With the New York Knicks on the ropes, almost everyone inside the raucous Little Cesar Arena knew where the ball would end up.
Jalen Brunson received the inbounds pass from Mikal Bridges onto the left flank, dribbled towards the top of the arc, and took his time against the pesky defense from Detroit’s Ausar Thompson.
With under seven seconds left, he then shook off Thompson with a nasty stepback before hitting the game-winning triple that sent the Knicks onto the East semifinals — and ended the Pistons’ season as well.
This latest heroics from Brunson – this year’s NBA Clutch Player of the Year awardee – was nothing new for head coach Tom Thibodeau.
"He's [Brunson]at his best when his best is needed. He's done it all year. That's what makes him special," Thibodeau spoke in the aftermath of New York’s series-clinching 116-113 Game 6 escape over Detroit.
"He's at his best when his best is needed."
— NBA (@NBA) May 2, 2025
Thibs on #KiaClutch winner Jalen Brunson after his series-clinching 3 💯🔥#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google
Brunson capped off his 40-point night with a performance for the ages, saving his best for last in a wild game that saw the Pistons erase a seven-point deficit in the last 2:35 of the game to complete the comeback.
[ALSO READ: Jalen Brunson's game-winner sinks Pistons as Knicks barge to East semis]
He scored 30 points in the first three quarters and added 10 more in the payoff period en route to his eight career 40-point playoff game.
Bridges — who played with Brunson in Villanova way back in their collegiate days — shared the same thoughts with Thibodeau on their superstar guard’s epic night.
"[It] doesn't matter if he's struggling or if he's hooping. You can never tell. All I thought is: If he can get some separation, once he got separation, I knew it was curtains," Bridges said after adding 25 points.
"High pressure situations happen, that doesn't phase him."
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 2, 2025
Mikal Bridges speaks on Jalen Brunson game-winner 🔥
As for the man himself, Brunson emphasized on ‘staying poised’ in crunch time on top of giving credit to his teammates for giving him the ‘trust and composure’ needed to deliver when needed.
"Just found a way to create some separation. [I] shot it a little earlier than I wanted to. But I mean, Ausar is a great defender and the fact that I got that much space, I had to shoot it right there. Happy the ball went in," the 28-year-old told reporters.
Jalen Brunson talks staying poised in clutch moments, and credits Mikal Bridges for his efforts in the series-clinching win 👏👏#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google
— NBA (@NBA) May 2, 2025
As much as how the series went down — the last five games were decided by just six points or less — New York understands the reality of what comes next: a second-round showdown with Jayson Tatum, reigning Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, and the defending champion Boston Celtics.
It marked their 16th playoff match-up and the first since 2013, and the Knicks will face a team who they lost a combined 65 points in their four regular season meetings.
Two Eastern Conference heavyweights are set for a #NBAPlayoffs Semifinals clash ??@nyknicks. @celtics. Who you got?
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 2, 2025
"We're playing the defending champs next time, so it's going to be a lot different," Brunson bared.
He continued: "Playing this team we just played -- I'm not discrediting them at all -- but they didn't have the same experience. The Celtics have experience."
But what the Knicks have is Brunson.
And if their team captain continues to play on the same level or even higher against the stacked Celtics, they might have a chance to end Boston’s title reign sooner rather than later.
