Jalen Brunson Leads Knicks to Second Place in East, Scoring 40 Points in Victory

Seven games in a row with 30 points or more, including six with at least 35 and three with 40 or more. Jalen Brunson finished the season with a bang and he took the Knicks along with him. The All-Star point guard compiled 40 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists during New York’s victory against Chicago (120-119) after overtime on Sunday evening. A significant success which allows the Manhattan franchise to take second place in the Eastern Conference.

Brunson notably scored the equalizing basket one minute before the buzzer in the fourth quarter. But he missed the opportunity to kill the match a few moments later. That didn’t stop him from getting his eleventh match with at least 40 pawns on the clock. Only Bernard King has done better in Knicks history. The New Yorkers therefore finish with 50 victories – their best season since 2013 – and they will face the winner of the play-in match between Joel Embiid’s Sixers and the Heat, finalist last year.

The Thunder crushed the Mavericks (135-86) with a 60-point lead during the game. It therefore finished in first place in the Western Conference with 57 victories. His best season since moving from Seattle to Oklahoma City. Even Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook never did as well as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his teammates.

The Lakers beat the Pelicans, their future play-in opponents, in style. LeBron James delighted his teammates by dropping 17 assists in addition to his 28 points and 11 rebounds.

In good form at the end of the season, Bradley Beal delivered a great performance by scoring 36 points during the Suns’ victory over the Timberwolves (106-125). Two teams who will find themselves in the first round of the playoffs within a week.

The Pacers did the job by atomizing the Hawks defense for a 157 to 115 victory. Myles Turner scored 31 points. Indiana thus validates its sixth place, synonymous with direct qualification for the playoffs. Tyrese Haliburton and his teammates will face the Bucks in the first round.

Ousmane Dieng contributed to the Thunder’s success by scoring 13 points in 18 minutes. He also grabbed 4 rebounds. Great performance from Sidy Cissokho with San Antonio (7 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists) against Evan Fournier’s Pistons (6 points). 5 rebounds and 5 assists for Nicolas Batum, who did not score in 20 minutes of time during Philadelphia’s victory. Rayan Rupert had 11 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists for Portland, beaten by Sacramento. Rudy Gobert scored 15 of his 21 points in the third quarter of the Timberwolves’ loss to the Suns.

Bucks (3) vs Pacers (6)
Cavaliers (4) vs Magic (5)

Timberwolves (3) vs Suns (6)
Clippers (4) vs Mavericks (5)

Sixers (7) vs Heat (8)
Bulls (9) vs Hawks (10)

Pelicans (7) vs Lakers (8)
Kings (9) vs Warriors (10)

Celtics – Wizards : 132-122
Cavaliers – Hornets : 110-120
Pacers – Hawks : 157-115
Heat – Raptors : 118-103
Knicks – Bulls : 120-119
Magic – Bucks : 113-88
Sixers – Nets : 107-86
Grizzlies – Nuggets : 111-126
Timberwolves – Suns : 106-125
Thunder – Mavericks : 135-86
Spurs – Pistons : 123-95
Warriors – Jazz : 123-116
Clippers – Rockets : 105-116
Kings – Trail Blazers : 121-82
Pelicans – Lakers : 108-124