New York Knicks 135, Chicago Bulls 105: an 84-point first half ended it early

The Knicks settled this one in the first 24 minutes. They scored 43 in the first quarter and 41 in the second, went to the locker room up 84-52, and coasted to a 135-105 win over the Bulls at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night.

Jalen Brunson led everyone with 33 points and made 5 of 10 from three. The win puts New York back at .500, 4-4, after an 0-3 start, and it is the second time in eight games the Knicks have beaten Chicago.

How it was won

The first quarter was the game. New York outscored Chicago 43-21, and the second quarter was nearly as lopsided at 41-31. Chicago's largest lead all night was 2. New York's was 44.

The second half was a wash on the scoreboard. The Knicks took the third 29-27 and the Bulls took the fourth 26-22, which is what happens when a lead of that size lets both benches finish the night.

The box score explains the gap. New York shot 44 of 87 from the field, 51 percent, and 17 of 40 from three. Chicago shot 37 of 96, 39 percent, and went 10 of 44 from deep. That is 21 more points from three for the Knicks on four fewer attempts.

The glass was just as one-sided. New York outrebounded Chicago 57-34, and Karl-Anthony Towns had 17 points and 12 rebounds while going 2 of 2 from three. The Knicks also got to the line more often, making 30 of 37 free throws to Chicago's 21 of 28.

OG Anunoby added 18 points and five rebounds, though he made only 1 of 6 from three. The Knicks had 27 assists against 14 turnovers.

The Bulls did win the paint, 52-48, and committed fewer turnovers, 11 to 14. It did not matter against that shooting and rebounding margin. Tre Jones and Jaylin Sellers led Chicago with 14 points each, Sellers going 4 of 7 from three. Matas Buzelis had 12 points and five rebounds but missed 5 of his 6 threes.

Against the number

The Knicks closed as 11.5-point favorites and won by 30, covering by 18.5. On the moneyline, New York closed at -570 and Chicago at +427, prices that reflected a one-sided matchup, and the game played out that way.

The total closed at 233.5, and 240 points went up, so the over came in by 6.5. Most of that was the first half, when the two teams combined for 136. The second half produced 104, and the over still held with room to spare.

The full closing board for this one is on the game page.

What's next

New York has won three of its last four, with the only loss in that stretch a 98-93 defeat at Philadelphia. The Knicks go on the road Saturday, November 7, to face the Cleveland Cavaliers, on NBA TV and DAZN CLE. It is a sharper test than Chicago and a chance to get above .500 for the first time this season.

Chicago falls to 1-7. Both of its losses to New York this season came with the Bulls conceding more than 130 points, and the shooting from three, 10 of 44 on Wednesday, is the first thing to fix before its next game.