Brunson's stellar playoff streak proves both he and the Knicks are the real deal

After some early struggles in the first two playoff games this season against the Philadelphia 76ers, Jalen Brunson has bounced back in a tremendous way. In Games 1 and 2, he averaged a respectable 23 PPG, but shot an abysmal 16/55 (29.1%) from the field and 2/12 (16.7%) from beyond the arc across the two games.

Since that point, Brunson has recorded scoring outputs of 39, 47, 40, and 41. Not only did he break Bernard King’s playoff scoring record, but his efficiency and assist numbers shot up dramatically and he joined Jamal Murray as the only other active NBA player with three straight playoff games with 40+ points.

Jalen Brunson joins Jamal Murray as the second active NBA player to achieve this record

This is a feat that none of LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, or any of the other megastars in the league have ever achieved. Murray achieved his three-game, 40-point playoff streak in the Bubble against the Utah Jazz of course, when he faced off with Donovan Mitchell in a memorable two-man show.

Murray recorded 50 points in game 4, a light 42 points in game 5, and another 50-piece in game 6 of that series. His expertise and scoring also allowed the Nuggets to complete the first of their two 3-1 comebacks during that playoff run.

Brunson, on the other hand, used his three-game, 40-point playoff streak to help close out a talented Philadelphia team in six games. Despite Joel Embiid clearly being hobbled and falling short of a deep playoff run yet again, the Knicks-76ers series was highly competitive. Many analysts may argue that New York’s 2nd round matchup against the Indiana Pacers might actually be a more comfortable series for them as a team and Brunson on an individual level.

Brunson has torched Indiana this season with scoring outputs of 28, 40, and 39. This means that NYK’s point guard should be able to feast on the inexperienced Pacers squad and could very well become the only active NBA player with four-straight 40-point games when the Knicks face off with the Pacers on Monday, May 6th.