The Knicks received revenge on Trae Younger and the Hawks.
Behind Jalen Brunson’s 34 factors, New York left the MLK Day matinee at MSG with a 119-110 win that was ugly, bodily and crammed with complaining to the referees however nonetheless passable after the ultimate buzzer.
The Knicks (28-16), making an attempt to proper the ship after a defeat final week to the Timberwolves, had the advantage of two days off and at last flexed their offensive expertise within the second half.
Brunson was the catalyst whereas capturing 12-for-18 in 39 minutes, and his backcourt mate, Mikal Bridges, was a worthy No. 2.
Bridges dropped 26 factors and served as the primary defender on Younger, who had 27 factors however went quiet as a tiny mouse when it mattered most.
Within the fourth quarter, Younger shot 1-for-8 with simply 4 factors and three turnovers. Miles McBride and OG Anunoby additionally defended Younger within the fourth quarter.
It was the primary recreation in opposition to the Hawks since Younger beat the Knicks on Dec. 16 and infamously pretended to roll cube on the MSG midcourt emblem.
That recreation and second served as an indictment on the shortage of toughness and id from these Knicks in comparison with final season’s squad.
It additionally additional solidified Younger’s position as enemy No. 1 to Knicks followers, unfolding once more Monday with jeers every time he held the rock or was introduced on the loudspeaker. Within the first half — when Younger scored 18 factors with 4 assists — it appeared the villain may win once more.
However the Knicks turned the tide within the third quarter, using their Brunson-Bridges backcourt to show a five-point halftime deficit right into a five-point benefit heading into the ultimate interval.
Karl-Anthony Cities returned from a two-game absence due to a sprained thumb with a bone chip, an harm that required him to strap tape round his thumb.
He completed with 13 factors however shot simply 5-for-18, together with 1-for-6 from past the arc.
Cam Payne was once more a spark plug off the bench with 10 factors in simply 12 minutes.
He was pulled within the fourth quarter after receiving a technical foul for yelling close to the referee.
The Knicks improved to 1-2 this season in opposition to the Hawks, who they don’t play once more till April 5.
“They’re long, they’re athletic, they’re skilled and they’re built around Trae and the way he plays and the attention that he commands,” coach Tom Thibodeau mentioned. “And that’s why it’s important to be able to, there’s times you can defend him well, he still has the ability to make a shot. But it’s also his playmaking. You overcommit, they put their pressure on the rim and then you have to be able to read what he’s doing with the ball.”
