Jalen Brunson Burns, Mitchell Robinson Boards as New York Knicks Hush Charlotte Hornets
Well known for a certain victory over North Carolina basketball at Villanova University, Jalen Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo went professional with their amateur antics on Saturday night.
The New York Knicks secured a winning record on their ongoing road trip against the Charlotte Hornets, taking a 122-108 decision at Spectrum Center. Now 3-1 on the five-game trek, New York (8-5) also secured its sixth victory over the past seven games.
Brunson led the way with 32 points while DiVincenzo put on an outside showcase: 21 of his 25 points came via three-pointer, sinking a career-best seven on 10 attempts as he stepped into the starting five in place of the injured Quentin Grimes (wrist) for the second straight game.
Elsewhere in the New York box score, Mitchell Robinson pulled in 14 rebounds, all but three coming on the offensive end. The resulting tally made Robinson just the second Knick in franchise history to pull in at least 11 in a single game on multiple occasions, joining Charles Oakley (three times). Robinson also moved into third place on the Knicks' all-time offensive rebounding list with 1,116, passing Kurt Thomas and Bill Cartwright. Only Oakley (2,580) and Patrick Ewing (2,568) stand ahead of him.
![Jalen Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo took center stage on Saturday in Charlotte](https://www.si.com/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700/MjAyMzE3Mjg0NDU3MzI1NTgw/screenshot-2023-11-19-012953.png)
Jalen Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo took center stage on Saturday in Charlotte
Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports
In addition to the win, the Knicks also celebrated the return of RJ Barrett to the starting lineup after three games off due to migraines. In his return to North Carolina, the Duke alum put up 15 points on 5-of-15 shooting. The rustiness was easy to overcome with various contributions: in addition to the aforementioned Julius Randle earned his sixth straight game with at least 20 points and five assists, earning 21 and seven respectively against Charlotte.
Combined with Friday's win in Washington, the Knicks won consecutive games in wire-to-wire fashion for the first time in 16 years (h/t Mike Breen of MSG) and also won in the second half of a back-to-back for the first time this season (0-3 beforehand). Brunson and Randle once again set the early tone, uniting for 19 of the Knicks' 30 points over the first dozen.
Charlotte never got any closer than six after trailing by 11 after the opener and that threat was quickly erased by a DiVincenzo triple and a Josh Hart steal that became a Brunson drive in the closing portions of the first half. Another Charlotte swarm emerged in the fourth quarter when a quick 8-0 run primarily built by LaMelo Ball triples once again cut the lead to six. Seven straight in response re-established the Knicks' double-figure lead, but this time it proved permanent, as they inflated the advantage to as high as 18 before all was said and done.
Doomed to their fourth consecutive defeat, the Hornets (3-9) were led by 34 more points for Ball, who was followed by a career-best 29 for reigning second overall pick Brandon Miller. New York and Charlotte have one more meeting this month, as each side's NBA In-Season Tournament group play slate will wrap at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 28. The Knicks have taken each of the first two sets, including a 129-107 win last Sunday in Manhattan.
In the meantime, the Knicks' five-game road trip wraps on Monday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves (8 p.m. ET, MSG).