Well, MVPs have a habit of raising their game to another level when co-stars, particularly ones as important as OG Anunoby, are out. And that’s exactly what the Knicks’ Jalen Brunson did.

While it was Precious Achiuwa who stepped into the starting spot vacated by Anunoby, who missed his first game of the season with a sprained right foot suffered Saturday night, it was the four remaining starters who picked up the slack,

Jalen Brunson had 42 points and 10 assists, breaking a tie with Carmelo Anthony for third on the franchise list with his 18th 40-point game with the Knicks, and New York beat the Houston Rockets 124-118 on Monday night.