Jalen Brunson was searching for answers. He was searching for his shot.
The Knicks superstar was forcing the action, missing his first three shots. Nearly nine minutes passed before he scored his first points.
More than 10 minutes elapsed before he hit his first field goal. When Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals ended, the 76ers were pleased with their defense against the Knicks captain, who had scored at least 35 points in five consecutive playoff games against the 76ers.
But Brunson still delivered the final daggers in the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ 108-102 win at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, hitting a series of clutch shots, while scoring eight of the team’s final 15 points.
The Knicks captain finished with a team-high 26 points — hitting 9-for-21, including 1-for-5 on 3-pointers and 7-for-8 from the line — with six assists, three turnovers and a steal.
“It came down to shot-making,” 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe said. “Brunson made a lot of tough shots towards the end. We missed wide-open ones.”
It is no coincidence. The team that has never made it past the second round with Joel Embiid repeatedly misfired, while last season’s Clutch Player of the Year ensured the Knicks moved two wins from a second straight trip to the Eastern Conference finals.
Shortly after Brunson entered with just over nine minutes left in the fourth quarter, Tyrese Maxey put the Sixers ahead with a stepback jumper.
Brunson responded 13 seconds later, tying the game at 94 with a jumper in the lane. Then, With just over five minutes left, Brunson hit a stepback jumper to put the Knicks in front for good.
“They started switching a little bit and he got to his spots and scored,” coach Mike Brown said. “That’s what he’s expected to do for us.”
With just under four minutes remaining, Brunson captivated the sellout crowd, challenging 6-foot-9 Dominick Barlow with a level of offensive artistry that would be at home at Rucker Park or MoMA.
Brunson soaked up the spotlight, crossing over the taller defender on multiple occasions, going behind his back and through his legs, before spinning at the foul line and unleashing a fadeaway jumper that hit nothing but net, putting the Knicks up 103-99.
Brunson added two free throws with 1:07 to put the Knicks up seven.
“Most importantly [was] just staying poised, staying composed, just figuring out one play at a time, one step at a time and not looking too far ahead,” Brunson said. “Just focusing and paying attention to the details and finding a way to make the next play.”
