Jalen Brunson: 4th NBA player with 4 straight 40-point playoff games

Jalen Brunson isn't out there gunning for 40-point games like it's a personal mission, but man, he's been lighting it up lately, echoing Michael Jordan's playoff greatness.

For him, it's about the W, you know? Defense matters just as much as his buckets down the stretch.


Brunson poured in 43 points, making him just the fourth player to notch four consecutive 40-point games in the playoffs, joining legends like Jerry West, Michael Jordan, and Bernard King. MJ pulled it off back in '93, folks.


Donte DiVincenzo came in clutch with a tiebreaking trey and racked up 25 points for the Knicks, who started the second round with the same nail-biting drama we saw against Philly in round one.

But hold on tight, because it was a rollercoaster ride. The Pacers made it tight, Brunson took over late, and DiVincenzo sealed the deal just like last series against the 76ers.


The Pacers' bench, supposed to be their secret weapon, stepped up big in the second quarter, and a buzzer-beating heave from Isaiah Hartenstein kept it close at halftime.

It was back and forth all night, but in the end, it's the Knicks walking away with Game 1, thanks to Brunson's heroics and some timely buckets from the supporting cast.

Source Sportsnet: Jalen Brunson becomes fourth NBA player with four straight 40-point playoff games
Source TSN: Brunson rallies Knicks to win over Pacers in Game 1 of East semis