Knicks' Jalen Brunson: 200 Points 'Was a Goal' At All-Star Game

New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson revealed that the Easter Conference made it a goal to hit the double-century mark at Sunday's NBA All-Star Game.

The defense ... or lack thereof ... at the NBA All-Star Game has been a talking point in the showcase weekend's aftermath. Those conversations apparently stretched to the locker room of the Eastern Conference squad assembled at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Defense has always been at a premium at the All-Star Game but things took an excessive turn on Sunday night, as the East took a 211-186 final from the West in a return to the conference-vs.-conference format in Indianapolis. Once it became clear that a shot at a double-century mark was realistic, East rep and New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson said that the group made it a point to go for it.

“That was a goal of ours," Brunson said, per Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints. "We wanted to get 200 points, by any means necessary.”

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With the record-breaking win, the East blew past the previous high-water mark in scoring set by the West (196) during the 2016 exhibition in Toronto. Brunson's contributions were relatively small, but he did score 12 points in the win, all but two coming in the fourth quarter to seal the deal. The Knicks' lone rep (as Julius Randle missed the game with a shoulder injury) also sank two of the 42 three-pointers the East earned, that latter mark setting another record.

The East had a 104-89 after the first half and three players scored at least 20 points. Leader Damian Lillard (Milwaukee) earned MVP honors with 39, much to the chagrin of a biased crowd that wanted to see local hero Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana) prevail after sinking 10-of-14 three-pointers, including five in a row to start the game. Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota) had 50 for the West in a losing effort.

Brunson Helps Eastern Conference Seal Historic All-Star Victory

NBA commissioner Adam Silver has made it a point to seek more competitive All-Star Games, making various adjustments to the yearly exhibition such as "fantasy draft" formats and an untimed fourth quarter where teams sought to reach a "target score" to earn the win. Sunday's game clearly fell short of that goal ... and Brunson and his fellow Easterners were more than happy to take advantage.