Knicks News: Jalen Brunson named award finalist, Donovan Mitchell talks playoffs
The New York Knicks clinched a playoff berth in Sunday’s 118-109 win over the Wizards in a game with no Julius Randle and RJ Barrett. Jalen Brunson stepped up to the plate as he has all season and finished with 27 points two days after dropping a career-high 48 points in a win over the Cavaliers. Just another day at the office for the 26-year-old point guard.
Brunson has helped to guide the Knicks back to the playoffs and he has the chance to win a couple of awards for his efforts this season, too. He’s a Most Improved Player candidate and on Monday, the league announced that Brunson was a finalist for the 2022-23 NBA Sportsmanship Award.
The finalists for the 2022-23 NBA Sportsmanship Award.
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 3, 2023
The annual honor recognizes the player who best represents the ideals of sportsmanship on the court. Current NBA players will select the winner from these six finalists (one finalist from each NBA division). pic.twitter.com/RNVloxlvA4
Brunson’s up against two of his former teammates, Sacramento’s Harrison Barnes and Houston’s Boban Marjanovic.
With the playoffs beginning in less than two weeks, it’s increasingly likely that New York will face Cleveland in the first round. When asked about the possibility of that happening after the Knicks’ win in Cleveland on Friday, Donovan Mitchell said:
"“It’s full circle. Wouldn’t want it any other way,” Mitchell said following the Knicks’ 130-116 win Friday in Cleveland. “What kid wouldn’t want to grow up and play against his hometown team in the playoffs? … It’s going to be a lot of fun — if that happens.”"
The Cavaliers are 2.5 games back from the No. 3 Sixers. Cleveland has three regular season games left to play and Philadelphia has four.
More Knicks news
- RJ Barrett missed Sunday’s win over Washington due to an illness. His status for Wednesday’s game in Indiana is still unknown.
- After clinching a playoff berth, Tom Thibodeau said: “It’s a great accomplishment because it’s one of the goals, one of several. It’s the next step along the way,” Thibodeau said on Sunday when asked about making the playoffs. “So, keep going. … We know how important the next game is. So get ready for Indiana. But just keep checking the boxes as we go.”
- The 2023 first-round pick that the Knicks received from the Mavericks in the Kristaps Porzingis trade currently sits at No. 10. Because the pick is top-10 protected, there’s a real chance that it’ll belong to Dallas.
NBA news
- The NBA and its players agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement on Saturday. Here’s everything that you need to know.
- Andrew Wiggins has missed the past 21 games for the Warriors due to personal reasons. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Golden State expects him to return to the lineup this week.
- Shams Charania reported on Monday that the Mavericks are considering shutting Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving down for the team’s final three games of the regular season. Dallas is currently the No. 11 seed in the West, one game back from No. 10, with a 37-42 record.
