Late Jalen Brunson Breakout Helps Knicks Survive Nets

Thanks to late scoring from a struggling Jalen Brunson, the New York Knicks stole a victory from their crosstown rivals.

Jan 21, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) drives past Brooklyn Nets forward Jalen Wilson (22) and center Day'Ron Sharpe (20) in the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Struggling in the latest chapter of the New York Knicks' ongoing rivalry with the Brooklyn Nets, Jalen Brunson made sure to save the best for last.

A late scoring burst from the Knicks captain allowed them to escape from New York with a 99-95 victory at Barclays Center. Laboring to put points on the board in the fourth quarter, Brunson played a role in all but two of the Knicks last dozen points that sealed the deal in the thrilling final stages. Entering the fourth, Brunson had a mere nine points as Karl-Anthony Towns (25 points, 16 rebounds) handled most of the scoring.

Jan 21, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) drives past Brooklyn Nets guard Keon Johnson (45) in the second quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Attempting to push a nine-point lead to completion after the three quarters, the Knicks (29-16) put up only three points over the first nine minutes of the fourth, as an OG Anunoby dunk was their only sustenance as Brooklyn ate away at the advantage.

Down by one with three minutes remaining, Brunson ignited his run with an assist to Towns before scoring each of the next six Knicks points himself en route to swiping the lead back. Another Anunoby dunk made it a five-point game before a D'Angelo Russell triple lowered things back to two at the onset of the final minute.

Brunson missed a floater on the other end but Cameron Johnson missed a would-be go-ahead shot, forcing the Nets to foul. Appropriately, Brunson sank free throws at the end to create the final margin and send the Knicks back to Manhattan on a relative high note.

Despite the challenge from the pesky, depleted Nets (14-30), the Knicks could at least take solace in the re-emergence of Towns, who looked like his old self by getting back into the realm of double-doubles after a nasty shooting night upon his return from a sprained thumb on Monday. Though fruitless in a trio of triple attempts, Towns did a little bit of everything, adding three steals and two blocks while standing as a plus-16 in 39 minutes.

Brunson's heroics effectively stole the spotlight from Mikal Bridges' return to Brooklyn, as Tuesday marked the first melding of metropolitan basketball minds at Barclays Center since the two sides engaged in a rare deal, one that sent a good part of the Knicks future draft cabinet across the bridge. Bridges had 10 points in the win on 3-of-12 from the field but posted a plus-8 in his box score, second-best on the team behind Towns.

With the win, the Knicks not only strung together consecutive triumphs for the first time in the calendar year but their ninth in a row over the rival Nets. Dating back to February 2023, it's now the Knicks' longest winning streak in the history of the rivalry.

Jan 21, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton (33) box out for a rebound in the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Russell, back in Brooklyn for a second tour, posted a 23-point, 10-assists double-double in defeat. The Nets dropped their fourth in a row and 12th over the last 14 as they continue to bide their time before the NBA Draft Lottery. Brooklyn's bench had two double-figure scorers (Tyrese Martin and Day'Ron Sharpe) while Nic Claxton also pulled in a dozen rebounds. The Knicks and Nets will do battle one more time this season, as they're destined for a season finale matchup on Apr. 13.

In the meantime, the Knicks get a few days off to process Tuesday's ordeal, as they'll be back in action on Saturday night against the Sacramento Kings (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG).

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