Early in the season, the Knicks have shown that when they are clicking offensively, they are almost unguardable.
In their 116-94 victory over the Raptors on Sunday night at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks scored 41 points in the first quarter – the ninth time this year they have scored 40 or more points in a quarter.
In that category they are in a class of their own.
Their nine such quarters lead the NBA.
Going into Monday, five teams out of six were tied for the next closest.
“We feel extremely comfortable,” Josh Hart said Sunday of the scoring drive. “I think we’re starting to read and play off each other’s moves and stuff like that and know where guys are going to be and know certain spots. So we’re getting more and more comfortable.”
Jalen Brunson was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week.
In four games this past week, Brunson averaged 28.8 points and 4.5 assists per game while shooting 40.7 percent from three-point range. The Knicks went 4-0 during that stretch.
Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic raved about Brunson ahead of Sunday’s game.
“We had a discussion about that this morning in the coaches meeting. He is the type of player that I can put in the category of Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic,” Rajakovic said. “A different position, obviously, but guys who just play at their own pace. You can’t speed them up. Their awareness is amazing. At any given moment, they know where the defensive player’s hand is. What’s the footwork, how can they pass someone, how can they get from the floor to their sweet spot? How can they score from there, how can they play from there? And he’s elite at doing it.”
“He’s not the strongest, not the fastest, but his skill level and shooting ability are great and that makes him one of the biggest offensive weapons in the league.”
Mitchell Robinson is not listed on the Knicks’ injury report, meaning he will likely play Tuesday in Boston against the Celtics, the first leg of a back-to-back — the Knicks host the Hornets on Wednesday.
Robinson hasn’t played back-to-back yet this year. Unless that changes, it means he will likely sit out Wednesday’s game.
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