While Bridges is stuck on the Brooklyn Bridge with sadness written across his face after another disappointing loss and aiming to be eliminated from the play-in tournament as well, the Knicks, led by his former college teammates, are having a lot of fun.
Donte DiVincenzo led the Knicks’ fourth-quarter surge by blowing the game wide open with 13 of his game-high 31 points.
DiVincenzo scored 10 of the Knicks’ first 12 points in the fourth quarter after an 80-80 tie. Hart had the other two points on a putback in that 12-0 Knicks run.
With DiVincenzo catching fire, there was no need for a big game from Jalen Brunson. However, Brunson, the biggest star among Villanova’s four teammates, still made his presence felt.
Brunson dished out a game-high eight assists with 17 points, four rebounds and one steal.
The Knicks’ fast-rising third-year guard Miles McBride also had his second 20-point game in his last three games. McBride added 26 points in 48 minutes while pinching Cam Thomas, who finished with just 19 points on 14 shots.
Isaiah Hartenstein had 17 points and 9 rebounds with 4 steals and 2 blocks.
“We’re playing more unselfish basketball right now and that’s fun for me,” Hartenstein told reporters after the win.