Jalen Brunson saw red and gouged the Bulls.
Then his teammates feasted on the carcass.
Brunson dropped 22 of his 33 points in the first quarter of a 135-105 Bull-dozing Wednesday night at MSG, an emphatic victory that will, at least temporarily, quiet the criticisms of New York’s sputtering offense to start their title defense.
The Knicks (4-4), winners of four of their last five games, tied a 38-year-old franchise record with 84 points in the first half, shooting a ridiculous 63 percent before the break — including 50 percent from beyond the arc.
The game was essentially sealed in the second quarter with New York’s 37-point advantage. Brunson shot 10-for-17 as the Knicks won his 28 minutes by 33 points. Karl-Anthony Towns added 17 points and 12 rebounds.
OG Anunoby had 18 points with three steals and 11 converted free throws.
The Knicks lived at the foul line, going 30-for-37, as the refs operated as if they were paid by the whistle. The teams combined for 65 free throws.
All the Knicks starters were pulled for extended garbage time, which was the entire fourth quarter.
The landslide victory followed the Knicks’ much closer win in Chicago about a week prior, when Brunson went off for 38 points.
He must enjoy the matchup against the Bulls (1-7), who were a defensive calamity Wednesday and projected as one of the NBA’s worst this season.
Before the onslaught, the Knicks were in a scoring rut, falling to 21st in the NBA in offensive rating — a position unbecoming of reigning champs.
Josh Hart, who sat out Wednesday’s victory with ankle soreness, said the team hadn’t yet recovered from a short and celebratory offseason.
“I think it’s a tough spot. It’s kinda like a little conundrum because obviously we played into mid-June. Then in the summer, obviously you’re working out, you’re doing that, but you also are enjoying the fruits of the labor of winning in terms of going to brand [appearances]. Off the court, it’s kind of booming for you,” said Hart, who was replaced in the lineup by Landry Shamet (seven points, 24 minutes). “So, you’re doing all of that, so that takes a little bit of a wear on you. And then you get into it. So, sometimes the body has to kinda catch up.”
The Knicks looked all caught up Wednesday.
Next up is a little tougher matchup: at Cleveland (4-4) on Saturday.
