The New York Knicks are within one game of reaching their first Eastern Conference Finals since 2000, a feat significantly aided by the outstanding fourth-quarter performances of their star guard, Jalen Brunson.
Brunson, recognized with the 2025 Clutch Player of the Year award for his timely regular season contributions, has elevated his game further this postseason, guiding the Knicks to a 3-1 series advantage over the Boston Celtics. His most recent masterclass occurred on Monday night at Madison Square Garden, where he was the driving force behind New York`s second-half surge, overturning an 11-point halftime deficit en route to a 121-113 home victory.
In that pivotal win, Brunson delivered 39 points and 12 assists, with 26 of his points coming in the second half as the Knicks mounted their comeback, igniting the crowd at MSG. Despite scoring “only” eight points in the fourth quarter of that specific game, his scoring average in the final period this postseason remains remarkably high. Through the first 10 games of these playoffs, Brunson has amassed 102 fourth-quarter points, surpassing Kobe Bryant for the highest total to begin a postseason since 1997.
Kobe Bryant twice achieved 100 fourth-quarter points over his initial 10 playoff games (in 2001 and 2003) and recorded 99 points over the first 10 games in 2008. Similarly, Stephen Curry scored 99 points in the fourth quarter through his first 10 games of the 2023 playoffs. Brunson`s current scoring output in the clutch has now placed him ahead of both these legendary players.
Throughout their series against Detroit and Boston, the Knicks have heavily relied on Brunson for scoring, particularly in late-game situations, and he has risen to the challenge exceptionally well. What makes Brunson`s scoring particularly impressive is his ability to create his own shots. While 51.7% of his three-pointers are assisted, a mere 9.5% of his two-pointers receive an assist, showcasing his nearly complete self-sufficiency when operating inside the arc.
According to NBA Stats, Brunson leads this year`s playoffs in time of possession, remarkably holding the ball for 96 minutes – 20 minutes more than the next closest player, Jamal Murray (76). His overall usage rate is significantly high at 31.6%, but it escalates to an astounding 42.4% in the fourth quarter, a rate higher than any player this postseason except Giannis Antetokounmpo.
With this increased workload has come elevated performance. Brunson`s true shooting percentage improves from 55.2% overall to 60% in the clutch. His decision-making under pressure is also incredibly reliable; his assist-to-turnover ratio nearly doubles from 2.96:1 overall to an impressive 5.33:1 in the fourth quarter. This is especially remarkable considering he is a 6-foot-2 guard (perhaps a generous measurement) whom every opponent knows will have the ball in crucial moments, yet they have been largely unable to contain him.
Brunson`s fourth-quarter dominance is a key component of the Knicks` strategic approach, which often involves not necessarily building large leads early but rather drawing opponents into protracted, 48-minute battles. They are willing to navigate through scoring lulls and face significant deficits, betting on the opposing team eventually tiring out. If the game culminates in a shot-making showdown between the opponent`s star player and Brunson, the Knicks are confident their player will emerge victorious more often than not.
Through the initial 10 games of this postseason, this strategy, while sometimes stressful, has proven highly successful, largely due to Brunson delivering one of the all-time great clutch scoring displays in playoff history.
Jasper Hawthorne