Brunson’s Finals cold spell leaves Knicks room to surge

The Knicks are two wins from the championship and the stakes on the NBA’s biggest stage have not fazed them. New York took Game 1, 105-95, and followed with a 105-104 win in Game 2, extending its Finals lead to 2-0 over the Spurs. Yet the storyline beneath the victories is that Jalen Brunson has not reached the sharpness that defines his best performances, a factor that matters now because this series is still searching for offensive consistency.

In the first two games, Brunson’s volume and responsibility have stayed the same, even as his efficiency has not. Through the opening stretch of the Finals, he has shot 19-for-56 from the field (about 34 percent) and 4-for-17 from 3-point range, numbers that sit well below the level Knicks fans associate with him when he is at full control. His overall production has helped keep the Knicks ahead, but it has also highlighted a ceiling this team has not yet cleared.

Game 1 showed how the Knicks can survive when Brunson is not at his best, even if it requires a late push. ’s recap credited him with a game-high 30 points and specifically pointed to a 13-point fourth quarter that helped New York take and keep control after being tied late. Brunson finished 12-for-31 shooting and still found the scoring touch when the Spurs made the game tight, and he even returned after leg and ankle tweaks that briefly sent him off the floor.

Game 2 was the same matchup, different problem. New York erased a 12-point deficit in the first half and won a one-possession game that tightened late once San Antonio’s pressure shifted. The key detail from NBA’s own film breakdown was that the Spurs have been leaning heavily on attention toward Brunson. That attention has forced him into harder looks and has contributed to his poor stretch, including it being noted as his lowest free-throw rate and field-goal percentage of any 15 playoff series he has played.

The Knicks did not collapse when Brunson’s shots were not falling. NBA’s film study argued that San Antonio’s focus on Brunson has created openings for teammates, and the box-score storyline from Game 2 supports the point. Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Brunson and Mikal Bridges each scored 20 for New York. San Antonio’s late threat ended with Victor Wembanyama missing a jumper as the Knicks held on for the 2-0 lead.

This is the part that will shape how the Knicks manage the rest of the series. Brunson is already doing enough to keep the Knicks from spiraling offensively, but his current form suggests New York has not cashed in on the full advantage of carrying him as a primary decision-maker. If his shot quality improves, the Knicks’ offense should become less strained, and the Spurs will have to decide whether to keep the defensive attention on him or gamble that everyone else can handle the opportunities that come with it.

Next comes Game 3 in New York, with the Knicks returning home holding a lead that is close to historic, and with a clear question hanging over the series. Can Brunson find the rhythm that keeps defenses from packing in, while the Knicks keep taking advantage of the spacing and passing lanes that show up when opponents commit resources to stopping him? Or will San Antonio’s strategy continue to function, making New York’s path to the title rely on a broader mix of scoring rather than Brunson’s usual efficiency?