Jalen

Brunson

It’s been over a month since Brunson last failed to score at least 20 points in a game, with that last occurring on December 2 in a loss to the Celtics. All five Knicks starters scored in double figures, and that balance likely helped Brunson. He shot over 50 percent from the field and committed just two turnovers. The Knicks play three games in Week 13, starting with the Kings on Wednesday.

Brunson and the Knicks have lost five of their last six, and he has just one 30-point game during this stretch. While his percentages against the Suns were good, the point guard finished with one less turnover (four) than assists (five). Over the past two weeks, he has offered fourth-round per-game value in eight-cat formats. While that doesn’t align with Brunson’s Yahoo! ADP, his drop has not been as sharp as a few other Knicks during this 1-5 stretch.

After arguably his most inefficient game of the season in Monday’s blowout loss to the Pistons, Brunson bounced back nicely against the Clippers. In addition to shooting 75 percent from the field, the Knicks’ guard committed just two turnovers. All five starters attempted at least ten shots, and Brunson still led the way in scoring. Wednesday’s effort was the blueprint that the Knicks need to follow, even if that leads to a slight decrease in Brunson’s scoring output.

Brunson got his 25 points by being aggressive with 21 shot attempts. The 29-year-old struggled to set up his teammates in the disastrous 31-point loss in Detroit, though. Brunson had zero assists and six turnovers against a swarming Pistons defense, which can crush his value in certain formats. The Knicks will be at home for an easier matchup against the Clippers on Wednesday.

While he was more efficient on Saturday than in Friday’s loss to the Hawks, Brunson did not have an easy time getting his points against VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey. Over the past two weeks, the point guard has offered third-round per-game value in eight-cat formats, sitting just outside the top-25. Another challenging matchup awaits Brunson and the Knicks, as they open a four-game Week 12 in Detroit on Monday.

Brunson led all scorers with 24 points, but he needed 24 shots to get it done. The Knicks’ guard was 1-of-10 from beyond the arc, with New York shooting 9-of-44 as a team. While the Hawks deserve credit for their defensive effort, Friday was a reminder of Karl-Anthony Towns’ importance, as he was out due to illness. Brunson and the Knicks will look to bounce back when they host the 76ers on Saturday.

The Knicks were 19-0 when leading entering the fourth quarter entering play Wednesday. New York couldn’t hold a nine-point lead against the Spurs, losing 134-132. The final score was closer than it maybe should’ve been, thanks to two threes from Brunson in the game’s last 30 seconds. The Knicks return home Friday for the first game of a back-to-back against the Hawks.

Brunson finished with his fifth double-double of the season and first since December 2. And, as usual, “Captain Clutch” came up big for the Knicks down the stretch. Brunson shot 4-of-5 from the field in the fourth quarter, including a floater with just over a minute remaining that extended New York’s lead to three. The Knicks still have three games to play in Week 11, starting with the Spurs on Wednesday in the final game of their road trip.

Counting Saturday’s performance, Brunson has scored at least 34 points in three straight games. The Hawks struggled to find an answer for the Knicks’ point guard, but they aren’t the first time (or the last) to have that happen. Over the past two weeks, Brunson has provided second-round value in eight-cat formats, aligning with his Yahoo! ADP (22). It would be unsurprising if he had another big night on Monday against the Pelicans, especially if New Orleans doesn’t have Herb Jones.

Brusnon and the Knicks got off to a brutally slow start on Christmas Day, making just two of their first 15 shot attempts. New York would get off the mat during the second and fourth quarters, but it was the bench that sparked the rallies as opposed to Brunson. The captain finished with his 15th game of 30 points or more, so all wasn’t lost for those who have him rostered. And individual plus/minus, which can be a flawed stat to begin with, is not a scoring category in fantasy leagues.