Knicks Get Unsung Hero in Blowout Win

The New York Knicks got a major lift from an unsung hero.

Jeremy Brener | May 16, 2024

Feb 14, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; New York Knicks guard Alec Burks (18) dribbles the ball against / Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports

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New York Knicks

The New York Knicks are one win away from a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals, and they have had to rely on their depth in order to get there.

Among the players helping the team reach that spot is Alec Burks, whom the team traded for before the deadline from the Detroit Pistons in the deal that also netted the Knicks Bojan Bogdanovic.

Bogdanovic injured himself earlier in the playoffs and is out for the rest of the postseason, and Burks has been a player that's stepped up in his absence.

"Alec Burks was huge for us," Donte DiVincenzo told reporters after Game 5. "I think he came in ready to go. He was building off of last game and I think he hit some timely shots."

Burks didn't play in the opening round series against the Philadelphia 76ers, but he was the leading scorer in the Knicks' Game 4 blowout loss with 20 points. He responded in Game 5 with 18 points off the bench to help the Knicks move one step closer to their goal.

Ultimately, if the Knicks are to advance in the playoffs, they need contributions from anyone they can get. Burks is a player that can get hot in a moment's notice, and his veteran leadership and ability to fill in the gaps is helping the Knicks win.

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Published May 16, 2024

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.