Jalen Brunson posts fourth straight 40-point game in NBA playoffs
Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks shoots over T.J. McConnell #9 of the Indiana Pacers during the first half in Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 06, 2024 in New York City. Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFP
NEW YORK — Jalen Brunson has become the fourth player to score 40 or more points in four consecutive postseason games, the first since Michael Jordan in the 1993 NBA Finals.
Brunson reached 40 with a big fourth quarter Monday night and finished with 43 to rally the Knicks to a 121-117 victory in Game 1 of their NBA Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Indiana Pacers.
The Knicks trailed by nine early in the fourth quarter before Brunson scored 21 in the final period.
READ: NBA: Jalen Brunson scores 43, rallies Knicks past Pacers in Game 1
JALEN BRUNSON TAKES OVER GAME 1.
🔥 43 points
🔥 14-26 shooting
🔥 6 rebounds, 6 assists
🔥 Leads NYK to 1-0 series leadBrunson becomes the FIRST PLAYER EVER with 40+ points and 5+ assists in 4 straight playoff games! pic.twitter.com/XN7Ou8ECon
— NBA (@NBA) May 7, 2024
Lakers Hall of Famer Jerry West holds the record with six consecutive games of 40 or more points, set during the 1965 postseason.
Bernard King had four straight for the Knicks in 1984 and Jordan did it en route to his third straight NBA championship.
Brunson finished the first-round series against Philadelphia with games of 47, 40 and 41 points.
The 27-year-old Brunson was the leading scorer in the first round of the NBA playoffs with 35.5 points per game.
