Jalen Brunson exploded for a career-best 50 points and the New York Knicks downed the Suns in Phoenix 139-122 in the last game on Saturday’s NBA slate (all times AEDT).

Brunson finished with 50 points on a perfect 9-of-9 from three-point land including 17-of-23 from the field overall, adding six rebounds, nine assists and five steals in 35 minutes a dominant performance.

Afterwards, Julius Randle made sure Brunson got the game ball, holding it in the air before personally delivering it to him in a hilarious moment in reference to the drama this week involving Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Indiana Pacers.

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Brunson’s effort was the equal fourth highest-scoring performance from a player in the NBA this season, while he became the fourth player to score 50-plus points in a game, joining Giannis Antetokounmpo (twice), Zach LaVine, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.

Randle and RJ Barrett chipped in 23 and 21 points respectively and the Knicks improved to 14-10 on the season to jump Indiana and claim the Eastern Conference’s fifth seed.

The Suns meanwhile lost Bradley Beal to an ankle injury after a four-point play when Donte DiVinzenzo got underneath him, with the star guard making the free throw before exiting the game and not returning.

While the severity of the setback isn’t clear, it was just Beal’s third game back from a month-long absence and only he, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant’s second regular season game together.

The Suns fell to 13-12 overall despite strong showings from Durant (29 points, six assists) and Booker (28 points, nine assists). 

SPURS END 18-GAME SKID IN WEMBY’S FIRST CLASH AGAINST LEBRON

French sensation Victor Wembanyama came out on top in his first tussle with NBA superstar LeBron James Saturday as the San Antonio Spurs snapped their 18-game losing streak with a 129-115 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Two days after falling to the Lakers in a game that James sat out, the Spurs halted the longest losing streak in franchise history.

Devin Vassell scored a career-high 36 points for San Antonio and seven Spurs players – including Wembanyama – scored in double figures.

Wembanyama, whose arrival in the league has been compared to that of James 20 years ago, scored 13 points and grabbed 15 rebounds with five assists, two blocked shots and two steals.

It was the 19-year-old rookie’s fifth game this season with multiple blocks and multiple steals.

James, the four-time NBA champion who will turn 39 this month, scored 23 points with seven rebounds and 14 assists.

But without Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell and Cam Reddish the Lakers trailed from start to finish.

James impressed with an early steal and dunk, but the Spurs led by as many as 25 in the first half and for once were able to make the lead stand up.

Los Angeles cut the deficit to four points shortly before halftime, but the Spurs kept the pressure on after the break, outscoring the Lakers 29-25 in the third period to take a 98-87 lead into the final quarter.

The Lakers pulled their starters midway through the fourth and the young Spurs team were able to celebrate their first victory since a November 3 triumph over Phoenix.

ELSEWHERE …

There was no respite, however, for the Detroit Pistons, who suffered a franchise-record 22nd straight defeat with a 124-92 loss to the 76ers in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia’s NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid scored 35 points and pulled down 13 rebounds for his ninth straight double-double.

Tyrese Maxey added 19 points for the Sixers, who won their fifth straight. The Pistons had matched their longest-ever losing streak with a loss to Philadelphia on Thursday.

Their skid is the sixth-longest in a single season in NBA history. Cleveland in 2010-11 and Philadelphia in 2013-14 share the record for the longest at 26 straight defeats.

The Eastern Conference-leading Boston Celtics remained unbeaten at home, riding 30 points from Jayson Tatum to a 128-111 victory over the upstart Orlando Magic.

Derrick White added 19 points, Jaylen Brown scored 18 and Payton Pritchard added 21 off the bench for the Celtics, who improved to 13-0 at TD Garden and 19-5 for the season despite missing Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford and Luke Kornet.

Jalen Suggs scored 19 points for the Magic, who dropped to fourth in the East behind the Celtics, Bucks and 76ers.

Elsewhere, Trae Young scored 38 points and handed out 11 assists to fuel the Atlanta Hawks in a 125-104 victory over the Raptors in Toronto.

Later, the Houston Rockets took down the Grizzlies 103-96 as Dillon Brooks starred against his old side in the forward’s first game back in Memphis.

Brooks, who signed a four-year, $80 million deal with the Rockets during the off-season, tallied a team-high 26 points – 24 in the second half alone – with three triples and seven rebounds.

After hitting a dagger three, Brooks reportedly sledged: “That’s why they paid me four for $80 (million),” according to Grizzlies beat writer Damichael Cole.

It marked Houston’s fifth-straight win – and second in a row over Memphis – to improve to 13-9 on the season and climb into the Western Conference’s sixth seed.

Desmond Bane’s 28 points led all scorers, with the Memphis stud drilling four threes to go with 12 rebounds.

The 6-18 Grizzlies, who are to set to welcome Ja Morant back from his 25-game suspension next week as well as potentially Marcus Smart from injury, suffered their fourth-straight loss.

ALL SCORES

PACERS 123 WIZARDS 137

PISTONS 92 76ERS 124

PELICANS 112 HORNETS 107

LAKERS 115 SPURS 129

HAWKS 125 RAPTORS 104

MAGIC 111 CELTICS 128

ROCKETS 103 GRIZZLIES 96

KNICKS 139 SUNS 122