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Jalen Brunson stats: Knicks star makes history, helps New York fend off elimination in Game 5 win vs. Pacers

The Knicks will live to see another game.

New York fended off elimination with a 111-94 Game 5 victory over the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals on Thursday, with Jalen Brunson leading the game in scoring and paving the way at home.

The star guard had an efficient night in front of the Madison Square Garden crowd, first helping the Knicks build a double-digit lead, then also helping them hold onto it late with some timely buckets.

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Here’s how Brunson fared in a clutch win over the Pacers on Thursday.

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Jalen Brunson stats Game 5 vs. Pacers

  • Points: 32
  • Rebounds: 5
  • Assists: 5
  • Steals: 0
  • Blocks: 1
  • Turnovers: 3
  • Fouls: 2
  • FG: 12-18
  • 3P: 4-7
  • FT: 4-4

Misses were rare for Brunson on Thursday night, as he posted his 10th game of this year’s playoffs with at least 30 points. He was at his best in the scoring department against the Pacers, responding to the elimination game by shooting a hot 66.7% from the floor.

By notching his 10th 30-plus-point game of this postseason, Brunson joined an exclusive list of guards that have excelled in the playoffs:

Brunson also has the most 30-point playoff games in the NBA over the past three seasons with a total of 21, per StatMuse.

Paired with a 24-point, 13-rebound night from Karl-Anthony Towns, the Knicks offense shot 49.4% from the field as a team despite making just eight of their 29 3-point attempts.

Brunson and Towns also became the first teammates to score 20-plus points in each of the first five games of a conference finals since Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal in 2000, per SNY. Jerry West and Elgin Baylor is the only other duo to accomplish that feat.

“I thought the first quarter, that set the tone for the game,” Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said of Brunson and Towns postgame. “Playing disciplined and playing with toughness is huge.”

While Brunson isn’t exactly known as a defensive stopper, his star counterpart, Tyrese Haliburton, was held to just eight points and six assists.

MORE: All of the celebrities in attendance at Game 5 of the ECF

Jalen Brunson Game 5 highlights vs. Pacers

It was primarily Brunson that led to the Knicks building a strong first-half lead. The veteran guard started the game with three consecutive buckets.

The playmaking was also on-point for the Knicks star, lobbing up a pass for his big man, Mitchell Robinson, in the first quarter for a highlight.

In the first eight minutes alone, Brunson had 12 points, the start of a big-time performance.

Just when Indiana was starting to find a rhythm in the second half, Brunson ended that with virtually one play: A 3-pointer in which he also drew a foul.

While his scoring cooled off, Brunson remained a huge contributor in the late minutes as the Knicks sealed a Game 5 victory.

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