Jalen Brunson propels Knicks to season-saving win over Heat
In the end, Jalen Brunson wouldn’t allow it.
Not tonight.
Not at the Garden.
Not in front of his fans in what is now his city.
The Knicks’ season may not last much longer, but the curtain wasn’t going to come down on it Wednesday night at MSG.
Brunson made sure of that, producing one of the more memorable performances in the franchise’s rich history when facing elimination.
He jump-started his sleeping team after a shoddy start. He made huge shots when it looked like the Heat were going to climb all the way back from a 19-point, third-quarter deficit.
He ensured there is at least one more game left in his first memorable season as a Knick, carrying his team to a hard-fought, 112-103 Game 5 win that extended this series to Friday night in Miami.
“Whatever it takes,” Brunson said.
Jalen Brunson, who scored a game-high 38 points, celebrates after the Knicks’ 112-103 Game 5 win. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Brunson scored 38 points on 12 of 22 shooting, added nine rebounds, seven assists and committed just one turnover in a heroic 48-minute masterpiece.
Fittingly, he dribbled out the clock on this gutsy win that saw him play every second.
“What can you say about the guy? He’s just incredible,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “All-around player. Great leader. Great toughness. Mental toughness. Physical toughness. Ability to think on his feet. Ability to lead. Ability to connect with people, bring the best out of people. That’s what makes him special, and it’s play after play.”
RJ Barrett, the Knicks’ second-best player after Brunson throughout the postseason, followed with 26 points and seven rebounds.
Follow The Post’s coverage of the Knicks vs. Heat NBA playoff series
Julius Randle had 24 points and five assists, bouncing back after a poor start despite a collision with Bam Adebayo that left a bruise under his left eye.
Like Brunson, Quentin Grimes didn’t sit at all, and notched eight points, five assists, four rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
He appeared to hurt his left knee late in the fourth quarter, but not only did he not come out, he stayed in the game and stripped Jimmy Butler on the same play.
“He needs to rest so he can do it again,” Brunson joked.
After getting outworked and thoroughly outplayed in their two losses in Miami, the Knicks played with the edge that had been lacking.
Julius Randle makes a jump pass during the Knicks’ victory. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
They out-rebounded the Heat by 16. They got out in transition, stacking up 16 fast-break points. They took punches and landed their own.
The Heat intentionally fouled Mitchell Robinson twice in the fourth quarter, and he responded by hitting three of four at the line.
“Feel like if we went out and did the little things better, executed better, we’d be fine,” Randle said. “We did that tonight.”
The Heat got as close as two with 2:37 left, but Isaiah Hartenstein’s follow slam and two Barrett free throws cut off their momentum.
Jalen Brunson celebrates with Julius Randle during the Knicks’ Game 5 victory. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Butler led Miami with 19 points and nine assists, his least impactful effort of the series, and Adebayo had 18.
The game turned early in the second quarter.
The Knicks played a woeful first quarter. They were sloppy, sluggish and managed just 14 points.
The Heat led by 10 and the building was as quiet as a library. Thibodeau started the second quarter with Barrett, Brunson, Grimes and two substitutes: Obi Toppin and Hartenstein. Brunson started the period by assisting on a Grimes 3-pointer and Toppin alley-oop slam.
Jimmy Butler goes up for an acrobatic layup during the Knicks’ win. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
He added five more points of his own and an assist, keying an 18-2 run.
“I don’t want to say we eased into the game, but things weren’t going our way,” Brunson said. “We were complaining as a team, and we decided we just gotta play through it.”
He led the way, led the Knicks as he has throughout this season.
He wasn’t an All-Star and didn’t make any of the three All-NBA teams, which were announced Wednesday night prior to tipoff.
But when his absolute best was required, Brunson delivered.
Afterward, he didn’t want to take any bows. All that Wednesday night accomplished was one more opportunity, 48 more minutes of basketball in Miami on Friday night.
“Just tried to do everything I could to win,” Brunson said. “We did that, and it’s on to Game 6.”
Source: New York Post
