Backcourt duo powers Knicks past Hornets

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Nov 18, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) embraces guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) during the first quarter against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center.
Nov 18, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) embraces guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) during the first quarter against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center.
Image: Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports

Jalen Brunson poured in 32 points and Donte DiVincenzo drained seven 3-pointers on the way to a season-high 25 points as the visiting New York Knicks kept rolling by defeating the Charlotte Hornets 122-108 on Saturday night.

Julius Randle provided 21 points as the Knicks won for the sixth time in their past seven games. New York has also won straight road games.

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The Knicks had starting guard/forward RJ Barrett back in the lineup after he missed the last three games because of an illness. He supplied 15 points despite 5-for-15 shooting from the floor.

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Brunson went 12-for-21 from the field, sinking four treys in the Knicks' second convincing victory against Charlotte in a seven-day span. New York beat the Hornets 129-107 last Sunday.

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LaMelo Ball tallied 34 points, aided by eight 3-pointers, and rookie Brandon Miller had a season-best 29 points, but the Hornets were saddled with their fourth loss in a row.

Miles Bridges came off the Charlotte bench for 19 points on 8-for-12 shooting. He was playing his second game since completing an NBA suspension stemming from a domestic violence case.

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DiVincenzo's previous season high was 16 points, but he found a groove on Saturday. He sank two 3-pointers in the final 5 1/2 minutes of the game and finished 7-for-10 from beyond the arc.

With the Knicks leading 96-88, Barrett scored five straight points as part of New York's 7-0 run that helped seal the outcome.

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Knicks center Mitchell Robinson pulled in a game-high 14 rebounds, with 11 of those on the offensive end.

Hornets starting forward P.J. Washington was nearly held scoreless in 33 minutes, missing his first eight shots before hitting a 3-pointer in the final minute.

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The Knicks broke out to a 20-9 lead in the first quarter and later held a 15-point edge in the second. The Hornets got back in it before DiVincenzo's 3-pointer and Brunson's layup capped the first half, putting New York up 61-50 at the break.

—Field Level Media