Jalen Brunson continues to fall on sword for struggling Knicks teammates: ‘I got to be better’
NY Post
Jalen Brunson looked inward and took the blame because that’s who he is.
It’s what he’s done since he became the Knicks’ unquestioned leader and what he will continue to do regardless of who is really at fault. But the sentiment he expressed after the Knicks’ 116-102 loss to the Celtics Saturday night at Madison Square Garden really would have been better served coming from his teammates.
“It doesn’t matter what I did,” Brunson said after the game. “We didn’t bring it tonight fully.”
It’s noble for Brunson to say “we” didn’t bring it, on a night in which, individually, he certainly brought it.
Despite being guarded by five-time NBA All-Defensive Team member Jrue Holiday and one-time All-Defensive Team member Derrick White, Brunson poured in 34 points on 12 of 25 from the field and 4 of 9 from 3-point range, also adding nine assists.
“Man, he was baking Jrue and Derrick,” Josh Hart joked. “Nah, [Brunson’s] a guy that, he doesn’t get sped up. Obviously, I played with Jrue for a year in New Orleans; to me, he is the best defender I’ve seen. He has quickness, great instinct, good hands, strong. We were just trying to get him off [Brunson] as best as we could, but [Brunson] is good at being able to create his own shots. His footwork is great, so he’s able to get to his shots in different ways.”
Urho Vaakanainen is in his seventh NHL season, and the Rangers are his third team, but the 26-year-old defenseman never has reached the playoffs.
TAMPA — Aaron Judge has played in the Yankees’ first home Grapefruit League game in each of the past four years.
Silent most of the game, Mikal Bridges required just one play to make himself heard.
PORT ST. LUCIE — When the Mets arrived at spring training, their intention was to go with a six-man rotation from the outset of the regular season.
A New York Jets player was one of two people robbed at gunpoint in the suburbs of New Jersey last weekend in what police say was a targeted heist, according to a report.
Victor Wembanyama is expected to miss the remainder of the 2025 regular season with a blood clot in his right shoulder.
Posing with stolen merchandise is not a sound strategy for a heist.
The moment that sums up Anthony Duclair’s past couple of months came in the final game before the Islanders entered the 4 Nations break.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Mike Collier died in Maryland on Sunday, according to an online obituary.
The preferred path to follow remains in place: Select a quarterback with the No. 3 pick in the draft. That is what the Giants hope will happen. When it comes to identifying and securing a franchise-saving player, though, hope is not a good thing, maybe the worst of things — with apologies to Andy Dufresne.
BOSTON — The Rangers reconvened for practice Tuesday ahead of the resumption of the NHL schedule, one that will have the Blueshirts go back-to-back in Buffalo (at 5:30) and Pittsburgh (at 3:30) on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
TAMPA — It is still the time of spring training when pitchers are generally ahead of hitters.
LaVar Ball had his right foot amputated after suffering a “serious medical issue,” TMZ Sports reported on Wednesday.