The week began with Jalen Brunson’s status uncertain due to a right foot contusion and it ended with him setting a career mark for most made 3-pointers in a game with six.
In his return to Chicago, where he spent a large portion of his childhood, Brunson left a lasting impression. After scoring 30 points in a dramatic overtime win on Wednesday, the Knicks’ new point guard scored 22 points and hit 6 of 9 3-point attempts in their 114-91 rout at the United Center on Friday.
“I like playing here a lot,” said Brunson, who also had six assists and three steals. “Brings back memories.”
When asked about his six 3-pointers, he smiled and said, “just luck.”
The most memorable play came on Wednesday, when Brunson left Bulls guard Alex Caruso on the floor with a crossover and sank a 3-pointer to ice the overtime victory. Earlier in the game, Caruso did the same thing to Knicks guard Miles McBride.
“It was pretty cool. I think the best reaction was ‘Deuce’ saying thank you to me because he got ‘Deuce’ earlier in the game,” Brunson said. “So I got him, and it happens to everybody.”
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau went viral for his role in a video from Wednesday’s win over the Bulls when he was seen barking at an official, saying “we got the rebound,” after a challenge went in Chicago’s favor. The result was a jump ball.
When asked if he knew what going viral meant, Thibodeau said with a smile: “No. Do I care? No. Just trying to help out, trying to be helpful.”
Former Knicks player and longtime college coach Louis Orr passed away on Thursday at the age of 64, his family announced on Friday. He was battling pancreatic cancer. Orr played for the Knicks from 1982-88 and later coached at Seton Hall, Bowling Green and Siena. He also served as an assistant coach alongside Patrick Ewing at Georgetown from 2017-22. …Ryan Arcidiacono appeared late in the fourth quarter. It was his first action since Nov. 29.
In the Knicks’ two wins over the Bulls, they out-rebounded them, 98-70, and by a 30-5 margin on the offensive glass.