Jalen Brunson carries Knicks through slow start in comeback win over Pelicans
NY Post
NEW ORLEANS — The Knicks didn’t need their best to beat the Pelicans, but they needed Jalen Brunson to strap on his cape.
The Knicks started slowly Saturday against an overmatched opponent, trailing for much of the contest with Karl-Anthony Towns in foul trouble and a disjointed offense. It wasn’t pretty.
But then Brunson rose above the muck and finished off a season-high 39 points with an exquisite fourth quarter, pushing the Knicks to recover with plenty of time to spare in a 104-93 win over the Pelicans.
“That’s Captain, that’s Cap,’ ” Towns said. “You know how I feel about him: one of the most talented players in this league, regardless of position. He went out there and did what he does best. He was fantastic.”
It was a third straight for the Knicks (18-10) and required a comeback from as many as 14 down.
They got very little from Towns, who managed just 11 points on 3-for-10 shooting and dealt with early foul trouble.
A Kirk Cousins-Falcons divorce is nigh.
DALLAS — A win the Rangers could feel good about was at the top of their wish list for the holidays.
After going head-to-head for Juan Soto, the Yankees and Mets battled for Roki Sasaki on the very same day.
Andrew Thomas’ right foot is in a boot, but neither foot is out the door.
NEW ORLEANS — There were already a few low moments for Mikal Bridges in his Knicks career.
This may be hard to believe, given that he’s become the crown prince of New York basketball in almost every way, but it wasn’t even like this for Jalen Brunson. Two-plus years into his tenure as the face of the Knicks, we tend to simply believe that modern Knicks history can be divided into two parts:
TORONTO — The Nets won the game.
DALLAS, Texas — There were smiles and honest conversations among the Rangers on Thursday afternoon at the Stars’ practice rink in Farmers Branch.
Cody Bellinger’s return to The Bronx will turn back the clock. In 2000 and 2001, he was one of those kids running around the field after World Series games, when his father’s Yankees were beating the Mets and losing to the Diamondbacks.
MINNEAPOLIS — It was a winter wonderland lovefest for Karl-Anthony Towns.
There was a movie back in 1963 called “It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.”