Given the opportunity to take a 3-1 series stranglehold and continue building his case as one of the league’s top postseason performers, Jalen Brunson’s eruption in Game Four left even a divided crowd in a shared, collective awe. Breathtaking enough to earn Most Valuable Player chants in the Philadelphia 76ers’ hostile, road arena, the New York Knicks star lived up to the billing, punishing six different defenders on the way to a postseason career-high. Battling back from a double-digit deficit in the second half, Brunson located gaps in the 76ers’ defense in every way possible, working pick-and-roll switches, catch-and-shoot jumpers, and highly-contested buckets, culminating with a game-clinching floater in the lane to secure victory. With the banners acknowledging his collegiate success just one glance into the rafters of Philadelphia’s venue, Brunson ensured that the scoreboard showed similar dominance on the way to 47 points — a Knicks postseason franchise record — along with four rebounds, 10 assists, one block, and a pair of 3-pointers. The NBA’s leading scorer over the first round, Brunson’s efforts propelled the Knicks on April 28, 2024. · Apr 28, 2024