The history of the NBA is riddled with artists of a large regular season which, for one reason or another, simply does not seem to do it when it matters most in the playoffs. He is sure to say that Jalen Brunson is not one of these players.
You may have noticed that the leader of the New York Knicks was doing a clutch basket after a clutch basket in playoffs – including a sneaky game winner to send the Detroit pistons first – and the figures certainly fall. With nine points of the fourth quarter in the return victory of the Knicks match 2 on the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, Brunson is now the first player in the era of the NBA game (since 1997) to score at least 83 points in the fourth quarter through the first eight games of two different races (2024 and 2025).
Only two others accomplished the feat once – Stephen Curry in 2023 and Kobe Bryant in 2008.
Brunson was particularly devastating in the two superb returns from New York against Boston to open his second round series, upgrading the entire Celtic team, 17-13, in the last five minutes in the fourth quarter of the two games. He scored the six Knicks in the last two minutes of match 2, including the free green throws with 13 seconds to do.
“This is a goal I must have at that time,” said Brunson after Wednesday’s victory. “I can’t really worry about what happened before in the game. It’s just about concentrating, having a clear mind, trying to win the game. It’s just my state of mind, and I wouldn’t be without my teammates.”
The All-NBA goalkeeper is the main reason why the Knicks were dominant in clutch situations in the playoff series (games less than five points with five minutes to play), with a net note, more by winning five of their seven qualification games. Brunson is also the top clutch scorer of the league in the playoffs (minimum three games), and the Knicks are a better more-31 in the League in his minutes of crisis.
It shouldn’t be a surprise for those who watched Brunson throughout the season. There is a reason why he was appointed clutch player for 2024-25 after managing the league in clutch.
The Knicks surely hope that each victory in the playoffs is not as attractive as the first two against the Celtics, but they must feel as comfortable with their closer elite as any team in the NBA recent history.
“It’s Jalen,” said Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, about Brunson’s clutch game during the game of match 2. “No matter what’s going on in the game, he will be his best when his best is necessary.”
