Oscar Robertson. Michael Jordan. Kobe Bryant. LeBron James.
And, now, Jalen Brunson.
Those are the only players in NBA history to record five consecutive playoff games with at least 30 points and five assists. Ever.
Brunson joined that illustrious list Monday with a 43-point, six-assist explosion that led his never-say-die Knicks to another come-from-behind victory, this time over the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The 27-year-old Brunson also became the fourth NBA player with four consecutive 40-point playoff performances, joining Jordan, Jerry West and Bernard King. Brunson is the only player in that group with at least five assists in each of those games.
“I’m not going in thinking I need to score 40,” Brunson said after the Knicks’ 121-117 win. “That’s not my mindset at all. My mindset is to be aggressive, to make plays for myself and others. I get in the paint and I see what’s happening. I have the confidence that I know I can score in the paint, but I know I have the confidence that my teammates are all moving and getting to open positions to where they can be successful as well.”
Brunson’s stellar streak began in Game 3 of the Knicks’ opening-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers, when he finished with 39 points and 13 assists.
His 47 points in Game 4 set a single-game Knicks playoff record, eclipsing the 46 that King scored in back-to-back games in April 1984. Brunson also dished out 10 assists that night.
Brunson followed that historic outing with 40 points and six assists in Game 5 and 41 points and 12 assists in the Knicks’ series-clinching win in Game 6.
On Monday, the tone-setting Brunson scored 10 of the Knicks’ first 12 points. He then scored 12 of their final 17. He earned the assist on Donte DiVincenzo’s tie-breaking, game-winning 3-pointer with 40.1 seconds remaining.
“He’s been doing this ever since we moved in together in college,” said DiVincenzo, who won NCAA championships with Brunson at Villanova in 2016 and 2018.
“It’s the preparation mixed with the opportunity. The opportunity presents itself to him, and he takes full advantage of it. He studies the game, he knows how teams are going to adjust, and he continues to make adjustments himself. He finds different ways to be successful. He’s always had this. It’s just now, you guys are seeing it on this stage.”
Brunson shot 14-of-16 from the field Monday and went 14-of-14 from the free-throw line. He posted a team-best +12 point differential over his 44 minutes.
His entry into the 30-and-5 club with Robertson, Jordan, Bryant and James impressed Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau, who remarked, “It’s pretty elite company.”
“It’s the impact that it’s having on us,” Thibodeau said. “They’re not empty stats. They’re stats that are impacting winning.”
Brunson was less eager to harp on what it means to him to be mentioned among those NBA greats.
“Very honored to be a part of that group,” Brunson said. “But nothing right now, really.”
