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Knicks' Tom Thibodeau rebukes notion Jalen Brunson return will affect OG Anunoby's play

The Knicks have played admirably without Jalen Brunson since the All-Star point guard went down with a sprained ankle in early March.

After Saturday's dominant win over the Atlanta Hawks, the Knicks are 9-6 without their captain, and some players have elevated their play on the offensive end in their stead. This is especially true for OG Anunoby.

The 6-foot-7 wing is scoring at a torrid pace. Just over his last five games, Anunoby is averaging 26.6 points and entering Saturday with 5.2 free throws per game since Brunson's injury, showing how willing he is to drive to the hoop. But with Brunson expected to return Sunday against the Phoenix Suns, questions on how the offense will flow with their floor general back have popped up.

Following Saturday's win, Tom Thibodeau was asked if Anunoby's style will "have to change" once Brunson returns. The longtime Knicks coach pushed back.

"The notion of all that stuff, it's white noise," he said. "The game tells you what to do, you know? So, whose shot is it in transition? The open man, right? And if there's two on somebody, who shot is it, right? You have the responsibility as a primary scorer to make the right play. So, the notion that it has to be this way, that way, no. There has to be a willingness to sacrifice by everybody.

"The team has to come first. What's best for our team? What gives the team the best chance to win? And that's all everyone should be thinking about. They shouldn't be thinking about who's doing this, who's doing that. That's not the way this game works. If you care about winning, that stuff shouldn't matter."

A follow-up question to Thibodeau asked who "ends up getting the shot" with Brunson on the floor, and pointed to how during this stretch, Anunoby is "spending less time in the corners." Thibodeau pushed back even harder and broke down how he sees the responsibilities of everyone on the floor, whether Brunson is on the floor or not.

"No, [Anunoby] never spent exclusively… that notion's a bunch of garbage. I'll tell you another thing: I value the corners a lot more than most people because I know that's the most valuable spot on the floor," Thibodeau said. "He's all over the floor. That's the way he's scoring. That's the way everybody's scoring. So if you have a drive pass, pass who's supposed to be in the corner? It's drive and kick and if you're cutting and you're moving without the ball, which is what you're supposed to do, right?

"If you push the ball up, your first responsibility is to create pace. Your second responsibility is to create movement and everyone's supposed to read the man in front of them. So, if you're reading the man in front of you and he cuts, then you replace in front, right? That's the way this game works. So that's a bunch of excuse-making. And that's the way I see it." 

Fiery exchanges aside, there's no denying how well-oiled the Knicks' offense has looked in stretches, especially on Saturday. Against the Hawks, the Knicks scored a season-high 78 points in the first half and had 32 assists, the 27th time this season they've hit the 30-assist mark. They accomplished that feat just 10 times a season ago.

Those extra passes were a key in Saturday's win, and Thibodeau is pleased with how the offense is humming just as Brunson is returning.

"I think it's huge, and to succeed in this league, you have to do it together," Thibodeau said. "You can't win at the highest level in this league individually, you have to do it collectively. So everyone had to be willing to sacrifice. I think offense is about execution. Everyone has a job to do. You have to go out there and do your job and you have to help each other.

"Everyone works together and hits the open man, pass up a good shot to get a great shot, but that willingness to be unselfish and play for each other is huge."

The Knicks hope to continue their winning ways Sunday against the Suns with Brunson on the court. The guard will have five games before the end of the regular season -- and the start of the playoffs -- to get reacclimated and prove that the Knicks' offense can continue to run like he'd never left.

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Boston Celtics set new record for most 3-pointers made in a season

It was clear where this was headed on opening night, when the Boston Celtics hung a banner and then launched 61 3-pointers, making 29, on their way to routing the Knicks.

Friday night, Boston set the record for most 3-pointers made in a season — 1,364 — when Payton Pritchard knocked one down from beyond the arc early in the second quarter. By the end of the game, the Celtics had made 1,370 3-pointers, and they have five games remaining.

The previous record belonged to Stephen Curry and the 2022-23 Golden State Warriors.

The Celtics aren't done setting records from beyond the arc, even if everything isn't official yet. Utah holds the record for the most average 3-point shots made per game (16.7, during the 2020-21 season), but Boston will pass that at 17.9 per game. The most 3-pointers attempted by a team per game were the James Harden Rockets in 2018-19 at 45.4, but the Celtics are at 48.5 per game this season.

