NEW YORK — Karl-Anthony Towns was lost, in that good way. He had just clasped his fourth rebound in a four-and-a-half minute stretch and, with both hands on the ball, swung his elbows to ensure no prying hands would knock the ball loose. He nodded and ...

Jalen Brunson had an astounding crossover move on Anthony Black in the Knicks' NBA Cup showdown against the Magic on Saturday night.

“He’s smart, man,” said Orlando guard Jalen Suggs, one of the better point-of-attack defenders in the NBA. “He’s got good pace, and he’s really smart. He doesn’t really get too bored with the game. He doesn’t get too bored keeping it simple. He challenges you every possession.

Brunson gets by with elite footwork that is second to none and that Brown compares to Kobe Bryant’s. Brunson’s ability to routinely play off two feet keeps him in control of himself and a defender. It’s the fundamentals that separate him from a lot of the other elite scorers in the NBA.

It is no surprise that Jalen Brunson is a fan favorite in New York city. After guiding the New York Knicks to the Eastern Conference Finals last season for the first time in 25 years, Brunson has been an indispensable star for the Knicks.

As great as Davis is, at 33 years old, he’s more like a car that turns heads—then stalls before hitting the block. A calf injury has already kept him out of 13