The NEW York Knicks beat the Chicago Bulls with a score of 120-119 through extra time or overtime in the NBA match at Madison Square Garden New York, Monday (15/4) WIB.
The victory over the Bulls secured the Knicks’ position in second place in the NBA’s Eastern Conference final standings because the Milwaukee Bucks lost to the Orlando Magic.
The Knicks and Bucks, who before their last match had both collected 49 wins and 32 losses (49-32) with the Bucks in second place because they were superior in the meeting between the two teams, have now swapped positions in the final standings of the NBA Eastern Conference for the 2023-2024 season.
The Knicks made their final record 50-32, while the Bucks were 49-33 in a 113-88 loss to the Magic.
Based on match statistics quoted from the official NBA website, Jalen Brunson closed one of the best regular seasons in team history with his 11th 40 points. Donte DiVincenzo added 25 points for the Knicks.
The Knicks finished the season with a 50-32 record, their best season since a 54-28 record that also finished second in the standings in the 2012-2013 season.
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Brunson finished with 40 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists, tying Patrick Ewing’s record for the second-most 40 points in a season by a Knicks player. Hall of Famer Bernard King also did it 13 times in 1984-1985, when he set a team record with 32.9 points per game.
DeMar DeRozan scored 30 points for the Bulls, but one of the NBA’s best players missed a shot with 2.8 seconds left in overtime.
Nic Vucevic added 29 points plus 11 rebounds, and Coby White scored 26 points for the Bulls.
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The Bulls finished in ninth place in the Eastern Conference with a 39-43 record and will face the 10th ranked Atlanta Hawks in the play-in round, Thursday (18/4).
If the Bulls win, they will have to beat the winner of the seventh-ranked road game against the eighth-ranked two days later to earn a spot in the playoffs.
Despite having the only playoff scenario determined heading into the final day of the regular season, the Bulls opted to play their fittest players throughout the game.
Coach Billy Donovan said Ayo Dosunmu has a right quadriceps injury, and Andre Drummond has a sprained left ankle. Both were said to still be in pain and discomfort, unsure if either would be ready for the first game of the play-in round. (Ant/Z-1)
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