DENVER — Jalen Brunson has played 440 NBA games, and 162 for the Knicks, but this was the best dishing night of his career.
The All-Star point guard recorded a career-high 17 assists to help the Knicks tie a franchise record with 45 in Monday’s 145-118 win over the Nuggets.
“For me it’s great to have that career high, but it’s a credit to [my teammates],” said Brunson, who also scored 23 points. “Everyone in this locker room works really hard. They put a lot into their game. I mean, literally, without them that wouldn’t be possible.”
When informed that former Villanova teammate and podcast co-host Josh Hart said the 17-assist night was “probably [something] you’ll never see again,” Brunson retorted, “Yeah, Josh is funny. I would have had more if I didn’t pass him the ball.”
Brunson became the first Knick since Nate Robinson in 2008-09 to post at least 20 points and 15 assists in the same game.
“I thought Jalen had an unbelievable floor game,” Tom Thibodeau said.
Precious Achiuwa and Mitchell Robinson accompanied the Knicks on the five-game road trip, and the first of those two injured big men appears to be closing in on a return to the lineup.
Achiuwa, who has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury near the end of the preseason, has been cleared for contact and could soon make his season debut, although it still isn’t likely to be on the trip that concludes with stops in Dallas (Wednesday) and Charlotte (Friday).
“Precious is doing pretty much everything now,” Thibodeau said before the game. “He’s gotten some contact. He’s at the next step. He’s getting close.
“And Mitch, obviously, just having him around, he hasn’t been cleared really to do anything other than the rehab part of it. But it’s good to see he’s progressing well, also. He’s not as close as Precious is, but we’re very encouraged with both guys.”
Robinson is expected to be out until at least December or January after undergoing surgery on his left ankle in May.
Asked if he believes Achiuwa will play on the road trip, Thibodeau added, “Nah. He’s not quite there yet. We just want to be patient. We don’t want this thing to be recurring. Let him get through it and when he’s ready, he’s ready.”
Miles McBride returned to the lineup after missing five games with a knee issue and scored 13 points in 27 minutes.