Fearless hero Jalen Brunson sets tone for Knicks in momentous comeback

· New York Post

Jalen Brunson donned that superhero cape yet again, and his latest second-half explosion spearheaded another frenzied comeback to vault the Knicks within one win of the Eastern Conference finals.

Brunson pumped in 26 of his team-high 39 points in the second half as the Knicks stormed back from a 14-point deficit in the third quarter for a rousing 121-113 win over the Celtics at the Garden to take a 3-1 series lead over the defending NBA champions.

“Times being tough like that, you know he’s going to never dwell from the moment, he’s going to stay locked in and get us there,” Mikal Bridges, who contributed 23 points, said of his former Villanova teammate. “He just wants to win. How he works, and he knows what he likes on the court, where he wants to get to.

“But I really think it’s the will to win and wanting to win a game that he turns up another level because he doesn’t want to lose. It’s great to watch and I’m glad he’s on my side.”

Jalen Brunson puts up a shot as Boston Celtics center Al Horford defends during the third quarter in Game 4 on May 12, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

The league’s Clutch Player of the Year had totaled 28 points combined in the fourth quarters of the first three games of the series, also fronting the Knicks to consecutive comeback wins from 20-point deficits in Games 1 and 2 last week in Boston.

But Brunson also had been shooting just 38.1 percent entering Game 4, down from a .436 shooting percentage in the previous round against the Pistons and a .488 mark over 65 appearances during the regular season.

He connected on 14-of-25 field goal attempts with four made 3-pointers Monday night, including a 10-for-17 shooting performance in the final two quarters.

“Just reading the game. He knew that we needed to be aggressive, and I thought that helped set the tone for what we’re trying to do,” Tom Thibodeau said. “It’s just the way he’s wired. A lot of poise under pressure. His confidence I think is always super high just because of the way he prepares and the way he works.”

Added Karl-Anthony Towns: “Honestly, do we all expect anything less? I expect nothing less from Cap.

It gets to the fourth quarter, and he’s a bad, bad man when it comes to the fourth quarter and clutch points. You get in those moments, we all trust our talent, we know what we all can do, but man, it’s special when you get to watch him doing that in the fourth quarter.”

Jalen Brunson reacts after hitting a 3-point shot in the fourth quarter during Game 4 at Madison Square Garden. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

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Even more incredible is that Brunson’s late-game production continues despite being guarded primarily by the opposing team’s top defensive players, such as Boston’s Jrue Holiday and Derrick White.

“It’s easier said than done,” Brunson acknowledged. “One thing I have to do is respect my opponent. Knowing that it’s not going to be easy, it’s going to be tough. … But not that you’re afraid to do so.

“I’m going to go out there and give it everything I’ve got. And both for myself, and my team, for the best chance to win a game. And it’s as simple as that.”