On Monday night, the New York Knicks hosted the Philadelphia 76ers for Game 1 of their second-round playoff series.
The Knicks won by a score of 137-98.
Jalen Brunson finished with 35 points, one rebound, three assists and two steals while shooting 12/18 from the field and 3/6 from three-point range in 31 minutes of playing time.
NBA World Reacts To Brunson’s Performance
GettyVj Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives around Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks during the third quarter in Game One of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 04, 2026 in New York City.
Here’s what people were saying about Brunson’s performance:
Real App: “Jalen Brunson now has the 2nd most 35-point playoff games by a PG in NBA HISTORY.”
@ESPNInsights: “Jalen Brunson’s 27 PTS in the first half are the second most in any playoff half by a Knick in the play-by-play era 🔥 The most? Jalen Brunson’s 28-point first half of Game 5 of the 2024 Eastern Conference semifinals vs. the Pacers 📈”
@BigKnickEnergy_: “I don’t ever want to see Tyrese Maxey & Jalen Brunson in the same sentence ever again.”
35 PTS in 3Qs 12-18 FG 3-6 3PM
Strong start to Round 2 🔥
Yahoo Sports: “JALEN BRUNSON LOVES PLAYOFF BASKETBALL AT THE GARDEN 😤 Knicks take a 1-0 series lead vs. the 76ers.”
Esfandiar Baraheni: “The great thing about Jalen Brunson is that basically every single season of his career he’s been completely unstoppable offensively in the playoffs”
Kyle Neubeck: “I don’t think the Sixers are doing anything particularly wrong with Brunson so far on defense, tip your hat to him for this start, but they’re not challenging him enough on the other end. Gotta find ways to make him work (and Maxey needs to stop deferring)”
GettyVj Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks in front of Karl-Anthony Towns #32 and Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks during the third quarter in Game One of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 04, 2026 in New York City.
Looking At Brunson And The Knicks
Brunson is in his fourth season playing for the Knicks.
The All-Star point guard is coming off a season where he helped lead the franchise to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years.
Before becoming a superstar in New York, Brunson had spent the first four seasons of his career with the Dallas Mavericks.
GettyJalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks reacts during the second half of a game against the Atlanta Hawks in Game Six of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at State Farm Arena on April 30, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Knicks are the third seed in the Eastern Conference after going 53-29.
They are coming off a series where they beat the Atlanta Hawks in six games.
Game 2 will be on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.
NBA World Reacts To Jalen Brunson’s Performance In 76ers-Knicks Game