Knicks’ elite ball movement reaching historic levels

SALT LAKE CITY — The “Dimes” nickname is open in New York now that quarterback Daniel Jones has been released by the Giants, and perhaps it can be a fitting team-wide moniker in another sport. 

It had been 30 years since the Knicks managed 30 or more assists in three consecutive games since the start of the 1994-95 season, and nearly 15 years longer than that since they have done it at least four times in a row. 

Tom Thibodeau’s emerging offensive powerhouse will look to keep the ball rolling — and, more importantly, moving — in the second stop of a five-game road trip Saturday against the Jazz. 

They haven’t reached the 30-assist mark in four straight contests since a seven-game stretch during the 1979-80 campaign. 

“The more we play together, the more we’re going to get comfortable with each other,” All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson said. “It’s taking time, but we’re still progressing.” 

Brunson registered 36 points and 10 dimes in Wednesday’s win in Phoenix, marking his third straight game reaching double digits in assists for only the second time in his career.

He also had a three-game streak in April of last season. 

Brunson now ranks ninth in the NBA with a career-best 7.3 assists per game through the Knicks’ 9-6 start, including 9.5 per appearance during their current four-game winning streak. 

Not since the first three games of the 1994-95 season had a Knicks team managed 30 or more assists in three successive games. 

With 100 assists over that span, the Knicks also have moved up to ninth in the league with 27.7 per game entering Friday’s action.

Their 33.3 per game would represent more than the current NBA leaders for the season, the Warriors, who have averaged 30.5 over their first 14 games. 

“For sure, the offense is clicking,” said Josh Hart, who is second on the team with a career-best 5.9 assists per game. “We’re getting good shots. We’re getting some stops. When we’re getting some of those stops, we’re able to run and push and get some quick, easy ones. Offensively we’re getting into a really good rhythm.” 

If anything, Tom Thibodeau’s team needs to pick it up defensively, with a 22nd-ranked defensive rating of 115.6 points allowed per 100 possessions. 

By contrast, the Knicks’ offensive rating of 122.1 points scored per 100 ranked second in the league through Thursday’s games, behind only the league-best Cavaliers. 

Brunson and imported All-Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns also are on pace to become the first guard/center tandem to average at least 25 points apiece since Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal did it for the Lakers in 2002-03. 

The Knicks’ five starters — also featuring OG Anunoby and newcomer Mikal Bridges — are combining for 99.5 points per game.

And top bench contributors Miles McBride and Cam Payne are chipping in 18.9, although both reserve guards have missed games recently due to injury. 

The Knicks, who lead the league in assist-turnover ratio (2.24), have come out strong to start each of their past two wins, netting more than 40 points in the first quarter against both the Wizards and the Suns.

And they have scored at least 130 points in back-to-back games for the first time since 1988. 

“I think the guys are starting to get used to playing off each other,” Thibodeau said after the Phoenix game. “Each game you can see they’re seeing things; they’re reading the game extremely well. 

“I think they’re creating good spacing, they’re cutting extremely well, and what that’s doing is it’s opening up the floor and we’re playing into space and everyone’s unselfish. 

“So, 30 assists, I think that’s huge.”