After two consecutive dud performances from Jalen Brunson — and after he struggled for most of Monday’s game against the Hawks — the point guard emerged as he often does:
Brunson scored 17 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter of a 108-105 victory over the Hawks, including the biggest bucket of the evening — a go-ahead pull-up jumper with 30 seconds remaining.
It occurred on an isolation play against Atlanta’s CJ McCollum, with Brunson flexing his most valuable asset come playoff time — the ability to create for himself in pressurized situations off the dribble. It was also a reminder that the Knicks, despite their flaws, have arguably the NBA’s best performer in crunch time.
Still, the victory was in doubt until even after the final buzzer — after McCollum’s Hail Mary heave banked in as the potential tying bucket. Instead, the refs ruled it was attempted after the buzzer, and the Knicks left here as victors.
Until that fourth quarter, Brunson was misfiring. He shot just 11-for-26 for the evening, hounded by Atlanta’s double-teams and All-Defense selection Dyson Daniels.
But Brunson got loose and didn’t stop, transforming Monday into New York’s best victory in more than a month.
After five straight losses against teams with winning records — and with the playoffs around the corner — Mike Brown deployed his likely playoff rotation with heavy minutes for his two top performers — Brunson (39 minutes) and OG Anunoby (37).
With Charles Oakley watching from the third row, the Knicks were stuck in the mud until about midway through the third quarter, when they used a 20-8 run to recover from a double-digit deficit.
Both teams were motivated. It carried the look and feel of an important NBA game in April, a rarity. There were playoff implications.
The scorching-hot Hawks (45-34), winners of 18 of their past 20 games before Monday, are trying to clinch a playoff spot for the first time in three years. They’re trying to secure the fifth seed.
The Knicks (51-28) clinched a postseason spot but are still in the mix for seeds 2-4. The victory Monday meant greater emphasis on Thursday’s game at the Garden against the Celtics, with the No. 2 seed still very much in play. Brown used a nine-man rotation with Miles McBride, Mitchell Robinson, Landry Shamet and Jordan Clarkson coming off the bench.
It meant Jose Alvarado picked up his first healthy DNP.
“I’m good. I’m chilling,” Alvarado, who was acquired at the trade deadline by Leon Rose, said. “I’m ready for my moment. I’m ready for my name to get called, whenever it is. … So just whenever it’s Jose’s time, whenever that time is, I’m ready.”
Beyond the seeding implications, the Knicks need to build momentum heading into a postseason with the highest expectations since at least Jeff Van Gundy roamed the sideline.
As owner James Dolan made pretty clear in January, it’s Finals or bust.
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“We put the antennas up for the rest of the league as well,” Karl-Anthony Towns said. “They know what we can do.”
The center added that he’s embracing the expectations.
“I’ve been dealing with that since before I stepped into the league,” said Towns, the former No. 1 overall draft pick. “Honestly, it’s really the same thing. It’s been the story of my career. Dealing with expectations that are lofty. On top of that, the expectations I have for myself are even higher than what people give me. So I have a lot of work to do. But I’ve been used to it. So it’s a blessing to have pressure.”
Hawks-Knicks is a potential first-round series but would require some movement in the standings. After the final buzzer, the Knicks remained in fourth with either Toronto or Philadelphia as their most likely playoff matchup.
The Hawks were fifth and most likely headed into a series with the Cavaliers.
And if the Knicks can close the season strong against four straight playoff-bound opponents — including Monday against the Hawks — they can carry it into the first round.
Plus, they have Brunson as their closer. Monday was an important reminder.
