Jalen Brunson answered without hesitation. He just attempted a career-high 26 shots, but finished with the fifth-worst conversion rate (30.8) in his postseason games. Time and time again this season, and in many obvious ways, Brunson was the reason the Knicks won, secured the No. 2 seed, and stayed there — against the 76ers in Game 1. Let’s start with their series (they were celebrating right after a 111-104 win).
But one night, the Knicks needed another hero.
So when asked what it took for the Knicks to overcome their deficit at the start of the fourth quarter and survive the opening game, Brunson uttered the words “Deuce McBride” in an on-court interview with MSG, He nodded his head while being watched by fans. He responded by shouting out Miles McBride’s nickname in the same style that Springsteen fans do at concerts. The reverberations seemed to reverberate from the Garden exit down Seventh Avenue and continue until the end of Game 2 on Monday.
Brunson finished with 22 points on just eight baskets. McBride scored 21 points in just 28 minutes. He was joined by contributors like Josh Hart, Isaiah Hartenstein and Mitchell Robinson, all members of Tom Thibodeau’s eight-man rotation, who could help overcome Brunson’s struggles. It was enough. It provided a blueprint the Knicks would never use again, but as their win proved, it could be used if needed.
