OG Anunoby delivered a spectacular shooting performance, connecting on 70% of his three-point attempts while leading all scorers with 31 points, as the New York Knicks dominated the Chicago Bulls 136-96 at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night. Mitchell Robinson contributed 17 points and 11 rebounds in the commanding victory that saw the home team establish a commanding 20-1 advantage early and maintain control throughout.
The return of Jalen Brunson to the starting lineup provided an additional boost for New York (50-28), as he recorded 17 points and 10 assists. The milestone victory marked the franchise’s 50th win of the season for the third year running. New York displayed exceptional efficiency, converting 52.7% of their field goal attempts (48 of 91) and 89.2% from the charity stripe (25 of 28), while capitalizing on Chicago’s miscues for 28 points off 16 turnovers.
Anunoby’s long-range accuracy was particularly devastating, as he connected on seven of his 10 three-point attempts with multiple makes in each of the first three quarters. The lopsided nature of the contest allowed New York to rest their key players for the entire final period. Anunoby also collected eight rebounds while Mikal Bridges chipped in 12 points.
Chicago’s offensive struggles were evident despite Collin Sexton’s team-leading 19 points off the bench, including four successful three-pointers in the opening half. The Bulls (29-48) continued their road woes, extending their away losing streak to seven games and dropping eight of their last nine contests. Chicago’s road record now stands at a dismal 11-27.
The visitors found themselves trailing by 19 points midway through the opening quarter after managing only three successful shots early on. New York’s dominance was highlighted by an 18-0 scoring run that essentially decided the outcome before the first quarter concluded.
Chicago’s starting unit struggled mightily, with Tre Jones leading their disappointing effort with 13 points and eight assists. The Bulls’ starters were outscored by an embarrassing 84-42 margin against their New York counterparts.
Robinson was particularly effective in the first half, scoring 15 of his 17 total points as the Knicks built a lead that reached 41 points during the second quarter. Brunson, who missed Wednesday’s 130-119 victory over Memphis due to right ankle discomfort, contributed nine first-quarter points and added eight more in the third period.
The Knicks extended their perfect record against teams with losing records to 11 consecutive victories while controlling the glass 54-36. Chicago’s playoff drought will extend to four straight seasons and eight times in the past nine years.
Matas Buzelis provided 11 points and six rebounds for the Bulls, while Leonard Miller added 14 points and six rebounds in the losing effort.
Jeremy Sochan came off the bench to contribute seven points and eight rebounds for New York, which improved to 7-1 in their last eight home contests and won their fifth straight at Madison Square Garden. The victory improved the Knicks’ home record to an impressive 28-9.
The defeat extended Chicago’s current losing streak to six games and marked their eighth loss in nine outings. Five of their six losses during this stretch have come by margins of 18 points or more.
