Jalen Brunson showcased his talent by scoring an impressive 42 points, making him only the fourth player in franchise history to achieve back-to-back 40-point games. The New York Knicks secured a hard-fought victory over the Sacramento Kings with a final score of 98-91 on Saturday night.
Brunson’s exceptional performance came after his remarkable 45-point game in Thursday’s win against Portland, marking his seventh 40-point game of the season. He now stands as the first Knicks player since Carmelo Anthony in 2014 to achieve this feat in consecutive games.
Joining the ranks of legendary Knicks such as Bernard King and Patrick Ewing, Brunson’s scoring prowess has solidified his place in team history.
Contributions from teammates such as Donte DiVincenzo, who scored 15 points, and Josh Hart, who secured nine points and an impressive 12 rebounds, added to the Knicks’ success. Isaiah Hartenstein’s defensive prowess was evident with five blocked shots and 14 rebounds, along with seven points.
On the Kings’ side, Domantas Sabonis led with 21 points and 14 rebounds, extending his streak of consecutive double-doubles to an impressive 49 games. Despite De’Aaron Fox’s 20 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds, the Kings struggled to find their shooting rhythm, ultimately falling short.
Sacramento’s inability to breach the 100-point mark proved costly once again, as they dropped to 0-8 in such instances, while the Knicks continued their streak of holding opponents below 100 points for the fifth consecutive game.
The closely contested match saw 20 lead changes and 13 ties, showcasing the intensity of the competition.
Heading into their next matchups, the Knicks will face the Golden State Warriors on Monday night, while the Kings will host the Memphis Grizzlies, aiming to bounce back from this defeat.