Brunson looks locked in for a playoff run.
The New York Knicks needed someone to rescue them on Monday night in Atlanta, and Jalen Brunson answered with one of the most impressive closing stretches of his season.
After sitting on just 13 points through the first three and a half quarters, Brunson erupted for 17 points in the final six minutes to lift New York to a 108-105 win over the Hawks at State Farm Arena.
"You trust your work and you find a way," Brunson said after the game, summing up a night where patience turned into dominance right when it mattered most.
The win pushed the Knicks to 51-28 on the season and kept them locked into the third seed in the Eastern Conference, while the Hawks dropped to 45-34 and remain in fifth.
Brunson Flipped a Switch
For most of the game, Brunson looked like he was having one of those quieter nights where the shots just were not falling.
He finished 11-for-26 from the field and 3-for-8 from three, and those numbers do not exactly scream efficiency.
But what separates Brunson from most players in this league is his ability to turn it on when the game is on the line, and that is exactly what happened.
He poured in 17 of his 30 points in those final six minutes and also finished with 13 assists, three rebounds and two steals across 39 minutes of work.
MVP chants broke out inside State Farm Arena as Brunson took control of the game on the road, and that alone shows how much respect he has earned around the league.
Performances like this will only strengthen Brunson's case for All-NBA honors this season.
He is averaging 26.2 points and 6.5 assists per game while shooting nearly 38 percent from three, and those numbers alongside the Knicks' standing as a top-three seed should make him a near lock for the All-NBA Second Team at minimum.
He has already earned two All-NBA selections in his career and a third feels like a given at this point.
Towns and the Supporting Cast Stepped Up Too
Karl-Anthony Towns did his part as well, turning in 21 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists in a game where the Knicks needed contributions from everyone.
Towns has been a steady force all year long, averaging 20.1 points and a team-high 11.9 rebounds, and nights like this remind you why New York's frontcourt is one of the best in the league.
Mikal Bridges also chipped in with key baskets, including a pair of dunks that kept New York within striking distance before Brunson took over.
The Hawks made it interesting until the very end.
CJ McCollum launched a half-court heave at the buzzer that banked in, but replays showed the ball was still in his hands when time expired.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker led Atlanta with 36 points in what has been a breakout season for him, and the loss snapped a 13-game home winning streak for the Hawks.
What This Means Going Forward
With only a handful of games left in the regular season, the Knicks are in strong position heading into the playoffs.
They have clinched a postseason spot and are projected to face the Toronto Raptors in a potential first-round matchup if the seedings hold.
And if Brunson keeps closing games the way he closed this one, New York is going to be a tough out for anyone in the East.