There have only been two players in NBA history to record 40-plus points and five-plus assists twice on the road to close out a playoff series: Michael Jordan and now Jalen Brunson.
That’s elite company for the Clutch Player of the Year, who poured in 40 points as the Knicks closed out the Detroit Pistons in Game 6 of their first-round series, including a go-ahead three-pointer with 4.3 seconds to go in the fourth quarter.
The Captain also added seven assists while shooting at a 45% clip on the night.
“I stay poised and I rely on the trust and composure my teammates give me,” Brunson said.
New York’s head coach, Tom Thibodeau, has leaned on his two-time All-Star down the stretch, and why shouldn’t he? He was given the Clutch Player of the Year award for a reason, and while he hobbled out of multiple games during the first round, he returned and gave his team the best chance to win.
“Jalen’s shot, what can you say?” Thibodeau said. “He’s at his best when his best is needed. He’s done it all year, that’s what makes him so special … Just showing the toughness. Get down, then find a way to win at the end, but we got a lot of work to do.”
In the team’s six-game series against the Detroit Pistons, the 28-year-old averaged 31.5 points, four rebounds, and 8.2 assists. He’s also knocked down 43.6% of his shots from the field and 33.3% from behind the arc.
Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges, the two blockbuster trade acquisitions this past summer, were inconsistent throughout the series. Bridges has struggled to find his footing, but on Thursday night, he finally had his moment in the fourth quarter. He knotted the game up at 113 apiece with 36 seconds left on a clutch put-back layup.
In order for the Knicks to compete with the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals, Brunson will need help from his teammates.
