Jalen Brunson’s elevated Knicks play is certainly All-Star worthy — but might not be enough
NY Post
Jalen Brunson clearly has performed at an All-Star level throughout his first two seasons with the Knicks, even while being snubbed for the honor one year ago.
But his increasingly stellar play of late only has elevated Brunson’s status as one of the top point guards in the NBA.
The $104 million bargain has netted at least 30 points in five consecutive games entering Thursday’s home matchup against the Nuggets, and he’s done so seven times in 10 appearances since OG Anunoby joined the Knicks’ lineup on Jan. 1 following a trade with the Raptors.
Brunson also missed two games with a calf injury during that stretch — a win over the Grizzlies and a loss to the Magic — but the Knicks have won 10 of 12 overall to improve to 10 games over .500 (27-17) for the first time this season.
Brunson and Julius Randle have netted at least 30 points apiece in five of the 10 games Brunson has played since the calendar flipped, most recently with both finishing with that exact number in Tuesday’s comeback win over the Nets in Brooklyn.
“I think we’re just locked in, playing the right way. It starts with me and J,” Randle said after the game. “We know we get a lot of attention, so we have to make the right plays.”
The Rangers hit the mark with their on-ice ceremony honoring Mika Zibanejad ahead of his 1,000th NHL game Monday night.
PORT ST. LUCIE — For now, Craig Kimbrel is choosing Mets purgatory.
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Don’t blame Mikal Bridges for his paltry stats. Blame the role.
Almost a year to the day after a goaltender interference call against Kyle Palmieri lost the Islanders a game against the Blue Jackets that started their season’s death spiral, they were on the wrong end of another controversial call against those same Blue Jackets that might have had the same effect.
On the Queens side of town, the reno began in earnest almost as soon as Francisco Lindor grounded into the 4-6-3 double play. That ended a 4-0 loss before a rare sizable crowd at Miami’s loanDepot Park last Sept. 27, all of them there to witness the final death rattles of an epic baseball calamity.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is being paid handsomely for his breakout season.
Next comes the harder part. Mostly because it can’t get any easier.
It was Kids Day at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, but for the Rangers, it’s been All About The Kids for months.
PORT ST. LUCIE — From the moment he was told he needed surgery on his left hamate bone, Francisco Lindor fixated on the recovery time. Trainers provided the Mets shortstop a six-week pathway to return to play, and Lindor was determined to hit every marker.
Dylan Garand knew the number off the top of his head. He knew that, between the regular season and playoffs, he’d logged over 160 games with AHL Hartford, and he was right. Before the Rangers recalled him Friday, Garand had served as the Wolf Pack’s goaltender 165 times.
SAN DIEGO — As you may have seen elsewhere in this newspaper (and also if you haven’t deleted me yet from your social media), I have a book coming out Tuesday called “The Bosses of The Bronx.” Much of it details the 37 years’ worth of antics, winning, losing, winning again and overall mania of George Steinbrenner’s time with the Yankees.
Don’t close the curtain on “Mean” Joe Greene.