The New York Knicks pulled off a surprise win over the Boston Celtics in Game 4. With that victory, they took the lead in the series. Tom Thibodeau’s team had at least four players score more than 20 points. The offense showed balance across the board, but one name stood out. Jalen Brunson led the way with 39 points and delivered when it mattered most. Thanks to that performance, he broke a playoff record that once belonged to Lakers’ legend Kobe Bryant.
As Tommy Beer reports on X (formerly Twitter), Knicks star Jalen Brunson now holds the record for the most fourth-quarter points scored across 10 playoff games, with 102. He surpasses Kobe Bryant, who had 100 in 2001. However, Bryant still ranks second, third, and fifth on the list, which shows his lasting influence on NBA playoff history. Moreover, Stephen Curry sits in fourth place after scoring 99 fourth-quarter points during the 2023 postseason.
Since joining the Knicks for the 2022–23 NBA season, Jalen Brunson has become one of the franchise’s most important players. This season, he has played 65 games and averaged 26.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game. As a result, he leads the team in both scoring and assists. He even surpassed Karl-Anthony Towns in those categories. Moreover, Brunson has been the key figure in the Knicks’ postseason run. They currently hold a 3–1 lead over the Boston Celtics in the series.
Jalen Brunson urges caution as New York Knicks chase playoff series win over Celtics
The New York Knicks lost Game 3 to the Boston Celtics. However, they bounced back with a thrilling win in Game 4. With that result, they now lead the series 3–1 and are one step away from the Conference Finals. The Knicks are clear favorites to advance, as they need just one more win to close out the series.
Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket against Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics in Game Two of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Still, Jalen Brunson remains grounded and cautious despite the team’s position. “…we have a great opportunity. We’re playing a really good team, and I don’t even think we’re playing our best basketball yet…The team is fairly new this year, and we still have a long way we can go to be the best that we can be. It’s always time to learn for us. So we’ve just got to make sure that we’re never satisfied and just having that student mentality,” stated in the postgame interview.
see also
Jayson Tatum achieves NBA Playoffs mark despite awful injury in Celtics vs Knicks Game 4
When do the New York Knicks play against the Boston Celtics for the 2025 Conference Semi-Finals?
After playing on May 12 at Madison Square Garden, the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics will meet again in Game 5 at TD Garden on May 14. This matchup is crucial for both teams. Jalen Brunson and the Knicks must now try to close the series on the road. They will face Joe Mazzulla’s Celtics, who will struggle due to Jayson Tatum’s serious injury. If New York win, they will advance directly to the Eastern Playoffs Conference Finals.
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