The Legend of Jalen Brunson continues to grow.
Heading into Game 5 vs. the Indiana Pacers, there was a feeling that it was a must-win for the New York Knicks after dropping two straight in Indiana. Brunson delivered in epic fashion.
Brunson dropped 44 points on 18-of-35 shooting to go with 4 rebounds and 7 assists as the Knicks beat the Pacers, 121-91 to take a 3-2 series lead.
In the process, Brunson joined some more elite statistical company. With his fifth 40-point game of the playoffs, Brunson now has the most 40-point games in a single postseason since LeBron James in 2018.
Jalen Brunson now has five 40-point games this postseason, the most in a postseason by any player since LeBron in 2018 (8) 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ttOl9ThdPO
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 15, 2024
Brunson has racked up impressive accolades throughout this postseason.
He has the most 40-point games in a single postseason in Knicks history since Bernard King in 1984.
Earlier in the playoffs, he became the first player since Michael Jordan to score 40 or more in four straight playoff games.
Brunson entered this game dogged by questions about his sore foot and the Pacers' adjustment of putting the bigger Aaron Nesmith on him. Indeed, Nesmith did a good job on Brunson in Games 3 and 4, but Brunson — as he has throughout these playoffs — showed that any setback was temporary.
In Game 5, Brunson looked like himself, the player who finished fifth in MVP voting this season, no matter who guarded him. Brunson was driving into the lane with tenacity, then hitting defenders with his trademark step-backs, step-throughs, pivots, and spins.
His best shot of the night came in the fourth quarter, when he drove the baseline, took contact under the basket, and still managed to flip the ball up and in as he fell to the floor.
How did Brunson finish this? 😱
— NBA (@NBA) May 15, 2024
Knicks lead in the 4Q of Game 5. https://t.co/OWxDuPHeSw pic.twitter.com/ek4ULCMPjI
For as impressive as Brunson's Game 5 was, the Knicks must now put it behind them, as they'll need more Brunson magic to try to finish off the Pacers.
