With Jalen Brunson sidelined recovering from a right ankle sprain, the Knicks have had to replace the captain’s scoring output as a committee.

SAN ANTONIO — When Jalen Brunson went down in Los Angeles a little over a week ago, with his ankle turned in the opposite direction, all eyes shifted toward Mikal Bridges as the man who needed to step up in his absence.

Josh Hart jokingly attributes the Knicks' recent defensive success to Jalen Brunson's absence after their win over the Kings.