The New York Knicks concluded their regular season in impressive fashion, clinching the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference after a thrilling 120-119 overtime win against the Chicago Bulls. This victory marked the Knicks' best season since 2012-13, finishing with a record of 50-32.
Jalen Brunson delivered a stellar performance, scoring 40 points, grabbing eight rebounds, and dishing out seven assists. This remarkable display of skill earned Brunson his 11th 40-point game of the season, tying him with Knicks legend Patrick Ewing for the second-most 40-point games in a single season in franchise history.
Alongside Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo contributed 25 points to the Knicks' winning effort. On the opposing side, DeMar DeRozan led the Bulls with 30 points, supported by Nic Vucevic's 29 points and 11 rebounds, as well as Coby White's 26 points.
Despite the Bulls' strong performance, they finished in ninth place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 39-43. Chicago will face the Atlanta Hawks in a crucial matchup on Wednesday, with the winner advancing to play for the No. 8 seed in the playoffs.
Looking ahead, the Knicks will now await the outcome of the play-in game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Miami Heat on Wednesday. The winner of that matchup will face the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs.
As the regular season came to a close, the Bulls faced injury concerns with Ayo Dosunmu and Andre Drummond. Dosunmu suffered a bruised right quadricep, while Drummond dealt with a sprained left ankle. Their availability for Wednesday's game remains uncertain, posing a challenge for Chicago as they aim to secure a playoff spot.
With the postseason on the horizon, both the Knicks and the Bulls are gearing up for intense playoff battles as they strive for success in the Eastern Conference.
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