Knicks crush Bulls to clinch third consecutive…
There’s nothing like dealing with a couple of also-rans to get a crew back on observe.
After a regarding three-game shedding streak, the Knicks obtained the proper tonic the past two video games. They beat up on the Bulls with a 136-96 rout Friday night time at Madison Square Garden. The win clinched the Knicks’ third straight 50-win season — the first time they’ve executed that since that they had 4 straight from 1991-95.
Amid so a lot discourse over slow begins, the Knicks dominated from the opening tip. They stormed out to a 20-1 lead and led by 22 after the first quarter. They shot a stellar 58.3 p.c from the sector and 45.5 p.c from 3-point vary in that first quarter as the Bulls bricked on the other end.
Guard Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks drives down court as ahead Isaac Okoro of the Chicago Bulls defends during the first half at Madison Square Garden on Friday, April 3, 2026. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
By 7:41 left in the second quarter, the lead was up to 28. By halftime, it was up to 37. It seemed just like the drills in practices where gamers go up against assistant coaches. Even that could be beneficiant. The disinterested Bulls had been content to jack up low high quality photographs, offer minimal resistance on protection and get out of city with another loss as they play out the string of their failed season.
Mitchell Robinson, beginning in place of the injured Karl-Anthony Towns (proper elbow impingement), helped spark the Knicks’ overpowering start with 10 factors, 5 rebounds and two steals in the first quarter. He completed with 17 factors, 11 rebounds and two steals.
A balanced scoring assault, which had two often been lacking in current weeks, was led by OG Anunoby with 31 factors — his second straight big-scoring night time. He drilled seven threes, which tied a career-high.
There was a lot better ball motion and cohesion, somewhat than different stars taking turns being aggressive in trying for their shot — one thing that had been a growing downside lately. Jalen Brunson was more of a distributor, recording 17 factors and 10 assists. Mikal Bridges added 12 factors but missed all 5 3-pointers he took.
Center Mitchell Robinson of the New York Knicks places up a shot during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
Jeremy Sochan surprisingly noticed fairly in depth motion off the bench — over Mohamed Diawara — in what was possible a tryout to stake a declare for the playoff rotation. He performed 17 minutes, his most with the Knicks, and completed with seven factors and eight rebounds. It wasn’t prefer it got here in rubbish time, either.
Coach Mike Brown was in a position to pull his starters and empty the bench for everything of the fourth quarter. That’s when Jose Alvarado notably noticed his first motion — he didn’t play the first three quarters.
Neither the Bulls nor the Grizzlies — whom the Knicks beat handedly on Wednesday — are true bottom-feeders, but both are properly under .500 and already eradicated from the playoff and play-in image. The Bulls in explicit have been depressing for months after a surprisingly promising start to the season — since the start of February, they’re 5-23.
And the Knicks used the 2 opponents to improve the vibes around the crew, at least for a few days.
It comes after three straight losses to playoff groups in the Hornets, Thunder and Rockets. Josh Hart had sounded the alarm, difficult his teammates to play with more of a “sense of desperation” and acknowledging that they had been “not going in the right direction.”
But if there’s one factor the Knicks have executed lately, it’s deal with low high quality opposition. Since the start of March, the Knicks are now 9-0 against groups below .500. That’s in contrast to just 3-6 against groups above .500 during that stretch.
Forward OG Anunoby of the New York Knicks drives to the basket during the first half. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
And the Knicks will return to high quality opposition when they face the surging Hawks along with the Celtics and Raptors their next three video games. Atlanta and Toronto are both potential first-round opponents.
“You always want your team to be playing at the highest of high cylinders,” Brown said. “Do I think we’re there right now? No. Do I have belief in this team? Yes I do. I’ve seen us play really good basketball throughout the course of the year.”
Friday was a lot nearer to that normal. Now back to the real checks.
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