Jalen Brunson led the New York Knicks to a 138-122 win over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night, finishing with 36 points, 10 assists, and seven 3-pointers. The Knicks never trailed in the game, extending their winning streak to four.
Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 34 points on 12-of-19 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Josh Hart had 19 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. The Knicks set a new season-high for points.
This was Brunson’s second strong performance in Phoenix. Last year, during the only other visit, he scored a career-high 50 points and made nine 3-pointers in a 139-122 win.
For the Suns, Devin Booker scored 33 points. Phoenix has now lost five straight games and is 1-6 since Kevin Durant (calf) has been out. Bradley Beal (calf) missed his fifth consecutive game.
Other Suns players included Royce O’Neale with 17 points, Tyus Jones with 15 points and 10 assists, and Jusuf Nurkic, who posted 14 points, 12 rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. Phoenix allowed the most points of the season in this game.
Mikal Bridges scored 16 points, OG Anunoby had 14, and Cameron Payne added 12 points off the bench for the Knicks, who shot 58.1 percent from the field and 19-of-39 from three. The Knicks were beginning a five-game road trip.
Phoenix shot 48.9 percent from the floor and made 19-of-50 from three-point range. Reserve Monte Morris chipped in 10 points for the Suns.
Brunson made his fifth three-pointer of the night early in the third quarter, pushing the Knicks’ lead to 79-58. The Suns responded with a 13-4 run, cutting the lead to 85-71. However, Hart and Brunson hit back-to-back threes, starting an 11-2 run that gave the Knicks a 99-79 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
New York maintained a comfortable lead in the final period and won easily. Brunson had 23 points and seven assists in the first half, helping the Knicks to a 76-58 lead. He made 8 of 9 shots, including all four of his three-point attempts.
The Knicks had an early 14-3 lead and were up 44-28 by the end of the first quarter. Booker scored 18 points in the first half for Phoenix.
