Knicks 135, Bulls 105: Jalen Brunson Scores 33 as New York Ties Franchise First-Half Record

This one was decided early. Jalen Brunson scored 33 points, including 22 in the first quarter, and the New York Knicks routed the Chicago Bulls 135-105 at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night, Nov. 4, the Associated Press reported.

New York has won four of five after an 0-3 start and is back to 4-4. Chicago fell to 1-7 and has lost six straight.

Bulls vs. Knicks: the final score

• Final: Knicks 135, Bulls 105
• By quarter: New York 43-41-29-22; Chicago 21-31-27-26
• Halftime: Knicks 84, Bulls 52
• Largest lead: 44 points (111-67), late in the third quarter
• Records: Knicks 4-4, Bulls 1-7

Brunson’s 22-point first quarter

Chicago led 6-4 early before an 8-0 Knicks run, and New York never trailed again, AP reported. Brunson went 8-of-10 from the field and 4-of-5 from 3-point range in the opening 12 minutes as the Knicks built a 43-21 lead.

He finished with 33 points on 10-of-17 shooting, 5-of-10 from deep and 8-of-9 at the line in just 28 minutes, according to the ESPN box score. He did not commit a turnover.

A franchise first and a tied record

New York outscored Chicago 41-31 in the second quarter. It was the first time the Knicks had scored 40 or more points in each of the first two quarters of a game, AP reported.

The 84-52 halftime score tied the franchise record for points in a half. The Knicks first reached 84 on Nov. 18, 1988, in a game they lost 137-135 at Philadelphia.

The lead reached 44 at 111-67 on a four-point play by Miles McBride with 3:23 left in the third quarter. The Bulls got no closer than 30 the rest of the way.

Chicago Bulls vs. Knicks match player stats

New York Knicks - Jalen Brunson: 33 points, 4 assists, plus-33 - OG Anunoby: 18 points (11-of-12 free throws), 5 rebounds, 3 steals - Karl-Anthony Towns: 17 points on 5-of-5 shooting, 12 rebounds - Dalton Knecht: 10 points, 7 rebounds in his Knicks debut - Jordan Clarkson: 10 points - James Wiseman: 8 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks

Chicago Bulls - Tre Jones: 14 points, 4 assists - Jaylin Sellers: 14 points, 4-of-7 from 3 - Matas Buzelis: 12 points, 5 rebounds - Norman Powell: 12 points on 3-of-12 shooting - Josh Giddey: 10 points, 6 assists

AP’s recap listed Sellers with 11 points; the ESPN and CBS Sports box scores both show 14.

The Knicks shot 50.6% from the field and 17-of-40 from 3, while the Bulls shot 38.5% and 10-of-44 from deep, per CBS Sports. New York won the rebounding battle 70-47 by CBS Sports’ count.

What’s going wrong in Chicago

Every Bulls opponent has scored at least 124 points this season, AP noted. That includes New York twice: the Knicks also beat Chicago 133-127 on Oct. 28. Starting forward Caleb Wilson went 2-of-12, and Powell finished at minus-34 in 22 minutes.

What’s next

• Bulls: host the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday
• Knicks: at the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday

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