Brunson credits head coach Mike Brown for getting them on track in their big win over the Magic.
The New York Knicks are headed to the NBA Cup Final after a big win over the Orlando Magic, and star guard Jalen Brunson knows exactly who deserves credit for getting them there.
Brunson poured in a season-high 40 points in the 132-120 semifinal victory in Las Vegas on Saturday, marking his fourth straight game with at least 30 points.
But even with his own strong play, Brunson made sure to point out that it was head coach Mike Brown who turned the game around when things looked shaky early on against Orlando.
Coach Brown Gets the Knicks Going
After the game, Brunson talked about the moment that changed everything for New York in what became a 12-point win.
"It took Coach Brown getting into us," Brunson said. "Rest of game's a testament to that first timeout."
The Knicks (18-7) responded well after that early timeout and never looked back, with Brunson leading the way and Karl-Anthony Towns adding 29 points and eight rebounds in the win.
The victory punched New York's ticket to Tuesday's NBA Cup Final, where they will face the San Antonio Spurs (18-7), who pulled off an upset over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the other semifinal.
Brunson Embraces New System
Beyond just the Magic game, Brunson also opened up about how Brown has changed the way the Knicks play this season after taking over as head coach in July.
"We can go back and be comfortable doing what we did past few years, but Mike Brown wanted to bring his system and we had to buy in," Brunson explained. "Starts with me."
That kind of leadership from a star player goes a long way in helping a team adjust to a new coach, and Brown has gotten the most out of his roster so far this season.
The two-time NBA Coach of the Year was hired by New York after being let go by the Sacramento Kings last December and has brought a fresh approach to a team that reached the Eastern Conference Finals a year ago under former coach Tom Thibodeau.
Looking Ahead to the NBA Cup Final
Brunson is averaging 28.0 points and 6.4 assists per game this season, and he has been on a tear lately, shooting over 55 percent from the field during his four-game 30-point streak.
With the way he and Towns have been playing together, the Knicks look like a team that can make a serious run at the NBA Cup trophy.
The Spurs present a tough matchup, especially with Victor Wembanyama back in the lineup after missing 12 games with a calf strain.
Wembanyama had 22 points and nine rebounds in San Antonio's 111-109 win over the Thunder on Saturday, and the young star will look to keep it going against New York on Tuesday night.
For the Knicks, it all comes back to trusting their new coach and the system he has put in place, and Brunson is all in.