While the Celtics have shooting everywhere on the court — Jayson Tatum is taking 10 3-pointers a game but there is also Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday and on down the line — the real credit goes to Joe Mazzulla. The Celtics have led the league in 3-point attempts in each of Mazzulla's three seasons as the shot is central to his attack. It has worked, the Celtics have a ring and are the betting favorites to win another this year.

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3 observations after Sixers' Grimes-led comeback falls just short vs. T-Wolves

3 observations after Sixers' Grimes-led comeback falls just short vs. T-Wolves  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers kept it tight all night Saturday against the Timberwolves.

However, their losing streak now sits at 11 games with four to go this season. 

Minnesota pulled out a 114-109 win at Wells Fargo Center and improved to 46-32. 

Four Sixers scored at least 16 points in Lonnie Walker IV, Quentin Grimes, Jared Butler and Guerschon Yabusele. Grimes was the team’s top scorer with 28 points.

Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards posted 37 points. Rudy Gobert had 23 points, 19 rebounds and three blocks.

The 23-55 Sixers were down eight players to start the night, including Joel Embiid (season-ending left knee surgery), Paul George (season-ending adductor and left knee injuries) and Tyrese Maxey (right finger sprain). Justin Edwards was ruled out after logging 11 minutes because of a rib contusion. 

The Sixers will travel to Miami and face the Heat on Monday night. Here are observations on their loss to the T-Wolves: 

Big-time Edwards poster on Bona

The first few minutes went decently for the Sixers. They took an 11-7 lead on a Justin Edwards three-pointer.

A few seconds prior, Minnesota’s Edwards had the highlight of the night.

He exploded for a fierce slam on Bona that created plenty of stunned faces in the stands. Ultimately, sometimes being on the wrong end of such plays is part of life as an aggressive NBA shot blocker. 

Coming off of a fantastic 28-point night Thursday in the Sixers’ loss to the Bucks, Bona dealt with first-half foul trouble. He finished with four points, 10 rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal in 25 minutes Playing his second game on a 10-day contract, Colin Castleton served as Bona’s backup and had six points, six rebounds and two assists.

Minnesota’s size advantages posed predictable issues for the Sixers. At halftime, the Timberwolves had major edges in second-chance points (12-2) and free throw attempts (18-4).

Good work by Walker off the bench

The Sixers began 3 for 15 from three-point range and struggled at times to create any open look until the dying seconds of the shot clock.

The T-Wolves also had a subpar shooting start, missing 13 of their first 17 long-distance jumpers. That helped the Sixers eat into their deficit after falling behind by 13 points. 

Lonnie Walker IV played a strong second quarter, too. The first man off the Sixers’ bench attacked effectively off the dribble, spotted open teammates and generally made sound decisions. 

Walker’s trending well in that department since returning from a concussion. Over his last four games, he’s recorded 20 assists and five turnovers. 

Grimes makes T-Wolves sweat late

A put-back, buzzer-beating Gobert layup sent Minnesota into halftime with a 55-51 lead. 

The Sixers trimmed their deficit by three points in the third quarter. They played active defense, forced regular turnovers and profited in the open floor. Grimes and Yabusele threw down crowd-pleasing fast-break dunks in the third and Grimes nailed a go-ahead three early in the fourth.

Minnesota then made a 12-0 run that featured back-to-back Edwards threes. With the T-Wolves’ superior star power, the game appeared just about over.

The Sixers weren’t quite done because they have Grimes, who’s often played like a star the past month.

He went on a late-game shotmaking spree, hitting three triples in a span of 74 seconds. Even when many of his jumpers are tightly contested, Grimes has shown he can catch fire. Two Yabusele free throws cut the Timberwolves’ lead to 104-103.

Edwards responded with a giant three, but Grimes and the Sixers maintained heavy pressure. Yet another Grimes jumper put the Sixers’ deficit at 111-109 with a little over 30 seconds left.

There was more drama to come.

Grimes was whistled for his sixth foul with 14.5 seconds left. Sixers head coach Nick Nurse challenged the call on Julius Randle and the officials changed the ruling on the floor to a no-call, with Minnesota retaining possession.

Edwards ended up having to shoot a deep, highly difficult turnaround three with the shot clock about to expire. He drilled it, finally sealing the Timberwolves’ win despite Grimes’ best efforts.

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Knicks ride huge second quarter in dominant 121-105 win over Hawks

The Knicks used a 40-point second quarter to rout the Hawks in Atlanta on Saturday afternoon, 121-105.

All five Knicks starters scored in double figures and head coach Tom Thibodeau passed Pat Riley on the team's all-time wins list (224).

Here are the takeaways...

-The Knicks took an early punch from the Hawks, who got out to a 5-0 start. But the Knicks' defense clamped down and the combination of OG Anunoby and Josh Hart set the tone on offense. The duo drove to the hoop consistently, making easy layups and getting to the free-throw line.

New York got out to a sizeable double-digit lead for most of the first quarter, but turnovers and lackluster defense allowed the Hawks to cut the Knicks' lead to 38-31 after the first quarter. The Knicks had a balanced attack on offense, with Anunoby (11), Hart (8), Karl-Anthony Towns (7), Mikal Bridges (7) and Delon Wright (5) providing the scoring for the starters as the team shot 61 percent from the field. Unfortunately, the Hawks shot 57 percent in the frame.

-Towns would be the aggressor to start the second with Hart and Anunoby on the bench. The Knicks' big man scored the team's first five points and was consistently handling the ball at the top of the key. With eight minutes remaining in the second, Towns hurt his finger going for an offensive rebound and was in visible pain. Towns would head to the locker room to get it checked.

Towns would return after a few minutes, and just in time for the Knicks to go on an extended run. The Knicks' defense and the Hawks' inability to make shots led to a 30-plus point cushion for New York. Some lackadaisical defense by the Knicks allowed the Hawks to get some points back, but New York went into halftime up, 78-53. It's the most points the Knicks have scored in the first half this season and the most first-half points allowed by the Hawks this year.

The Knicks shot an insane 75 percent to Atlanta's 33 percent in the second quarter. Four of the Knicks' five starters were in double digits.

-The lax Knicks defense/offense continued early in the third, but a double-digit run pushed their lead back up to 33 points with eight minutes left. Everything went right for the Knicks in this quarter -- even a blocking foul called on Anunoby was overturned after review. New York entered the fourth quarter up 28 points and in full control.

New York maintained that lead for the duration of the game, with the Hawks only bringing it below a 20-point deficit with a few minutes to go.

Towns led the Knicks' scoring with 30 points, while Anunoby (24), Hart (16), Bridges (20) and Wright (10) rounded out the starter's scoring. Hart was one rebound shy of his 10th triple-double this season.

-Cam Payne made his return off the bench after missing four games with an ankle injury. In 21 minutes on the floor, the guard scored three points on 1-of-5 shooting.

Landry Shamet led the bench scoring with 12 points on 4-of-11 shooting, all made shots coming from three.

Game MVP: Entire team

No individual stood out as the entire team took it to Atlanta. The team shot 54 percent overall from the field and 52 percent from three. The defense also held the Hawks to 47 percent shooting and 31 percent from three.

Highlights

What's next

The Knicks head back home to host the Phoenix Suns at The Garden on Sunday, in what is expected to be Jalen Brunson's return. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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Knicks' Jalen Brunson expected to return from ankle injury Sunday vs. Suns

With the NBA playoffs quickly approaching, Knicks fans can breathe a sigh of relief.

Jalen Brunson is expected to make his long-awaited return to the court Sunday when New York takes on the Phoenix Suns at The Garden barring any setbacks, SNY's Ian Begley confirms.

The news of Brunson's return was first reported by Chris Haynes.

The Knicks guard was going through his usual pregame on-court workout on the floor before Saturday's tip against the Hawks in Atlanta but was ruled out for the game.

Brunson has been out with a right ankle sprain since he sustained the injury on March 6 against the Lakers.

When Brunson returns Sunday, he'll have five games left before the end of the regular season. He needs to play in four for postseason awards and with one more back-to-back on the schedule, the All-Star point guard is likely to miss one more game before the start of the playoffs.

SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley noted on April 1 that Brunson returning to action this weekend was a realistic option. KnicksFanTV later reported that Brunson was targeting Sunday’s game as a potential return.

Over 35.4 minutes of action across 61 games this season, Brunson is averaging 26.3 points, 7.4 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game.

New York was 40-22 when the star guard went down and have gone 8-6 without him, as they remain the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference standings.

The Knicks (48-28) are up three games on the Indiana Pacers (45-31) with five games remaining in the regular season. The Milwaukee Bucks (42-34) and the Detroit Pistons (42-34) are currently slotted as the No. 5 and No. 6 seeds, as the Knicks would take on Cade Cunningham and Detroit in the first round.