Brandon Jennings
The New York Knicks have been able to rely upon sixth man Brandon Jennings for consistent contributions off the bench. After playing well in his two starts in relief of Derrick Rose, however, it was fair to question if he’d be unhappy with a return to the bench.
If there was anyone who believed Jennings would suffer from a morale perspective, his showing against the Los Angeles Lakers should eliminate the theory.
The Compton, California native torched the Lakers for 19 points, four assists, and three rebounds in just 23 minutes. He shot 5-of-11 from the field, 3-of-4 from 3-point range, and a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line.
It was a productive and efficient performance from Jennings, who made the seamless transition from the starting lineup back into the role of sixth man.
Other players had gaudier statistics, but Jennings dominated the fourth quarter. He scored 15 points in the final 10:12, 13 points in the final 7:33, seven points in the final 3:13, and five points in the final 1:45 of the fourth quarter.
Simply put: Jennings was the Knicks’ closer in a road game that could go a long way towards determining the team’s confidence in future outings away from home.