30 for #30: Brunson Powers Knicks To Victory in First Game Without Randle

Brunson is one of only three players averaging more than 28 points and more than seven assists per game. The other two are Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic.

Final Score: Knicks 113 - Hornets 92
Record: 30-17

The Hornets were missing their best player (LaMelo Ball) and two other starters (Gordon Hayward and Mark Williams). The Knicks were playing their first game this season without Julius Randle (although they did get some encouraging news re: Randle earlier in the day - more on that in a bit) and were also missing OG Anunoby (a last-minute scratch due to elbow inflammation).

So, Jalen Brunson took matters into his own hands and took over the game. With the crowd in Charlotte loudly chanting "MVP! MVP!" right from the start of the contest, Brunson put on yet another masterclass against overmatched opponents. He finished with 32 points (shooting 13-of-24 from the field and 4-of-5 from the foul line), four rebounds, seven assists, one steal, and two 3-pointers in 34 minutes.

There were plenty of important takeaways from this contest, including essential contributions from the other "Nova Knicks," but ultimately, this game was about one team having the best player on the court and their opponent having no way to stop him. 

There's been plenty of talk about the Knicks' need for a superstar and how Brunson isn't "that dude" and not an elite "1A" stud capable of carrying a team. However, the too-short and too-slow PG wearing #11 for New York continues to lift the Knicks to win after win. 

Monday's romp in Charlotte was NY's seventh straight win. With Philadelphia losing to the Portland Trail Blazers last night, the Knicks woke up this morning tied with the Sixers for the three-seed in the Eastern Conference. And with the Bucks losing to the Nuggets, New York is just two games behind Milwaukee for the two-seed.