Knicks 135, Bulls 105: Brunson's Fast Start, Historic Half

The Knicks didn't just beat the Bulls on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden — they buried them early. New York scored 84 points in the first half, tying a franchise record, and rolled to a 135-105 win over Chicago. Jalen Brunson set the tone with 22 points in the first quarter alone, and the game was effectively decided before halftime.

The final score landed almost exactly where our model projected. We called a 125-110 New York win; the Knicks delivered a 30-point margin instead of 15, but the direction was right.

Our premium pick: Knicks -12.5 — HIT. New York covered by 17.5 points, winning by 30. The number was large, but the matchup — a good team in a bad mood hosting a reeling one on the road — played out exactly as expected. Chicago's defense, allowing nearly 129 points per game, had no answer.

Our total: Over 234.5 — HIT. The teams combined for 240 points, clearing the number by 5.5. The Knicks' 84-point first half did most of the work. Our model projected 236.6, and the actual total came in close to that mark.

Our moneyline: New York -600 — would have cashed. We stayed away from the moneyline as a value play, and the Knicks won comfortably.

The takeaway is straightforward: when a strong defensive team with a chip on its shoulder faces a bottom-tier offense and a porous defense, the margin can exceed even an aggressive projection. The model's read on the matchup was sound, and the blowout validated the process. For future picks, don't be afraid of a big number when the underlying profile screams mismatch — but keep leaning on the total when the pace and defensive numbers align this clearly.