Jalen Brunson

The atmosphere leading up to Jalen Brunson’s late-season, interconference battle against the San Antonio Spurs didn’t appear to be much different from any other game. For Brunson, there was the normal pre-game ritual: a brief, skyward glance, two hands clasped to his face, and then a prayer. Poetically, it described the ensuing hours to perfection. Be it one hand, two hands, or even three in the face of the New York Knicks’ star, the results remained unchanged; San Antonio rostered no source capable of slowing him on March 29, 2024. In etching himself into the history books, Brunson overwhelmed the Spurs’ defense with his usual assortment — slippery, maze-like dribbles in the pick-and-roll, crafty pull-ups, and fearless finishes among the land of the giants — though with doubled effectiveness. Brunson may not have left with the game ball, nor a win, but on a 47-shot-attempt night, he left both everything on the floor, and his counterparts struggling to interpret his greatness. By game’s end, the left-handed scoring machine finished just a point shy of the Knicks’ single-game record, exploding for 61 points — with just six free throws — four rebounds, six assists, one steal, five 3-pointers, and a +20 plus-minus.