Knicks breeze by Kings to snap three-game skid in first win without Jalen Brunson

SACRAMENTO — The Knicks didn’t just win their first game since Jalen Brunson’s sprained ankle.

They dominated the Kings.

In their first double-digit victory in almost a month, New York’s offense was humming behind a balanced attack.

It got rejuvenated performances from Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and Miles McBride in a 133-104 breeze Monday night at the Golden 1 Center.

“Obviously we had three losses in a row, obviously we didn’t [have Brunson], so it felt good to have a game like this,” Hart said. “You need games like this to up guys’ confidence and have guys feeling good.”

Each starter dropped at least 15 points, with Towns leading all scorers with 26. Anunoby was a force with 24 points, eight assists and seven boards.

McBride dropped 21 points with seven assists.

Hart rediscovered his 3-point host, burying 4-of-6 from beyond the arc.

He had been off from long range for weeks, citing his persistent knee pain as a hindrance.

But two days off between games worked wonders.

The Knicks (41-23), who snapped a three-game losing streak Monday, led by 15 after the first quarter and 26 after the third.

The win never seemed in doubt.

Apparently the key to winning without Brunson is community contribution.

“The challenge is you’re not going to replace Jalen individually,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “We understand that. We have to do it collectively.”

Three nights earlier, they looked utterly lost offensively against the Clippers. The team hoped that a practice Sunday and shootaround Monday would correlate to a better understanding of how to play without Brunson.

It worked out.

“I mean it’s good when you could go out there and show better, a great version of y’all selves,” Towns said. “I thought we did a great job of moving the ball, high assist game, playing as a team. The defense stayed for the last two games. Just continue to put the building blocks together. “

The Knicks had a clear scheduling advantage. The Kings (33-31) played an overtime loss the night prior in Los Angeles to the Clippers, then flew back home for the back-to-back.

The Knicks had two days off — which they mostly spent in sunny L.A. — and arrived in Sacramento rejuvenated.

They took a double-digit lead for good late in the first quarter, with McBride as the engine in a perfect first 12 minutes — 15 points, 5-for-5 from the field, 3-for-3 on treys.

It was a much different sight than three nights prior against the Clippers, when McBride started his first game of the season and struggled with just seven points on 2-of-13 shooting.

The Knicks need McBride to produce as the replacement for Brunson, who is out for weeks with a sprained ankle.

The consensus was McBride would bounce back.

The consensus was correct.

“Deuce can do it,” Thibodeau said. “I’ve seen him have huge games there. So I have a lot of confidence in his ability.”

The Knicks successfully avoided their season’s first four-game losing streak while picking up their first win of the Western Conference road trip (they’re 1-2).

They next face the Blazers on Wednesday, followed by the trip finale in Golden State against Draymond Green on Saturday.