Anunoby personal foul (Loose ball) (Justin Minaya draws the foul) | ||
| 7:47 | | Scoot Henderson misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 7:45 | | Isaiah Hartenstein defensive rebound | ||
| 7:36 | | +2 | OG Anunoby makes two point driving bank hook shot (Jalen Brunson assists) | 36-31 |
| 7:18 | | +2 | Deandre Ayton makes two point turnaround hook shot (Scoot Henderson assists) | 36-33 |
| 6:54 | | Bojan Bogdanovic misses two point pullup bank jump shot | ||
| 6:50 | | Justin Minaya defensive rebound | ||
| 6:36 | | Matisse Thybulle misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:33 | | Isaiah Hartenstein defensive rebound | ||
| 6:29 | | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point running finger roll layup | 38-33 |
| 6:29 | | Justin Minaya shooting foul (Jalen Brunson draws the foul) | ||
| 6:29 | | Trail Blazers 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:29 | | +1 | Jalen Brunson makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 39-33 |
| 6:14 | | Kris Murray misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:11 | | Isaiah Hartenstein defensive rebound | ||
| 6:06 | | +3 | Donte DiVincenzo makes three point running jump shot (Jalen Brunson assists) | 42-33 |
| 5:50 | | Scoot Henderson misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 5:47 | | Donte DiVincenzo defensive rebound | ||
| 5:36 | | +2 | Isaiah Hartenstein makes two point floating jump shot (Donte DiVincenzo assists) | 44-33 |
| 5:10 | | Dalano Banton misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:04 | | OG Anunoby defensive rebound | ||
| 4:58 | | Deandre Ayton blocks OG Anunoby's two point driving layup | ||
| 4:58 | | Knicks offensive rebound | ||
| 4:52 | | Jalen Brunson misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 4:48 | | OG Anunoby offensive rebound | ||
| 4:44 | | Donte DiVincenzo misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 4:40 | | Jalen Brunson offensive rebound | ||
| 4:39 | | Jalen Brunson turnover (bad pass) (Toumani Camara steals) | ||
| 4:35 | | Isaiah Hartenstein shooting foul (Scoot Henderson draws the foul) | ||
| 4:35 | | +1 | Scoot Henderson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 44-34 |
| 4:35 | | +1 | Scoot Henderson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 44-35 |
| 4:21 | | Miles McBride misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 4:18 | | Kris Murray defensive rebound | ||
| 4:09 | | Jalen Brunson blocks Kris Murray's two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 4:08 | | Kris Murray offensive rebound | ||
| 4:08 | | Trail Blazers 60 second timeout | ||
| 4:01 | | Scoot Henderson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:58 | | Precious Achiuwa defensive rebound | ||
| 3:48 | | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point turnaround bank jump shot | 46-35 |
| 3:35 | | Deandre Ayton turnover (lost ball) (OG Anunoby steals) | ||
| 3:31 | | Donte DiVincenzo misses two point running layup | ||
| 3:29 | | Scoot Henderson defensive rebound | ||
| 3:27 | | Miles McBride shooting foul (Kris Murray draws the foul) | ||
| 3:27 | | +1 | Kris Murray makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 46-36 |
| 3:27 | | +1 | Kris Murray makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 46-37 |
| 3:16 | | Jalen Brunson misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:11 | | Deandre Ayton defensive rebound | ||
| 3:01 | | +2 | Deandre Ayton makes two point jump shot (Ashton Hagans assists) | 46-39 |
| 2:37 | | Jalen Brunson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:32 |