For the second consecutive year, Jalen Brunson delivered a historic closeout performance on the road, cementing his status as one of the NBA’s most clutch playoff performers.
With 40 points and 7 assists, Brunson led the New York Knicks to a thrilling 116-113 victory over the Detroit Pistons in Game 6, securing a 4-2 series win and a spot in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Brunson’s performance placed him in rare company—he became only the second player in NBA history, alongside Michael Jordan, to record 40+ points and 5+ assists in a road closeout win twice in his career (last year’s 41 points and 12 assists Game 6 performance in Philadelphia).
The game was a battle from start to finish, with the Pistons refusing to go down without a fight. Detroit erased an 11-point deficit late in the fourth quarter, taking a 112-105 lead with under three minutes remaining. But Brunson responded with a personal scoring run, tying the game at 113-113 with 36 seconds left.
Then came the defining moment—Brunson squared up against Ausar Thompson, executed a dazzling crossover, and drilled a 25-foot three-pointer with 4.3 seconds remaining, sealing the Knicks’ victory. The Pistons had one last chance, but a Cade Cunningham pass bounced off Malik Beasley and went out of bounds, ending Detroit’s season.
JALEN MF BRUNSON. 🔥🔥🔥🔥
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 2, 2025
While Brunson stole the show, the Knicks received key contributions from Mikal Bridges (25 points, 4 rebounds) and OG Anunoby (22 points). Karl-Anthony Towns, though quiet offensively, dominated the glass with 15 rebounds, ensuring the Knicks controlled the boards.
With the series win, the third-seeded Knicks now advance to face the defending champion Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, with Game 1 set for Monday in Boston.
