New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson explained what went wrong for the team in their Game 3 loss against the Atlanta Hawks.
Brunson and the Knicks are now down 2-1 to the Hawks in their best-of-seven, Eastern Conference quarterfinal matchup after the Hawks won 109-108 on Thursday night in Game 3. The Knicks’ backs are now against the wall as they head into Game 4, which takes place in Atlanta. Should the Knicks lose this upcoming game, they will go down 3-1 in the series, and it will be very difficult to come back from that deficit against a young, hungry, and talented Hawks team.
Speaking to reporters following their Game 3 loss, Brunson explained what went wrong.
“Being down early, them playing with the lead for most of the game, us clinging to four a couple of times. And then in the fourth, obviously taking the lead in the last minute. I like the way we fought back, but there’s a lot of things that go throughout the game that myself can be a bit better at, and a missed opportunity for sure,” Brunson said.
Jalen Brunson Shows Leadership by Taking the Blame
Brunson is known as one of the NBA’s top leaders, and his leadership was on full display following the Game 3 loss. When asked by reporters what he thought of his own performance, Brunson was extremely critical of himself.
“Not good enough,” Brunson said, admitting he has to be better at “everything.”
Brunson scored 26 points on 11-23 shooting, but he was 0-5 from beyond the 3-point arc and contributed only 4 assists, which is below average for him. He also had 3 turnovers, the second-most on the team behind Mikal Bridges, who was heavily criticized for a poor showing.
Knicks Need to Win Game 4
The Knicks are now down 3-1 in the series with the Hawks, so they are in a tough spot heading into Game 4 on the road. Should the Knicks win the game and tie up the series 2-2, they will be right back to where they started, as they will regain home-court advantage heading into Game 5 in New York. But if the Knicks lose Game 4, the Hawks will take a commanding 3-1 series lead. While the Knicks can’t be counted out of coming back from that deficit due to having so much talent on their roster, the Hawks are an excellent team that will be difficult to come back from.
Ultimately, Game 4 looks like it’s a must-win game for the Knicks if they want any chance of coming back to win this series. Win, and they tie it all up heading back home. Lose, and they go back home with zero momentum. For the Knicks, they need their top players like Brunson, Bridges, and Karl-Anthony Towns to all step up their games and show why the Knicks were the overwhelming favorite to win this series before it began. They simply cannot afford another loss to the Hawks, as it would put them in a perilous situation heading back to NYC for Game 5, increasing the scrutiny towards the players and head coach Mike Brown, whose job could be on the line with a series loss.
Jalen Brunson Explains What Went Wrong for the Knicks in Game 3