Spanish Fly: Knicks Star Jalen Brunson Pitches Perfect Game for Team USA
Jalen Brunson capped off the weekend on a literally perfect note.
The New York Knicks point guard was flawless from the field in the United States men's national basketball team's 98-88 exhibition victory over Spain on Sunday. It was the third game of the American's preparatory slate for the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Asia and one won in front of a partisan crowd in Malaga.
The win allowed Team USA to sweep a two-game slate in Malaga, as they previously disposed of a Luka Doncic-less Slovenia group on Saturday.
Brunson sank all nine of his shots en route to 21 points and the Americans' third consecutive victory, this latest coming against the defending World Cup champions. The Knicks' $104 million man had seven of Team USA's first nine points and 16 total in the first half. That and more helped the Americans erase a small deficit at the end of the first period en route to a 55-45 halftime lead.
“I just wanted to make sure we were all on the same page,” Brunson said of his early offensive antics to Steve Drumwright of Team USA's official site before praising the Spanish energy brought forth by fans at Palacio de Deportes José María Martín Carpena. "It’s an unreal environment. The Spanish fans and that team out there were amazing. But as a team for us, we find a way to stay locked in together and still find a way to win.”
Brunson also had five assists while Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana) led all passers with 12 in a reserve effort alongside Brunson's Knicks teammate Josh Hart. Joining Brunson in the double-figures brotherhood of scoring was former Villanova teammate Mikal Bridges (12) as well as Anthony Edwards (Minnesota), Brandon Ingram (New Orleans), and Austin Reaves (LA Lakers) with 11 each. Edwards put in seven of his 11 during the fourth quarter to allow the Americans to pull away.
Santi Aldama (Memphis) led La Roja with 14 points, just one ahead of former Knick Will Hernangomez. Spain will look to defend its World Cup title in Group G action in Jakarta, where they'll face Brazil, Iran, and Ivory Coast.
New York's red, white, and blue point guard wasn't the only North American Knick to have a sterling shooting night in World Cup prep over the weekend: RJ Barrett sank 13-of-14 in a 31-point performance as his own group in Canada earned a comeback victory of its own against Germany.
Brunson, Hart, and the rest of the American face two more exhibitions before their own World Cup affairs tip-off. The final couple will be staged in Abu Dhabi and the first comes against Greece on Friday (12 p.m. ET, FS1).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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