Highlights
- Jalen Brunson recognized the 76ers’ strong performance, giving them credit for their play in a tough Game 4 victory.
- The 76ers struggled in Game 4, failing to maintain their performance from Game 3, and specifically falling short offensively in the fourth quarter.
- Brunson shined with a record-breaking performance and was key to the Knicks’ success, leading them confidently to a 3-1 series advantage.
The New York Knicks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 96-92 on Sunday to go up 3-1 in their first-round NBA playoff matchup. The game was extremely competitive until the end, and New York’s Jalen Brunson spoke about the back-and-forth throughout Game 4 during the postgame press conference.
Brunson Praises 76ers’ Play
Brunson’s statement begins with praise for his opponent.
When asked about what he makes of the Knicks’ performance tonight just days after a heartbreaking Game 3 loss, Brunson began by showing Nick Nurse and the 76ers some love.
“I give them a lot of credit, first and foremost. They played hard. They played so well together. Even when things look chaotic, they’re in control. Credit to them, credit to Nick [Nurse].” – Jalen Brunson
The 76ers put on an impressive performance against the Knicks in Game 3, and there was skepticism that the Knicks could head back to Madison Square Garden for Game 5 with a 3-1 series lead. However, Philadelphia didn’t have enough offensive firepower in the final quarter to level up the series at two games apiece.
76ers’ Performances in Games 3 & 4 vs. Knicks |
||
---|---|---|
Game |
3 |
4 |
FG% |
54.7 |
35.4 |
3P% |
48.4 |
27.3 |
PTS |
125 |
92 |
AST |
24 |
23 |
Statistically, the Sixers were far better in Game 3 than on Sunday, shooting less accurately and finding the bottom of the basket less overall. Granted, it was a tense game that was more of a grind for both teams and defense took a front seat. However, the 76ers fell short when it mattered the most.
76ers Shooting by Quarter |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Quarter |
FG% |
3P% |
FT% |
1 |
44.0 |
12.5 |
80.0 |
2 |
26.3 |
57.1 |
100.0 |
3 |
50.0 |
33.3 |
90.9 |
4 |
25.0 |
11.1 |
60.0 |
Whether it was their own doing or due to quality defensive pressure, the 76ers couldn’t pull out a win.
Knicks Continue Extremely Strong Play
Bouncing back from a Game 3 loss is representative of this team’s resilience.
After commenting on the 76ers, Brunson turned his praise to his team. He continued:
“Somehow, we just found a way. We kept fighting, kept sticking together. We found a way. When it’s ugly, and we can find a way to win like that, and when we’re not playing perfect, it’s a plus for us, a plus for our confidence. I mean we’re not done yet. We have to continue to have that humble mentality and we have to find a way to win another.” – Jalen Brunson
This quote (and this game) excellently sums up the character of this Knicks team. Playing hard throughout the entire game, they manage to focus on the task at hand while simultaneously keeping their sights fixed on future success.
The Knicks are playing extremely well and looking more and more like a real contender. Playing well even in their loss, they’ve gotten off to a good start this postseason.
Brunson Continues to Level Up
Despite his praise for his teammates, Brunson is the biggest reason for this team’s success.
Brunson, the always humble star of this team, has continued to lead them through their first four games. He finished the game with a staggering 47-point, 10-assist double-double while shooting 52.9 percent from the field. Those 47 points, by the way, set a new franchise record for most points scored in a single postseason game by a Knick.
Even with his incredible performances in the regular season, he plays even better when the games have real stakes. This postseason, he’s improved upon almost every statistical category of his regular-season line.
Brunson 2023 vs. 2024 Comparison |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Period |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
FG% |
Regular Season |
28.7 |
3.6 |
6.7 |
47.9 |
Postseason |
33.0 |
5.3 |
9.0 |
40.5 |
He has shot slightly less accurately, but with how well he’s been playing, sacrificing slightly on field goal percentage for better overall stats is working out fine, especially considering his field goal percentage is still above 40 percent.
Brunson and the Knicks seek to close out the series this Tuesday (April 30) at 7:00 pm in New York for Game 5.
![Jalen Brunson Game 4](https://static0.givemesportimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/jalen-brunson-game-4.jpg)
Jalen Brunson Makes NBA Playoff History in Knicks Win Over 76ers
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks to a decisive Game 4 victory in Philadelphia, thanks to his impressive shooting.
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