Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns collectively struggled in Tuesday’s 132-109 loss at the Boston Celtics but clicked throughout Friday’s 123-98 win over the Indiana Pacers.
“I learn a lot,” said Brunson, whose game-high 26 points on 10-of-19 shooting led the Knicks (1-1) past the Pacers (1-1). “I mean, he has so much gravity on the floor when he’s out there. So people have to respect it. People have to help. He’s, obviously, one of the best shooters in the league. He just brings another element to this team and we’re very excited to have him, and we’re happy to continue to get better with him.”
Towns asserted himself early on and produced a 21-point, 15-rebound double-double as the Knicks outscored the Pacers 36-21 and 34-19 in the second and third quarters.
“There’s a lot I already knew, how talented he was, like I’ve said before — just making sure you let him do what he does best and get out the way,” Towns said of Brunson. “So just blessed we get a chance to call him ‘cap.'”
After Brunson and Towns combined for 34 points on 14-of-23 shooting at the Celtics, the star duo’s collective 47 points on 15-of-30 shooting against the Pacers was an improvement as the Knicks enter Monday’s game versus the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“All those things — it’s everybody working together,” said Tom Thibodeau. “When you do that, good things come from it.”
