Jalen Brunson scores his 40th point in style to knock the Magic out of the NBA Cup
Jalen Brunson saved his best for the moment New York Knicks the most necessary. With Orlando Magic rolling around late in the fourth quarter, Brunson threw a punch who slammed the door and sent the Knicks to the NBA Cup final.
Matched up against a rookie defender with less than three minutes to play, Brunson drove into the lane and drilled a smooth stepback layup for his 40th point of the night, extending New York’s lead and effectively ending Orlando’s streak.
That bucket summed up the evening. Peacefully. Controlled. Brutal. The New York Knicks have retired for a 121-113 victory, thanks to Brunson’s record 40 points in the NBA Cup semifinals. Brunson controlled the game from start to finish, scoring from all three levels while dictating the pace whenever Orlando threatened to close the gap.
Orlando cut the deficit to single digits late in the fourth, but Brunson responded to every push. He finished with 40 points, eight assists, while shooting 16 of 27 from the field and 2 of 5 on free throws. Karl-Anthony Towns played second fiddle to Brunson, scoring a solid 29 points, 9 of 11 from the field and 9 of 10 on free throws.
Brunson’s night wasn’t just about volume. He picked his spots, attacked mismatches and punished switches, especially when Orlando tried to throw younger defenders at him. The Knicks leaned heavily on him and he delivered.
The Magic showed fight, but New York’s experience won out. Brunson’s composure late was in stark contrast to Orlando’s missed opportunities and quick possession in crunch time.
Now, the Knicks are one step closer to winning the NBA Cup, and Brunson is firmly at the center of it all. On a night made for big moments, he delivered the knockout blow.
2025-12-14 02:00:00
