Brunson, Knicks Slam Dimmed Suns to Win 4th Straight

Another sterling shooting effort from Jalen Brunson helped the New York Knicks cool the Phoenix Suns.

Nov 20, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) celebrates after making a three pointer during the first quarter against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

There are heat checks and then there's what Jalen Brunson has done in the New York Knicks' last couple of trips to the desert.

Brunson returned to Footprint Center, the scene of one of his highest-scoring crimes, on Wednesday night and put up another sterling shooting night in a 138-122 victory over the hosting Phoenix Suns. New York (9-6) thus began the first of two five-game road trips on a high note and won its fourth in a row to move a season-best three games above .500

While Brunson fell short of the 50-point tally he earned in last December's interconference tilt, he still scored 36 on 12-of-21 shooting. The point guard hit each of his first five three-pointers before a miss, shooting 7-of-11 overall. The opening tallies gave him a streak of 14 consecutive successful three-point tries in Phoenix after he went 9-for-9 in the aforementioned visit last holiday season, tying an NBA record for most attempts without a miss.

Nov 20, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) drives to the basket against Phoenix Suns forward Royce O'Neale (00) and forward Ryan Dunn (0) during the first quarter at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Right behind Brunson was a 34-point effort from Karl-Anthony Towns, his sixth game with at least 30 this year. He accompanied that output with 10 rebounds, posting a double-double with Brunson (10 assists) and Josh Hart (19 points on 8-of-11, 11 rebounds) as all five Knicks starters once again reached double-figures in scoring.

Former Arizonans Mikal Bridges and Cameron Payne had 16 and 12 respectively. Brunson was far from the only one locked in from deep, as the Knicks sank 19 three-pointers on 39 tries. The 39 three-pointers they've hit in their last two games are the second-most they've had in consecutive games in franchise history, two short of a record they set in 2021 and last March.

The Knicks also scored at least 130 points in consecutive games for the first time since 1988 and became the second team to do so this year next to the nearly-perfect Cleveland Cavaliers.

Taking advantage of a Phoenix group that was missing both Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant, the Knicks led from the get-go: back-to-back triples from Brunson opened scoring for the visitors, the latter tipping off an 11-0 run that gave the Knicks a 14-3 lead before most Suns fans found their seats. Phoenix (9-7) never got closer than nine thereafter and a Hart triple secured a double-figure lead for the final 43 minutes of game play.

Missing two of their headliners, Phoenix 's scorching start has been rendered long forgotten, as it has now lost five in a row and six of its past seven. Devin Booker led local scoring with 33 in defeat for the Suns, who visit Madison Square Garden on Apr. 6.

In the meantime, the Knicks' road trip continues on Saturday when they face the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City (5 p.m. ET, MSG/NBA TV).

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