Like the Los Angeles Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets series, the matchup between the New York Knicks and the Detroit Pistons was as tight as expected. With the array of talent on the court, Jalen Brunson had his sneakers on fire, scoring 30 at the Little Caesars Arena.
With a 2-1 lead, the Knicks’ desire will be to win the next game in Detroit and close out the series at Madison Square Garden in Game 5. With the players out of fuel at the end of regulation, Brunson responded to a question on what keeps his scoring going in the clutch moments.
Jalen Brunson Explains His Scoring Touch After Sensational Game 3 Win
NBA reporter Fred Katz inquired about Brunson racking up points in the end while others wilted away. Katz asked, “Under a minute to go, you get two buckets. Looked like everyone in the game kinda looked gassed—and you sped up…”
Brunson responded, “Just happy Thibs played me all those minutes in the regular season. Got me in shape for the playoffs.”
Fred Katz: “Under a minute to go, you get 2 buckets…Looked like…everyone in the game kinda looked gassed—and you sped up…”
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Jalen Brunson: “Just happy Thibs played me all those minutes in the regular season. Got me in shape for the playoffs” pic.twitter.com/LO3MdiERGs— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) April 25, 2025
In Game 3, Brunson scored 12 points in the fourth quarter, stepping up in the clutch and knocking down those shots. When the going gets tough, Brunson channels his inner demon. There was a similar pattern in the last two games, too.
In Game 1, during the Knicks’ convincing 123-112 victory over the Pistons, Brunson scored 12 points in the fourth quarter, shooting a high FG% of 71.4. Switching to Game 2, where the Knicks lost, he kept going and scored 14 points by knocking down 4-8 shots from the court.
Fitness Remains Crucial for Jalen Brunson
Notably, Brunson has rarely missed a game in his career. In seven seasons in the NBA, he played 487 games for the Dallas Mavericks and the Knicks. During his time with the Mavericks, he came off the bench to make a difference most of the time by clocking in an average of 24.7 minutes. With the Knicks, it’s a different ball game.
He’s the franchise’s cornerstone, clocking in an average of 35.3 minutes in every game. If you explore the 4th quarter stats for Brunson for this season, he averages 6.4 points with an eFG% of 50.2%.
By decoding those numbers, it’s easy to see why the Knicks turn to Brunson when they need a bucket in the dying minutes. In fact, during the playoffs, he tops those minutes numbers by clocking a staggering 40.2 minutes on the floor for New York, scoring 30.7 points.