PORTLAND, Ore. — Tom Thibodeau revealed that Jalen Brunson, not far faraway from his scary knee contusion, was operating on a minutes restriction within the games leading as much as his 45-point gem in Thursday’s 105-93 win over the Trail Blazers.
Brunson played a median of lower than half-hour in his previous three games — including 27 in Tuesday’s win over the Sixers.
It was the fewest minutes Brunson logged since Jan. 9, not counting the 47-second appearance before suffering the knee contusion in Cleveland on March 3.
But then Brunson played 38 minutes against the Blazers, above his season average, and dissected the defense with the midrange game and trademark footwork.
He shot just 2 of 10 from beyond the arc but went to the road 17 times.
“I’ve had games where I’ve made a variety of 2s and no 3s, and I’m pretty sure I had one game this 12 months where I made all 3s and no 2s. It happens,” Brunson said. “Just all about keeping my confidence, not worrying, second-guessing, just playing through it. It’s all the time going to be a roller coaster. Just got to maintain my mentality and mind straight. That’s the one thing I can control.”
Though Brunson’s restrictions were finished, Isaiah Hartenstein’s continued with just 23 minutes on Thursday. He hasn’t played greater than 27 minutes in a game since getting back from his last Achilles re-aggravation on Feb. 8.
“I don’t [know],” Thibodeau said of when Hartenstein’s minutes restriction will end. “He’s feeling lots higher as well, in order that’s the positive. Obviously, getting OG has added lots. So now Precious [Achuiwa] goes more to the backup 5. After which we still have Jericho [Sims]. So we be ok with that.”
Hartenstein said he was ramping up his minutes to feel 100% by the playoffs.
Despite over a decade of NBA experience, Bojan Bogdanovic’s transition to the Knicks hadn’t been smooth heading into Thursday against the Blazers.
He was shooting just 41 percent with a minus-16.3 net rating, as his bench unit struggled in comparison with recent dominating performances from the starters.
“We just should be higher, be more aggressive defensively and offensively,” Bogdanovic said, who scored five points within the win. “You gotta be ready, especially when Jalen is off the court. The second unit gotta know find out how to run different sorts of set plays because obviously he isn’t there. After which defensively, we gotta keep the usual up, playing defense regardless of what’s happening offensively.”
Blazers center Deandre Ayton, who scored 31 points within the loss, went on a rant celebrating himself ahead of the matchup with the Knicks.
Ayton, who had just scored 33 points with 19 rebounds in Wednesday’s win over the Hawks, “thanked the haters,” called himself “dominant” and said “I’m wearing the cape” to carrying the Blazers “all the best way.”
“I just be attempting to bust that ass. That’s about it,” Ayton said. “Whether I appear like the bad guy or not, I’m attempting to be great. I’m attempting to be a winner on this league. I’m attempting to be often called that guy. Should you’re around me, you’re going to learn find out how to win.”
It was quite a rant from a player who missed a game this season because he didn’t shovel his driveway after a snowstorm. Ayton was the one player who didn’t make it to the sector against the Nets in January.
Asked about facing Ayton, Knicks backup center Achiuwa said, “I just go on the market and play basketball. I don’t care much about what individuals are saying and whatnot.”
