The New York Knicks defeated the Charlotte Hornets 122-108 behind 32 points from Jalen Brunson on Saturday night, who helped the team extend its winning run to three games.
The Knicks, who had won six straight games, took a 15-point lead into the half thanks to 26 points from Brunson in the first half.
For New York, R.J. Barrett finished with 15 points, Donte DiVincenzo added a career-high 25 points, Julius Randle scored 21 points, and Mitchell Robinson pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds. Barrett had suffered from migraine headaches for the previous three games.
With 34 points, LaMelo Ball led all scorers for Charlotte, a team that has lost four straight games. Miles Bridges scored 19 points, while rookie Brandon Miller scored a career-high 29.
During the current weekend two-game sweep, which includes Friday’s 120-99 victory at Washington, New York has never trailed.
New York had a 30-point advantage at the end of the first quarter and went on to take three game-high 15-point leads in the second quarter, the last coming at 47-32, before Charlotte cut the lead to just ten points.
With 9:37 remaining in the fourth quarter, Ball’s two 3-pointers brought the Hornets within 94-88. Any hopes Charlotte had of a comeback were dashed as New York, led by Barrett and DiVincenzo, responded with a 15–6 run over the next 5 1/2 minutes.
A 13-year player for both teams, Baron Davis was recognized as a “Hornets Legend” at halftime as part of Charlotte’s 35-year celebration of NBA basketball.
During his six years with the Hornets/New Orleans Pelicans, Davis was a two-time NBA All-Star. Charlotte selected Davis in the first round of the 1999 NBA Draft, and after the 2001–02 season, the team relocated to New Orleans. Later on, Davis was a player for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, and Golden State Warriors.
