Jalen Brunson and the Knicks move on to the NBA Cup quarterfinals after defeating the Bucks.

Brunson Shines as Knicks Defeat Bucks

In a standout performance, Jalen Brunson truly showcased his skills while Giannis Antetokounmpo continued his dominance. The Knicks, at one point leading by 13 in the fourth quarter, saw that lead shrink to just two points, having hit only 1 of their last 11 shots.

In a pivotal moment, Brunson fouled Antetokounmpo during a 3-point attempt. Of course, Antetokounmpo made all three free throws, but that brought the Knicks a little cushion, extending their lead to five points.

Moments later, Brunson came back strong, drawing a foul from Myles Turner. He executed a three-point play with a slick floater and a free throw, pushing the Knicks’ lead to seven. His genuine excitement was evident as he celebrated, prompting the crowd at Madison Square Garden to chant “MVP.”

The result? A solid victory for the Knicks, who took down the Bucks with a score of 118-109.

What stands out about Brunson is this switch in mentality—there’s a moment when he decides that it’s his turn to take charge of the game instead of just playmaking for teammates. It’s pretty clear that this usually happens when the Knicks need it most.

Before that intense sequence, Brunson had already dropped eight consecutive points against the Knicks, wrapping up the third quarter with 13 of his 16 total points.

This Black Friday, he’s certainly demonstrated that he’s one of the best deals in the league, especially considering he signed a contract that was less than what his current performance might demand.