Knicks reach rare territory with abundance of assists

Eight different rotation players recorded assists Saturday night for the Knicks, including 11 apiece by Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. The Knicks’ 40 dimes on 52 made field goals against the Kings represented their second-most assists in a game this season, behind only the league-high 45 they registered in a road win over Denver in November. “Yeah, the ball was moving and guys were making shots,” Brunson said after the game.“When you’re playing at that type of pace and out in the open floor, it’s all about finding the open man and having trust in your teammates.” The Knicks, who rank 10th in the league in assists this season with 27.4 per game, joined the Nuggets as the only teams with two games of 40 or more. “Just trust the game,” coach Tom Thibodeau said.

“I thought we had good minutes of playing fast and beating the zone down the floor.We got into the gaps.

They were double-teaming and we got to the second pass.Just read the game.

The game tells you what to do.But for us, we get stops and we get into the open floor, it’s a big advantage for us.” Precious Achiuwa was the lone Knicks regular not to record an assist, but the backup big man contributed a strong game at both ends with four points, five rebounds, two steals, one block and a plus-27 rating in 18 minutes. “He played really well, and that’s what we expect from him,” Brunson said.

“None of us in this locker room are surprised when we see that.It’s just who he is and that’s what he brings to the table every night.” Hart (right knee soreness) is listed as questionable for a second straight game for Monday’s home game against the Grizzlies.

Marcus Smart (finger) is out for Memphis....