New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) brings the ball up the court against Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) during the first quarter of game one of the second round of the 2024 NBA playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Knicks' Jalen Brunson joins elite company with latest scoring effort

Only four players have scored 40 or more points in four straight playoff games. Three are Hall of Famers. One is Jalen Brunson.

Brunson went for 43 points in the Knicks' 121-117 Game 1 win over the Indiana Pacers. It's the fourth straight game that Brunson has gone for 40 or more, and in the game before his streak started, he scored 39 points. This puts him in even more elite company historically, alongside another Hall of Famer named Jerry West.

The Knicks have needed all of those points. In the four games of Brunson's streak, they've gone 3-1 but only outscored their opponents by a total of six points. Monday night, the Knicks got a whopping three points from their entire bench. That's why Brunson took personal responsibility for the Knicks offense late.

Lest you think Brunson is just a gunner, he's averaging 8.5 assists during his four-game scoring streak. When you look at players with 40+ points and six assists in four straight playoff games, Brunson is in a historical class by himself.

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