Jalen Brunson Immediately Starts Trolling Josh Hart During Postgame Interview  

However, the line perfectly captured the bond the former Villanova teammates have developed over the years. Hart’s relentless movement, hustle, and cutting constantly create easy passing lanes, while the three-time NBA All-Star’s gravity with the ball forces defenses to collapse around him.

That chemistry was on full display again Thursday night.

With Cleveland aggressively trapping and crowding Brunson throughout the game, the Knicks star shifted into full playmaking mode and finished with 14 assists as New York picked apart the Cavaliers’ defense.

Hart continued to benefit from that attention by finding openings off the ball, something Brunson admitted comes naturally because of how hard Hart works.

Jalen Brunson Figures Out Most Important Thing For Knicks 

While Jalen Brunson may have delivered the finishing blows late, the Knicks star believes the biggest reason behind the team’s playoff surge goes far beyond individual scoring.

“A little bit more experience, and I think the most important thing is we’re growing and learning together,” he said. “Whatever the situation is, we’re open to learning, getting better, and figuring out how to win games.”

However, that mindset has quickly become one of the defining traits of this Knicks playoff run.

Brunson finished with 19 points and a playoff career-high 14 assists, but his approach reflected the maturity he referenced afterward. Rather than forcing shots against Cleveland’s aggressive defensive pressure, the three-time All-Star trusted his teammates, controlled the pace, and let the game come to him before taking over late in the fourth quarter.

After storming back from a 22-point deficit in Game 1 behind Brunson’s fourth-quarter heroics, New York won Game 2 differently. This time, it was their dominant third quarter that changed the game, as the Knicks outscored Cleveland 32-21 to seize control.