Knicks Notes: Jalen Brunson, Mitchell Robinson, RJ Barrett

The Knicks have had to deal with some outside hype coming into their building lately — first with James Harden and the Clippers, and then Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs coming to town a couple nights later.

New York won both, and fairly easily.

“Obviously this place is amazing, … the history, all that stuff,” guard Jalen Brunson told reporters of Madison Square Garden. “I think just for us, we just focus on what we can control and that’s sticking together and trying to be the best team we can be.”

• Mitchell Robinson did a nice job on Wembanyama, just as Robinson does on everyone. He told reporters before the game, “I’m not worried about his tallness, bro,” comparing defending Wembanyama to Kristaps Porzingis or Bol Bol.
• Guard RJ Barrett said Robinson delivered. “He backed up his words,” Barrett said, via Stefan Bondy of the New York Post.
• Brunson also offered praise for Robinson: “I think Mitch did a great job just understanding what Wemby likes to do, making it difficult for him,” Brunson said, via Bondy. “It’s the NBA. It’s really hard to stop people one-on-one. But I think Mitch did a great job of trying to make everything difficult for him. The whole team did.”
• By the way, Barrett is averaging a career-high 22.3 points through six games, shooting a sizzling 47 percent on 3-pointers. If he can keep this up, or something close, the Knicks may be going places.