New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson had an all-time series during the first round against the Philadelphia 76ers, culminating with a dominant 41-point performance to close out the Sixers in Game 6 on Thursday night.
During the final four games of the series, Brunson truly came into his own, scoring a total of 167 points during that span. He scored no fewer than 39 points in any of those four games, making him the first player since Michael Jordan in 1993 to score 37 or more points in four consecutive playoff games, according to Justin Russo of Russo Writes.
Additionally, Brunson becomes the first player since Oscar Robertson to score 35 points and record 10 assists in three separate games in a single playoff series, another nod to the historic run the 27-year-old went on to help New York reach the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Brunson, who had 39 points in Game 3, is the first Knicks player since Bernard King to record 40+ points in three straight playoff games. King achieved the feat in four consecutive games back in 1984.
Brunson rarely saw the bench during his torrid four-game stretch, too, logging at least 44 minutes in every game during that span, as Tom Thibodeau leaned heavily upon his star guard to close out the series for the Knicks
He’ll look to keep his dominating offensive play going when New York takes on the Indiana Pacers in the conference semifinals.
