NEW YORK: Jalen Brunson capped probably the greatest common seasons in franchise historical past along with his eleventh 40-point sport, carrying the New York Knicks into the No. 2 seed within the Eastern Conference with a 120-119 time beyond regulation victory over the Chicago Bulls on Sunday.

The Knicks completed 50-32, their greatest season since going 54-28 and in addition incomes a No. 2 seed in 2012-13. They moved previous Milwaukee after the Bucks misplaced earlier Sunday in Orlando, and can await the winner of the play-in sport between Philadelphia and Miami on Wednesday.

Brunson completed with 40 factors, eight rebounds and 7 assists, and tied Patrick Ewing for the second-most 40-point video games in a single season by a Knicks participant. Hall of Famer Bernard King did it 13 occasions in 1984-85, when he set a franchise document with 32.9 factors per sport.

Brunson completed up at 28.7, tying Carmelo Anthony for third.

Donte DiVincenzo added 25 factors for the Knicks.

DeMar DeRozan scored 30 factors for the Bulls, however one of many NBA’s greatest clutch finishers missed a brief jumper with 2.8 seconds remaining in OT. Nic Vucevic added 29 factors and 11 rebounds, and Coby White scored 26 factors.

Chicago completed ninth within the East at 39-43 and can host No. 10 Atlanta on Wednesday. If they win that, the Bulls must beat the winner of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 sport on the street Friday to earn the No. 8 seed within the playoffs.

Despite having one of many solely playoff eventualities that was decided going into the ultimate day of the common season, the Bulls opted to play their wholesome gamers all through the sport. Coach Billy Donovan stated Ayo Dosunmu (bruised proper quadricep) and Andre Drummond (sprained left ankle) had been each nonetheless feeling ache and discomfort and was uncertain if both could be prepared for Wednesday’s win-or-out sport.

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