It was becoming that Jalen Brunson got here via within the clutch in Saturday evening’s playoff opener, a day earlier than he was named as considered one of three finalists for the NBA’s Clutch Participant of the Yr (also called the Jerry West Trophy) on Sunday evening.
Brunson scored 12 of his game-high 34 factors within the ultimate 8:27, main the Knicks to a come-from-behind Sport 1 victory over the Pistons on Saturday evening.
In the course of the common season, Brunson averaged a league-leading 5.6 factors and shot 51.5 p.c from the sector within the clutch — when the sport is inside 5 factors within the final 5 minutes, as outlined by the NBA. He dedicated solely 0.3 turnovers per recreation in such conditions.
The opposite finalists are Anthony Edwards of the Timberwolves and Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets.
The NBA launched the award in 2022-23.
De’Aaron Fox gained it the primary 12 months and Stephen Curry claimed the respect final season. 100 media members vote on the award.
For both staff, the largest harm concern for Monday is Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart, who has been coping with knee ache and motioned for a sub in the course of the Knicks’ 21-0 run within the fourth quarter of Sport 1.
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Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff mentioned he had no replace after Sunday’s movie session, however indicated that Stewart was coping with extra than simply knee irritation.
“There’s a lot going on there,” Bickerstaff mentioned.
Stewart was listed as questionable for Sport 2.
Stewart, a bodily frontcourt presence, was the one Piston with a constructive plus-minus (they outscored the Knicks by eight factors with him on the court docket), however he solely managed 19 minutes.
“I think we all felt [his absence]. He was phenomenal [Saturday] night,” Bickerstaff mentioned. “His effort, how he protected the rim, the energy he brought, how his teammates fed off that energy, was huge. And when he’s not on the floor for us, we all have to bring that. We have to find a way. Because we just can’t lean on him and just expect it to be him. We have to play with that same ferociousness and that effort that he does.”
