Jalen Brunson should’ve asked for more money.
The Knicks point guard, whose $104 million contract in free agency was panned as an overpay, continued his ridiculous run Friday with 34 points and clutch free throws in a 112-108 victory over the Wizards.
Brunson has dropped at least 30 points in three straight games and four times in the last five contests. He’s trending toward an All-Star appearance, although there’s stiff competition from not only a stacked opposing Eastern Conference but also teammate Julius Randle.
In the last couple of weeks, though, Brunson distinguished himself. The 26-year-old’s leadership and fourth-quarter surges have the Knicks (24-19) as winners of six of their last seven games, tying their season-high mark at five games over .500.
The Wizards (18-25), who were missing injured All-Star Bradley Beal, made a late push behind Kyle Kuzma but Brunson nailed the coffin at the foul line with 13.9 seconds left. It saved Randle from embarrassment after the power forward inexplicably fouled Kuzma on a 3-point attempt during the previous possession, which cut the Knicks’ advantage to 2 with 16.6 seconds remaining.
The Knicks, meanwhile, continued their road dominance as one of only four NBA teams with a winning record away from home. They’ve captured nine of their last 11 on the road.
The first half Friday was an all-around sloppy display with both teams shooting under 40%. During a particularly dull moment, MSG Network analyst Clyde Frazier noted the game “had the ambiance of a preseason game.”
Then the game turned with New York’s 14-3 run to start the fourth quarter. A single-digit game for the opening three quarters was suddenly blown open, and the Wizards never recovered the lead.
The early fourth-quarter run was highlighted by Immanuel Quickley, who finished with 18 points near his Maryland hometown and connected on an acrobatic and-1 as he fell to the court.
Kristaps Porzingis, the former Knick, struggled the most while missing eight of his 10 shots at the break. Still, Porzingis, who was questionable before the game with a rib injury, erupted in the fourth quarter with a barrage of treys and finished with 21 points.
Kuzma was celebrated with his Bobblehead Night and he had Knicks’ heads on a swivel. The pending free agent dropped 40 points in 40 minutes on 14-of-27 shooting.
Randle, who scored 23 points with 16 rebounds, provided the night’s highlight in the third quarter with a one-handed jam over Washington’s Daniel Gafford, a powerful and-1 move that required switching hands in midair to avoid the defender.
