But there is a simpler thought of where the Knicks are right now. It's one that Josh Hart voiced out loud following the win over the Houston Rockets Monday when the Knicks wiped out a double-digit, fourth-quarter lead with Jalen Brunson taking over at the end.

But Jalen Brunson passed the eye test. He’s a carrier and said it comes from his mother, Sandra. “She keeps me focused, she keeps me grounded,” Brunson said. “My dad pushed me to be the best player I can be.

Thanks to Jalen Brunson, the New York Knicks were OK without OG.

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.

Brunson’s response? A signature takeover performance. The first-time All-Star starter erupted for 42 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds on 14-of-27 shooting from the field and 9-of-10 from the foul line, leading the Knicks to a 124-118 victory — a bounce-back win after Saturday’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers and their sixth win in seven games.