Jalen Brunson

The luxuries of having the NBA’s No. 1 clutch road record certainly served the Boston Celtics well, but in the Eastern Conference Semifinals’ most critical moment, the New York Knicks introduced their Atlantic Division foes to something equally lethal: the No. 1 crunchtime scorer. On a historic pace throughout the 2025 NBA Playoffs, Jalen Brunson offers yet another jaw-dropper, utilizing first a screen-and-roll that prompts a head-to-head against reigning Finals Most Valuable Player Jaylen Brown. With zero hesitation on the cold-blooded bucket that ensues, Brunson brings Madison Square Garden’s faithful to its feet with a trifecta, pushing New York’s late-game lead to 12. Unrivaled in his mastery of scoring in high-pressure situations, Brunson closed New York’s first two rounds with 102 “clutch points,” No. 1 all-time over a player’s first 10-game stretch of the postseason. With a 3-1 series lead in play on May 12, 2025, Brunson again lived up to his reputation, pouring on 39 points (on 14-of-25 shooting), along with five rebounds, 12 assists, and four 3-pointers.