Knicks’ Jalen Brunson is outperforming Michael Jordan in 4th quarter playoff play

Jalen Brunson had a rough shooting night overall in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, but the face of the New York Knicks came through when it mattered most, just as he always seems to do. Brunson scored 13 points in the fourth quarter, helping his squad power past the home-team San Antonio Spurs for a 105-95 victory. When crunch time hits, his size does not matter. The superstar point guard ascends to another level in the final frame, one that puts him in the same rarefied air as the greatest player of all-time.

Actually, Brunson’s late-game heroics may belong in a class of their own. While appearing on FanDuel’s “Run It Back,” Sam Amick of The Athletic revealed that a friend of his in the media showed him a graphic that detailed historic fourth-quarter performances in the playoffs. And it gave No. 11 a slight edge over Michael Jordan. Take a minute to digest that tidbit.

In his last 12 games, Jalen Brunson is better in the 4th quarter than Michael Jordan

"Knicks fans absolutely showed out in Game 1…Brunson in the 4Q is absolutely bonkers." – Sam Amick

"Does @BenStiller look that jacked in person?" – Chandler Parsons @sam_amick |… pic.twitter.com/IxUTAB5uwL

— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) June 5, 2026

In the final 12 minutes of a postseason contest, Brunson is currently playing above a man synonymous with clutch excellence. While talent is obviously crucial, it takes a certain blend of fearlessness and skill to flourish in the fourth. Those intangibles have to be even stronger when residing in New York.

The three-time All-NBA selection is the composed cornerstone the Big Apple demands. Brunson could face his share of offensive struggles against the 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama and 6-foot-6 Stephon Castle, both of whom are defensive menaces, but when the third-quarter buzzer sounds, this man begins to relax.

The 29-year-old scored a game-high 30 points on 12-of-31 shooting on Wednesday night. Those stats do not tell the full story of his impact, however. When Brunson erupts late, it has a contagious effect. There is only one  Michael Jordan. But there is also only one Jalen Brunson.

Game 2 is on Friday night at approximately 8:30 p.m. ET.

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