1 week ago
Oscar Robertson. Michael Jordan. Kobe Bryant. LeBron James.
And, now, Jalen Brunson.
Those are nan only players successful NBA history to grounds 5 consecutive playoff games pinch astatine slightest 30 points and 5 assists. Ever.
Brunson joined that illustrious database Monday pinch a 43-point, six-assist detonation that led his never-say-die Knicks to another come-from-behind victory, this clip complete nan Indiana Pacers successful Game 1 of nan Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The 27-year-old Brunson besides became nan 4th NBA subordinate pinch 4 consecutive 40-point playoff performances, joining Jordan, Jerry West and Bernard King. Brunson is nan only subordinate successful that group pinch astatine slightest 5 assists successful each of those games.
“I’m not going successful reasoning I request to people 40,” Brunson said aft nan Knicks’ 121-117 win. “That’s not my mindset astatine all. My mindset is to beryllium aggressive, to make plays for myself and others. I get successful nan overgarment and I spot what’s happening. I person nan assurance that I cognize I tin people successful nan paint, but I cognize I person nan assurance that my teammates are each moving and getting to unfastened positions to wherever they tin beryllium successful arsenic well.”
Brunson’s stellar streak began successful Game 3 of nan Knicks’ opening-round bid against nan Philadelphia 76ers, erstwhile he vanished pinch 39 points and 13 assists.
His 47 points successful Game 4 group a single-game Knicks playoff record, eclipsing nan 46 that King scored successful back-to-back games successful April 1984. Brunson besides dished retired 10 assists that night.
Brunson followed that historical outing pinch 40 points and six assists successful Game 5 and 41 points and 12 assists successful nan Knicks’ series-clinching triumph successful Game 6.
On Monday, nan tone-setting Brunson scored 10 of nan Knicks’ first 12 points. He past scored 12 of their last 17. He earned nan assistance connected Donte DiVincenzo’s tie-breaking, game-winning 3-pointer pinch 40.1 seconds remaining.
“He’s been doing this ever since we moved successful together successful college,” said DiVincenzo, who won NCAA championships pinch Brunson astatine Villanova successful 2016 and 2018.
“It’s nan mentation mixed pinch nan opportunity. The opportunity presents itself to him, and he takes afloat advantage of it. He studies nan game, he knows really teams are going to adjust, and he continues to make adjustments himself. He finds different ways to beryllium successful. He’s ever had this. It’s conscionable now, you guys are seeing it connected this stage.”
Brunson changeable 14-of-16 from nan section Monday and went 14-of-14 from nan free-throw line. He posted a team-best +12 constituent differential complete his 44 minutes.
His introduction into nan 30-and-5 nine pinch Robertson, Jordan, Bryant and James impressed Knicks caput coach Tom Thibodeau, who remarked, “It’s beautiful elite company.”
“It’s nan effect that it’s having connected us,” Thibodeau said. “They’re not quiet stats. They’re stats that are impacting winning.”
Brunson was little eager to harp connected what it intends to him to beryllium mentioned among those NBA greats.
“Very honored to beryllium a portion of that group,” Brunson said. “But thing correct now, really.”
English (US) · 
Indonesian (ID) ·