Jalen Brunson

Two nights after watching his would’ve-been game-winner rattle around the rim’s every dimension before falling out — with a near-identical score and circumstance, no less — Jalen Brunson, perhaps unintentionally, decided to pay tribute with déjà vu presenting itself. Suddenly a single miscue away from watching a once-impressive 21-point edge evaporate into defeat, Brunson, calm amidst the pressure of a one-point deficit in the final 10 seconds, hustle free for an inbound with 6-foot-7 Dorian Finney-Smith giving close chase. Channeling a go-to move trademarked by a “King of New York” of old, Brunson works one convincing jab step out of the triple threat before burying a game-clinching standstill triple. Certain to bring peak performance in any high-stakes atmosphere the New York Knicks are involved in, Brunson’s sizzle on November 15, 2024 included 37 points (on 12-of-20 shooting), three rebounds, seven assists, and three 3-pointers. The victory over the Brooklyn Nets, made possible by his 16-point final quarter, moved New York to 2-0 in the NBA Cup, and ahead 108-107 in the all-time head-to-head against the Nets.