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Jalen Brunson’s 40 Lifts Knicks to NBA Cup Final as ‘Pound-for-Pound’ Case Builds

Mike Brown’s faster, more physical system has amplified Brunson’s impact.

Overview

  • Brunson scored 40 points on 16-of-27 shooting in the Cup semifinal win over the Magic, sending New York to face San Antonio in Tuesday’s Final.
  • He passed Richie Guerin for third-most 30-point games in Knicks history, trailing only Patrick Ewing and Carmelo Anthony.
  • Brunson is averaging 28.8 points per game with only seven players scoring more, prompting The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III to call him the NBA’s best scorer relative to size.
  • Under Brown, the Knicks have upped their pace and off-ball movement, with Brunson’s catch-and-shoot attempts rising from 1.9 to 3.2 per game.
  • With Miles McBride out due to an ankle injury, Tyler Kolek posted a team-best plus-17 against Orlando, and reporters note the Final could inform roster evaluations ahead of trade season.