Stephen A. Smith Has Ridiculous Reaction to Jalen Brunson Cooking James Harden

The reaction came after the Knicks guard repeatedly hunted Harden defensively during New York’s comeback run.

Once the Knicks realized Cleveland could not keep Harden in front of Brunson, they relentlessly attacked the matchup possession after possession. Brunson got downhill whenever he wanted, hit tough mid-range jumpers, and completely controlled the pace late in regulation and overtime.

However, the Knicks closed regulation on an incredible 18-1 run before dominating overtime 14-3.

The three-time NBA All-Star finished with 38 points, six assists, five rebounds, and three steals while shooting 15-for-29 from the field. But the numbers only told part of the story. Almost every massive late bucket came when Brunson attacked the Cavs veteran point guard or dragged him into the action through switches.

Jalen Brunson Wins Heartfelt Praise For Fourth Quarter Explosion

Just as Stephen A. Smith had bold comments for Jalen Brunson, the Knicks’ star point guard earned major praise from head coach Mike Brown.

For most of the night, the Knicks looked flat, overwhelmed, and headed toward a frustrating home loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers. With just over seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, New York trailed 93-71, and Madison Square Garden had gone quiet.

Then Brunson took over. The Knicks captain exploded for 15 fourth-quarter points, including an 11-point personal run that reignited both the crowd and his teammates. Suddenly, a game that looked finished completely flipped.

After the overtime win, Brown made it clear just how important Brunson’s performance was.

“We don’t get it done if Jalen Brunson doesn’t play like one of the MVP guys in the league. He was phenomenal,” Brown said.

Just as he said, that stretch completely changed the energy of the game. JB relentlessly attacked the Cavaliers’ defense with drives, floaters, and tough mid-range jumpers, cutting the deficit down possession by possession until Cleveland finally looked rattled. 

Once Brunson pulled the Knicks back within striking distance, the rest of the roster followed.