During the 2022 offseason, Jalen Brunson and Isaiah Hartenstein both joined the New York Knicks together. Brunson was coming off a career year with the Dallas Mavericks while Hartenstein had a strong season with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Twenty-one games into his tenure with Oklahoma City, Isaiah has adapted. Still, playing at Madison Square Garden for the first time since Hartenstein signed a three-year deal, $87 million contract with the Thunder, the venue Isaiah called home for two seasons, is unique.

The New York Knicks: don't knock them until you've tried them. Isaiah Hartenstein has spent the past three seasons at the opposite ends of the NBA rotation mana

But with Hartenstein, the Knicks were limited to offering a max of four years, $72.5 million. The Thunder gave up three years, $87 million. The reason for New York’s restrictions was it originally signed Hartenstein to a two-year deal, so operated with only his partial Bird Rights. Oklahoma City signed him using straight cap space.

The Knicks brought a nine-game winning streak into Friday night's game against Isaiah Hartenstein's Thunder and Oklahoma City had won 13 in a row.

"You don’t really know the true ability or unselfishness of a player until you are teammates," Josh Hart said. "In LA with the Clippers, he was solid. But he got to New York and played a style and brand of basketball that Thibs loves. And then his personality – he was a great locker room guy for us. Unselfish."

Jalen Brunson had 27 points and five assists. He shot 12-of-12 from the free-throw line. Karl-Anthony Towns turned in a 23-point and 10-rebound double-double. Josh Hart had a 16-point and 10-rebound double-double.