Jalen Brunson bails out Knicks as Mikal Bridges hit bottom against lowly Hornets

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Knicks should’ve had a great deal on Black Friday against a battered, bottom-dwelling opponent. 

Instead, they paid full retail price for a 99-98 victory, a performance that required a fourth-quarter burst from Jalen Brunson as Mikal Bridges watched most of the comeback from the bench. 

“We came out really soft, made some runs, and then they made some shots where it looked like they just were going to get away from us,” Brunson said. “We kept fighting and found a way to get a win. So a win is a win and we learn from it.” 

Brunson dropped 11 of his 31 points in the final period, including foul shots with 8.6 seconds left that iced it for the Knicks (11-8). 

But it shouldn’t have been that close. 

The Hornets (6-13) were rolling with a skeleton crew due to injuries, with LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges, among other regulars, inactive. Their starting lineup resembled a G League outfit with Vasilije Micic, Moussa Diabate and Tidjane Salaun.