Brunson scores 33 as Knicks rout Bulls 135-105

Jalen Brunson scored 33 points in 28 minutes, and the New York Knicks routed the Chicago Bulls 135-105 on Wednesday, November 4, after piling up 43 points in the first quarter.

Brunson made 10 of 17 shots, went 5-of-10 from 3-point range and hit 8 of 9 free throws. He did not commit a turnover.

The Knicks (4-4) followed their opening quarter with 41 points in the second and kept pulling away after halftime. Their lead reached 44 at 111-67 with 3:23 left in the third quarter.

Karl-Anthony Towns made all five of his shots, two of them 3-pointers, and finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double. OG Anunoby added 18 points, making 11 of 12 free throws despite a 3-of-10 night from the field.

New York played without Josh Hart, who was out with right ankle soreness.

Chicago (1-7) led by no more than two points, at 6-4 early in the first quarter. Jaylin Sellers and Tre Jones each scored 14 off the bench, and Sellers made 4 of 7 from beyond the arc. Norman Powell scored 12 but made 3 of 12 shots and missed all five of his 3-point attempts.

Shooting sank the Bulls. They made 10 of 44 from 3-point range and finished with an effective field goal percentage of 43.8, against 60.3 for New York. The Knicks also controlled the glass, 57 rebounds to 34.

New York came in as the clear pregame favorite, and the game was settled long before the end. Chicago's reserves scored 63 points, many of them with the outcome decided.

The Bulls trailed 127-93 when the final five minutes began and outscored the Knicks 12-8 the rest of the way. Jordan Hawkins' driving layup with 4.4 seconds left made it 135-105.

Up next

Knicks: at the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday, November 7.

Bulls: home against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, November 8.