You can’t argue with the numbers.
Jalen Brunson’s latest clutch-time performance Wednesday night bailed the Knicks out of what would have been one of their ugliest losses of the season.
Instead, the captain’s 12 points over the final five minutes of the fourth quarter — including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:26 to play — lifted the Knicks to a needed victory after they had coughed up a 19-point lead to a Sixers squad that now has lost nine games in a row without injured star Joel Embiid.
This late-game showing was not out of the norm for Brunson, who leads the NBA in the league’s clutch scoring statistics for the season.
Clutch time is defined as the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime when the score is within five points in either direction.
Brunson is averaging the most points in the NBA in that metric, 5.5 per game, with the most made field goals (37) and a .514 shooting percentage in 21 such situations this season.
The Knicks have gone 14-7 in those games en route to a 38-20 record entering a two-game road trip to Memphis and Miami beginning Friday night against the Grizzlies.
“I don’t really know what was going through my mind. I think I’m more focused just on the next play,” Brunson said after finishing with 34 points Wednesday night. “You can’t sulk about [the score]. You can’t worry about the past. You’ve just got to move on and figure out what we’re going to do about it now. That’s really the only thing on my mind.”
The NBA began giving out a Clutch Player of the Year award in 2023, and Brunson has to be considered a favorite to join De’Aaron Fox (2022-23) and Stephen Curry (2023-24) this year.
Here are five examples of Brunson’s heroics in the clutch this season:
Nov. 29: Knicks 99, Hornets 98
The Knicks trailed by four midway through the fourth quarter before Brunson took over late to keep the Knicks unbeaten in NBA Cup group play. He sank five free throws in the last 1:05 and totaled 11 clutch points in the final 4:48 to finish with a game-high 31.
Dec. 28: Knicks 136, Wizards 132 (OT)
Brunson’s season-high 55 points featured him netting nine of the Knicks’ final 11 points in the fourth quarter — and forcing overtime with a game-tying floater with 11.1 seconds remaining in regulation. He then poured in nine more in the extra session to prevent what would have gone down as a horrendous road loss against the worst team in the NBA.
Feb. 4: Knicks 121, Raptors 115
In another tight road game against a non-playoff squad, the Raptors slashed a 23-point deficit to three with 4:41 to go. But Brunson drilled two big outside shots in the final minute, with his 27-footer with 26.1 ticks left doubling the Knicks’ lead to six.
Feb. 12: Knicks 149, Hawks 148 (OT)
In the final game before the All-Star break, Brunson netted six of the Knicks’ 12 points in overtime against the Hawks, including a step-back jumper to take the lead with 11.1 seconds remaining in the extra session. Brunson scored 36 points in 43 minutes to essentially match fellow All-Star guard Trae Young’s 38 in 44.
Wednesday: Knicks 110, 76ers 105
With All-Star centers Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns out of action, Brunson again shouldered the scoring load late with a dozen clutch points to help the Knicks back into the win column after consecutive losses in Cleveland and Boston. The two-time All-Star guard got to the line all night, sinking 15 of 16 free-throw attempts among his game-high 34 points.
“Whatever I see is where we’re going to try to attack,” Brunson said. “I”m not going in and saying I’m going to score. I’m just going in and saying I’m going to
