The Knicks’ Jalen Brunson can already do what the Spurs are still figuring out

NBAThe Knicks’ Jalen Brunson can already do what the Spurs are still figuring outBrunson scored 30 points — including 13 in the fourth quarter — to lead the New York Knicks to their first Finals win in 27 years.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks shoots the ball against Stephon Castle of the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday in San Antonio, Texas. Gregory Shamus / Getty ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJune 4, 2026, 12:57 AM EDTBy Rohan NadkarniOne of the most common refrains used when describing the NBA playoffs is that the game slows down. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Not necessarily that the basketball becomes easier, but each minute is so tense, both teams are so focused and each possession is so tight that the winner is often decided by which team — or player — can execute when the game halts to a grind.In Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday, the New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson was that player, scoring 13 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Knicks to a 105-95 victory over the San Antonio Spurs and 1-0 series lead. The Spurs, meanwhile, scored only 19 points over that final period as a team and looked discombobulated as they struggled to put the ball into the hoop.What’s made Brunson one of the NBA’s premier playoff performers over the last few seasons is how well he operates when the Knicks desperately need a bucket.Since the start of the 2023 postseason, no player has made or attempted more clutch field goals than Brunson. (Clutch is defined as a game within five points with under five minutes to go.) And only 14.8% of Brunson’s clutch makes have been assisted, the lowest percentage of any player with at least 100 clutch attempts. That means Brunson is not only unafraid to take and make the biggest shots — he often does so creating entirely for himself.“In the biggest moments, he shows up, and that’s what MVPs are supposed to do,” New...