Brunson scores inefficient 21 points in loss

Coming off his most efficient performance of the season in Wednesday’s win over the Bulls, Brunson cooled off against the 76ers. Given the gap between Philadelphia and Chicago, that isn’t too surprising. However, Brunson is shooting 39.5 percent from the field through six games, which is a big reason his current fantasy value isn’t matching preseason expectations.

After shooting 36.6 percent from the field in New York’s first four games, Brunson snapped out of that funk on Wednesday. Shooting 52 percent from the field and 6-of-10 from beyond the arc, the Knicks point guard finished with season highs in points, assists, steals and three-pointers. Despite the Knicks not arriving in Chicago until about 2 AM Wednesday, Brunson delivered an impressive showing.

Ausar Thompson hounded Brunson for most of the night, which contributed to the low field-goal percentage. A busy night at the foul line boosted the point total, and the Knicks guard dished out seven assists, so Brunson gave fantasy managers some value on Tuesday. He’ll look to bounce back on Wednesday against the Bulls.

Brunson led all scorers with 28 points, but the Magic made him work for every shot that he took. The Knicks’ point guard needed 28 field-goal attempts to reach that total, and he made 1-of-7 from beyond the arc. As a team, New York shot 9-of-38 from three while Orlando was 18-of-42. Essentially, that was the ballgame. Brunson has been inefficient as a scorer so far, and things won’t get any easier for him when the Pistons visit MSG on Tuesday.

Brunson’s gotten off to a slow start by his standards, shooting 13-of-32 from the field in New York’s first two games. The Knicks star also didn’t shoot well from the foul line, missing three of his six attempts in Boston. Those rostering Brunson don’t have much to worry about, as the season is only two games old. However, they would certainly like to see him clean up his shooting in Sunday’s game against the Magic.

Brunson was back in the lineup after skipping Tuesday’s matchup against the Raptors, which was the second night of a preseason back-to-back. The 30-year-old point guard led the Knicks with 20 points in the 122-120 victory. Brunson has averaged at least 26 points in each of the last three years, making him a rock solid pick late in the second round of fantasy drafts.

Monday’s game was the first of two in as many nights for the Knicks, who visit the Raptors on Tuesday. Even if Brunson and the other starters are available, they may not play much in New York’s final road game this preseason. Unsurprisingly, Brunson was the most productive starter against the Timberwolves, and he’ll lead the way offensively on many nights during the regular season.

Brunson and the other Knicks starters were done for the night at halftime, and the reigning NBA Finals MVP looked sharp in his 15 minutes. Given the workload he’ll carry once the results count, fantasy managers shouldn’t expect much from Brunson during the preseason, aside from a potential “dress rehearsal” in their finale. He’s worth considering in the second round of standard drafts and shouldn’t fall past the end of the third.

The episode is set to air on NBC and Peacock on September 26. After leading the Knicks to their first championship in 53 years, Brunson, the reigning Finals MVP, is on top of the basketball world. Now he’ll join a long line of pro athletes who have hosted Saturday Night Live. Brunson had offseason wrist surgery, but he’s expected to be ready for training camp later this month. The 30-year-old point guard has an ADP in the late-second round of fantasy drafts.

Despite an injured left wrist, Brunson led the Knicks to their first NBA title since 1973 this past spring. Now focused on retaining the crown for another season, the star point guard is in a good place health-wise after undergoing surgery on his left wrist earlier this summer. Brunson told the New York Post that he “feels good,” and he’s expected to be ready when training camp opens in late September. Given the timeline, fantasy managers should not have any concerns about Brunson’s availability. He should be either a second- or third-round pick in standard league drafts.