Jalen Brunson’s best nights at Madison Square Garden usually come with a little theater. Sunday delivered plenty of it: a Garden career-high 47 points, a late-game scramble that refused to settle, and then a postgame punchline that only makes sense if you understand the Knicks’ internal language; especially the Brunson–Josh Hart friendship that’s equal parts brotherhood and public trolling.
The Knicks beat the Miami Heat 132–125 at MSG behind Brunson’s eruption, a performance that not only was a season-highm but also his highest-scoring home game, surpassing his prior Garden best of 44.
Brunson was the steady flame all night, driving the offense, punishing Miami’s coverages, and repeatedly pulling New York out of the kind of midgame lull that can turn a comfortable lead into a sweaty finish.
JALEN BRUNSON NEW CAREER HIGH AT MSG 🚨
🔥 47 PTS (MSG career-best)
🔥 8 AST
🔥 6 3PMKnicks get their 7th win in 8 games! pic.twitter.com/fcI9B1znra
— NBA (@NBA) December 22, 2025
Miami kept coming anyway. The Heat got a monster night from Kel’el Ware, who posted a career-high 28 points and 19 rebounds, while Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 23 off the bench and helped force the game into late-drama territory.
But New York’s shot-making held up. Mikal Bridges scored 24, and the Knicks survived a rare quiet outing from Karl-Anthony Towns by leaning even harder into Brunson’s control and their wings’ timely buckets.
Then came the play that set up Brunson’s quote. In the closing stretch, when Miami threatened to steal the script. Josh Hart hit what teammates and fans immediately treated like the backbreaker: a huge late three that stabilized the Knicks just long enough for Brunson to finish it out at the line.
The Garden roared, the Knicks exhaled, and the postgame interview turned into a mini roast session.
Asked who hit the biggest shot down the stretch, Brunson didn’t hesitate to reward Hart, while also keeping the ongoing joke alive.
“Unfortunately I’ma say Josh. He’s been a pretty terrible friend as of recently but I’ma say Josh.”
Jalen Brunson’s full postgame interview on the court, after he scored the most points he has ever scored at Madison Square Garden – 47 points.
He also answered who had the biggest shot down the stretch: “Unfortunately I’mma say Josh. He’s been a pretty terrible friend as of… pic.twitter.com/mG0R7XEIEP
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) December 22, 2025
It’s a line that lands because it’s doing two things at once. It’s a sincere basketball answer: Hart’s shot mattered, and his edge has become a real ingredient in the Knicks’ late-game identity. But it’s also Brunson acknowledging, with a grin, the very public antics that have followed this group lately. The Knicks’ chemistry isn’t quiet. It’s loud, messy, and sometimes borderline juvenile in the way only winning teams can afford to be. The friendship is part of the culture, and the culture, especially after the NBA Cup run, has become a tangible advantage for a team that wants to be taken seriously in April and May.
