{"id":1344,"date":"2026-06-06T07:36:34","date_gmt":"2026-06-06T07:36:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=1344"},"modified":"2026-06-06T07:36:34","modified_gmt":"2026-06-06T07:36:34","slug":"jalen-brunson-blinked-and-somehow-the-knicks-held-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=1344","title":{"rendered":"Jalen Brunson blinked\u2014\u00a0and somehow the Knicks held on"},"content":{"rendered":"
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SAN ANTONIO \u2014 Captain Clutch was crumbling.<\/p>\n

It felt like eons since Jalen Brunson had looked so cold in such a big moment, missing open shots he could normally hit with his eyes closed. The Knicks superstar had made seven shots. He\u2019d missed 18, the last coming on a go-ahead attempt from the elbow with 15 seconds left, giving the Spurs a chance to hold for the final shot of regulation in a tie game.<\/p>\n

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But Victor Wembanyama threw a pass off Stephon Castle\u2019s back and Brunson scooped up the ball, getting bumped by the Spurs big man to get sent to the free-throw line with 9.5 seconds remaining.<\/p>\n

Even on this miserable shooting night \u2014 even if there was a draft of every player in NBA history \u2014 the Knicks had the only player they would ever want at the line with the game on the line.<\/p>\n

Brunson made the first, putting the Knicks ahead. Then, the impossible: his first missed free throw of the NBA Finals, putting the Knicks in jeopardy of returning to New York with the series even.<\/p>\n

The nightmare ended when Wembanyama missed the potential game-winning jumper in the final seconds, putting the Knicks two wins from achieving a dream that is 53 years in the making, following a 105-104 win in Game 2 of the NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center.<\/p>\n

Brunson finished with 20 points (7-for-25 from the field, 2-for-8 on 3-pointers), six assists, five rebounds and four turnovers.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had to do a good job of staying composed in those situations,\u201d Brunson said. \u201cIt\u2019s a credit to the character that this team has. Not being able to fold in situations like that is key to winning games like this. At this stage of the season, things aren\u2019t going to be pretty. It\u2019s going to be ugly. It\u2019s going to be grinded out. It\u2019s simple as that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brunson shot 12-of-31 in Game 1, but finished with 13 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter to clinch the Knicks\u2019 first NBA Finals win in 27 years. The Spurs did everything to ensure he wouldn\u2019t maintain his momentum, guarding him 94 feet, blitzing him with double-teams and bumping him at every opportunity.<\/p>\n

Read more Victor Wembanyama gift-wrapped this Game 2 win for the Knicks \u2014 and that\u2019s more than fine<\/a><\/p>\n