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Knicks star Jalen Brunson’s Michael Jordan-like playoff feat has not been seen in 31 years

Originally posted on ClutchPoints | By Peter Sampson | Last updated 5/3/24

The New York Knicks survived an NBA Playoffs classic, 118-115 over the Philadelphia 76ers to advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Knicks guard Jalen Brunson showed up huge yet again in Game 6, scoring 41 points and dishing out 12 assists in the win.

With that output, that makes four straight games that Brunson has scored at least 37 points in the playoffs. The last player to do so was Michael Jordan in 1993, as the Chicago Bulls were on their way to defeating Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns, per Clippers writer Justin Russo:

“Jalen Brunson has scored at least 37 points in four consecutive playoff games. First player to do that since Michael Jordan in 1993.”

After struggling against the 76ers’ pressure in the opening two games of the series, Brunson turned it on for the Knicks in a big way over the final four games. He also scored 40 points or more in each of the final three games, becoming the first Knicks player to do that since Bernard King 40 years ago.

Brunson made a living on the free throw line in the 76ers series. In Game 6, he went 12-16 from the charity stripe. Overall, Brunson averaged 10.5 attempts from the foul line and shot 77.8 percent in the series.

Knicks survive and advance

New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) walks off the court with a game ball after a series clinching victory against the Philadelphia 76ers in game six of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Wells Fargo Center © Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The Knicks are set for an Eastern Conference semifinal matchup with the Indiana Pacers. Indiana beat Milwaukee in six games and advanced to the second round for the first time in 10 years.

Game 1 is Monday night from Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks are through to the second round in back-to-back years for the first time since the postseasons from 1992-2000 after surviving an incredibly tight series against the 76ers.

For reference, there have been five playoff games since the 1996-97 season where a team trailed by five or more points in the final 30 seconds of regulation and came back to win — and two were in this series.

In Game 2, the Knicks rallied to win 104-101, and in Game 5, the 76ers came back for a 112-106 overtime win.

Now, New York looks ahead to the Pacers, who pose a different type of challenge. Indiana is led by star guard Tyrese Haliburton and features the highest-scoring offense in the NBA this season. Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner, Aaron Nesmith and crew aren’t shy about putting up 3-pointers and getting out in transition.

While Turner is a solid floor-stretching big and excellent shot blocker, he isn’t the physical force that Joel Embiid is.

It will be a different style of series, for sure. Hopefully the Knicks manage to rest up, as there will be ample up and down play between the two teams as New York aims to reach the Conference Finals and a possible date with the Boston Celtics.

This article first appeared on ClutchPoints and was syndicated with permission.

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