PHOENIX — In a commanding performance, Jalen Brunson scored 36 points and Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 34, leading the New York Knicks to a 138-122 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night. This marks New York’s fourth consecutive win.

All five starters for the Knicks finished in double digits, with Josh Hart posting 19 points, along with 11 rebounds and six assists.

For the Suns, Devin Booker had a solid outing with 33 points on 12-of-23 shooting, while Jusuf Nurkic added 14 points and 12 rebounds. However, the Suns, plagued by injuries, have now suffered five straight losses.

The Knicks started off strong, never trailing during the match. They hit their first eight shots, including four successful three-pointers. By the end of the first quarter, they had established a 44-28 lead. They continued to dominate, taking a 76-58 lead into halftime, with Brunson scoring 23 points before the break on an impressive 8-for-9 shooting performance, including hitting all four of his three-point attempts.

The Suns attempted to rally and narrowed the gap to 88-77 midway through the third quarter, but the Knicks quickly countered with an 11-2 run to regain control.

Notably, Suns superstar Kevin Durant missed his seventh consecutive game due to a left calf strain, and fellow All-Star Bradley Beal was sidelined for the fifth consecutive game, also suffering from a strained left calf.

**Key Takeaways**

**Knicks:** New York appears to be evolving into the team many expected when they acquired Towns, a four-time All-Star, prior to the season. The depth and scoring ability of their starting lineup pose challenges for opposing defenses.

**Suns:** Phoenix has faced significant difficulties lately, but their recent struggles can’t solely be attributed to injuries. Their defensive performance against the Knicks was lackluster, allowing easy transition baskets and open looks from beyond the arc.

**Key Moment:** Brunson’s three-pointer on the opening possession set the tone for what was to follow throughout the game.

**Key Stat:** The Knicks’ shooting accuracy was impressive, as they converted 18 of 23 attempts (78.3%) in the first quarter, including 8 of 11 from three-point range (72.7%).

Looking ahead, the Knicks will travel to Utah for their next game on Saturday, while the Suns will host the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.