This is why you call him captain — because when the Knicks needed him most, Jalen Brunson delivered.
With OG Anunoby sidelined due to a right foot sprain and New York’s defense scrambling without its best stopper, the Knicks found themselves in a dogfight against the Houston Rockets at Madison Square Garden on Monday night.
Brunson’s response? A signature takeover performance.
The first-time All-Star starter erupted for 42 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds on 14-of-27 shooting from the field and 9-of-10 from the foul line, leading the Knicks to a 124-118 victory — a bounce-back win after Saturday’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers and their sixth win in seven games.
He joins an elite group — Nikola Jokic, Jayson Tatum, Giannis Antetokounmpo, LaMelo Ball, and Luka Doncic — as the only players this season to post a 40-point, 10-assist game.
But Brunson doesn’t care about the stats. All that matters is winning, and on Monday, the two went hand in hand.
The Knicks trailed by two at the end of the first quarter before the Rockets ripped off a 9-0 run to start the second. The deficit swelled to 12, but the Knicks never let Houston run away with it.
Then Brunson put his foot on the gas.
He scored 29 of his 40 points in the second half, including 17 in the fourth quarter alone, keeping the Knicks within striking distance before taking over down the stretch.
With less than a minute left in a one-possession game, the Rockets turned to budding star Amen Thompson to tie it up. Brunson had other plans. The Knicks’ leader locked in defensively and forced a miss, then calmly sank two clutch free throws to push the lead to four with 13.2 seconds remaining.
Karl-Anthony Towns struggled through the first three quarters but came alive late, finishing with 22 points and nine rebounds, including 11 in the fourth.
Mikal Bridges added 22 points, and Josh Hart stuffed the stat sheet with 19 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
With Anunoby sidelined, Precious Achiuwa stepped into the starting lineup, contributing seven points and nine rebounds in 34 hard-fought minutes.
“Versatility, athleticism, can guard multiple positions, he can switch one through five, run the floor, play with pace, very good in the pocket, very good offensive rebounder,” Thibodeau said of Achiuwa before tipoff. “He’s done a good job for us.”
Houston got big nights from its young stars.
Jalen Green led the way with 21 points on 9-of-22 shooting, while Thompson dazzled with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists in a standout triple-double performance.
The Rockets also got 41 points off the bench, including 15 from Aaron Holiday and 18 from Cam Whitmore — a stark contrast to the Knicks’ 12 bench points.
“They’re balanced. They’re strong on both sides of the ball, very athletic, play with pace, get the ball into the paint. [Jalen] Green can break you down off the dribble, and they fit well together,” Thibodeau said of the Rockets pregame. “Obviously a guy like [Dillon] Brooks, his versatility, [he] can really defend. Their bench is very active and athletic. So you have to be ready for them at all times. You’ve got to challenge shots and be quick to the ball. You’ve gotta make sure you get bodies to them.”
But New York’s starters carried the load, and when the game was on the line, the captain made sure they wouldn’t lose.
The Knicks would rather learn their lessons in victory than defeat, and Monday’s grind-it-out win keeps them moving forward.
They’ll be tested again without Anunoby on Tuesday night when they face the Raptors in Toronto on the second leg of a back-to-back.
Can Brunson do it again? If Monday was any indication, the captain is always ready.
