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Jalen Brunson Drives Knicks to 2-0 NBA Finals Lead

Coaches and rivals have raised Brunson’s profile as New York prepares to host Game 3 while his shooting efficiency trails elite playoff marks.

Overview

  • The New York Knicks lead the 2026 NBA Finals series 2-0 after surprising San Antonio on the road in Games 1 and 2 and now sit two wins from their first championship since 1973.
  • Brunson has been New York’s primary scorer in the postseason, averaging roughly mid-20s points along with several assists and steals while the team strings together a long playoff win streak.
  • His Finals shooting splits are notably lower than historic elite postseason performers, with reported sub-34 percent field-goal numbers and weak three-point percentages even as he continues to produce counting stats.
  • Knicks coach Mike Brown publicly called Brunson a top-three MVP candidate for the season and peers such as Draymond Green have pointed to Brunson’s citywide jersey presence as comparable to Curry and LeBron.
  • Brunson’s arrival in 2022 coincided with New York’s steady turnaround that produced annual playoff berths and the franchise’s first Finals home game since 1999, and a title would likely cement his stature in the city and the league.