Jalen Brunson emerging as the face of the Knicks in the 2024 NBA postseason

Jalen Brunson (Google Images)

Jalen Brunson of New Brunswick, New Jersey is having quite the NBA playoff. On Monday in game one of the second round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs, Brunson continued to score at a prolific pace. He reached the 40 point plateau for the fourth consecutive game as he scored 43 points in a 121-117 Knicks win over the Indiana Pacers. In the process, Brunson became only the fourth player in NBA history to score 40 points in four straight playoff games.

Brunson previously had 47 points in a 97-92 Knicks win over the Philadelphia 76ers in game four of the first round on April 28, 40 points in a 112-106 Knicks loss to the 76ers in game five of the first round on April 30, and 41 points in a 118-115 Knicks win over the 76ers in game six of the first round on May 2. In seven postseason games so far, Brunson is averaging 36.6 points per game, 8.6 assists per game, and 4.7 rebounds per game. He has a field goal percentage of .443, three-point percentage of .300, and a free throw percentage of .818.

According to the Associated Press, the three others to accomplish the feat are Los Angeles Lakers point guard Jerry West of Chelyan, West Virginia (1965), New York Knicks small forward Bernard King of Brooklyn, New York (1984), and Chicago Bulls shooting guard Michael Jordan of Brooklyn (1993). West accomplished the feat in six straight games.

In the Knicks win on Monday, all five Knicks reached double digits in scoring. In addition to Brunson, shooting guard Donte DiVincenzo of Newark, Delaware had 25 points, small forward Josh Hart of Silver Spring, Maryland had 24 points, and center Isaiah Hartenstein of Eugene, Oregon and power forward OG Anunoby of London, England had 13 points each.