Knicks 123, Trail Blazers 114: Jalen Brunson posts 46.2 fantasy points
Tyler Okonkwo
Student & Retail Associate ยท Houston Rockets fan
Brunson Stays Cold, But Knicks Defense Smothers Blazers in Portland
Jalen Brunson dropped 26 points on the Knicks' 123-114 road win, but here's the thing: he finished 2.2 points below his season average of 28.2. That's the story right there. The All-NBA Second Teamer showed up, sure, but he didn't go off. Meanwhile, Deni Avdija nearly matched him at 25 points for Portland and nobody's talking about it because the Knicks' complementary guys finally clicked at the same time. This wasn't a "Brunson carries the Knicks" game. It was a "complete team performance in the fourth quarter" game, and that matters way more for your fantasy lineup.
Tonight's Top Performers
| Player | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | vs Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jalen Brunson | 46.2 | 26/6/8 | 28.2/3.2/6.1 | -2.2/+2.8/+1.9 |
| Mikal Bridges | 45.2 | 18/6/6 | 16.1/4.6/4.3 | +1.9/+1.4/+1.7 |
| Deni Avdija | 44.0 | 25/5/4 | 26.1/7.1/6.9 | -1.1/-2.1/-2.9 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | 41.7 | 20/11/3 | 20.9/11.5/2.9 | -0.9/-0.5/+0.1 |
| Mitchell Robinson | 40.2 | 6/11/2 | 4.6/9.0/1.1 | +1.4/+2.0/+0.9 |
| OG Anunoby | 38.9 | 24/7/3 | 15.9/5.4/2.1 | +8.1/+1.6/+0.9 |
The Winners
OG Anunoby was the real star tonight. 24 points, 7 boards, 38 minutes of work and he was +8.1 from his 15.9 season average. That's the kind of breakout that makes you think "wait, is this guy breaking through?" He went 9-15 from the field and hit 4 threes. That efficiency doesn't come around every night, but it matters. If you're in a league where OG is sitting on waivers, this is your sign to grab him before someone else connects the dots.
Mitchell Robinson continues to be a pick-and-roll monster. 11 rebounds in 25 minutes, +2.0 above his season average on the glass. The Knicks' defensive identity is anchored by him and he's quietly putting up top-50 value when healthy. He's been dropped in some leagues (probably because of past injuries), but right now he's filling the stat sheet.
Mikal Bridges wasn't the flashy performer, but +45.2 FP with a modest 18/6/6 line tells you the Knicks offense is moving through all five guys. He's All-NBA caliber and nights like this prove it. Not every game needs to be 30 points.
The Letdowns
Jrue Holiday went 2-7 from the field and played only 16 minutes. That's -7.5 points from his season average. For an All-Defensive First Teamer who's supposed to be a foundation piece in Portland, this was rough. The Knicks shut down the perimeter and Holiday got caught in the middle. If you have him, don't panic yet, but watch the next two games closely. One stinker isn't a trend.
Donovan Clingan only grabbed 8 boards in 29 minutes, a -2.9 from his season average. He's a rim-runner with upside, but the Knicks' length completely disrupted Portland's inside game. This is more a defensive matchup issue than a Clingan problem, but it's worth noting if you're starting him against New York-style defense going forward.
The Trends
Here's what jumped out: Karl-Anthony Towns played only 27 minutes despite dropping 20/11. That's a workload shift. The Knicks are managing his minutes this season after injury concerns, so don't assume he'll maintain this production on reduced workload. Josh Hart played 30 minutes (season avg around 30ish) and chipped in 18/3/6, proving he's a third-scoring-option kind of guy now. That's different from last season's depth role.
The Blazers got torched from three. The Knicks hit 12 threes as a team and Portland's perimeter defense looked lost at times. Caleb Love came off the bench and went 8-18 from the field with 5 threes for 21 points, +10.1 above his season average of 10.9. That's a lottery ball hit from fantasy land, but it's also the definition of a game-specific fluke. Don't rush to add him based on this.
The Moves
Add: OG Anunoby if available. That +8.1 game is real. He's been in a shooting slump this season and if he's breaking out of it, you want him in your lineup. He's getting 34+ minutes, and he's got shot-creation upside in this Knicks system.
Drop: Miles McBride. He played 35 minutes and put up 8 points on 3-11 shooting. The Knicks are deep, he's a role guy, and better guys are available. This was ugly.
Trade target: Deni Avdija. He's still putting up 26/7/7 season average numbers and people might be selling low after a down stretch. This game proved he's still the engine for Portland's offense. If someone's panicking on him, get him now.
Next Up
Knicks stay out West, head to face another team. Blazers head home to regroup. Watch whether Portland's perimeter defense tightens up or if they stay porous. Watch Karl-Anthony Towns' minute allocation. If the Knicks keep capping him at 27 minutes, his value takes a hit. And keep an eye on OG. One more night like this and he's not a waiver wire special anymore.