Brunson Burns The Pistons and Clippers Force Game 7

The expectations heading into the playoffs were that this could be one of the most tightly contested first rounds in NBA history. Instead, 5 of the eight series have ended in 4 or 5 games, which is considered a sweep or gentleman sweep in NBA terms. However, on Thursday night, we were treated to two of the most competitive series of the first round. The Knicks stormed into Detroit determined to put away a pesky Pistons squad while the Clippers were looking to stay alive and force Game 7. In this article, we will discuss Jalen Brunson, who delivered a clutch performance for the Knicks, and a balanced Clippers attack kept the Nuggets at bay.

New York Knicks 116-Detroit Pistons 113

This game was a rollercoaster, with the Knicks storming out the gate and grabbing 37-23 points to signal their intent to end this series. However, after leading by as many as 15 in the second quarter, the Knicks lost their rhythm, and by halftime, the Pistons had a two-point lead. In the second half, New York went on multiple runs and led by 10 or more points in the third and early in the fourth quarter. However, Detroit would always respond, and with 6 minutes to go, they tied the game at 105-105. The Pistons seemed in control after Tim Hardaway drained a pullup jump shot to take a 112-105 lead.

However, Jalen Brunson validated his award as the Clutch player by delivering for the Knicks by scoring 8 points in an 11-1 run to snatch the heart of the Pistons. With the score tied at 113 with a little over five seconds remaining, Brunson dropped a nasty crossover on Ausar Thompson and nailed a three-pointer from the top of the arc to give the Knicks the lead. It was a dagger shot, and in the final possession, Malik Beasley dropped a pass out of bounds in what could have been a potential game-tying three-pointer. Brunson finished with 40 points, four rebounds, and seven assists as the Knicks advanced to the second round for the third consecutive season to face the Boston Celtics. On the other hand, the Pistons can be proud of their season having won 44 games and previously winning just 14 games the previous year. The Pistons made the playoffs for the first time in 6 years, and they pushed the Knicks with the final four games of this series decided by three points or less. The future is looking bright in Detroit.

Clippers 111-Nuggets 105

The Clippers needed a big response from the star players, and they answered the call at home. The pressure was on James Harden, who entered this series with a reputation for underperforming, and he delivered a dud in Game 5 by scoring 11 points on 3-of-9 shooting with eight rebounds, five assists, and four turnovers. Harden was far more aggressive in this matchup by scoring 28 points and eight assists including a 3-pointer that put the game nearly out of reach. Powell finished the game with 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting and kept the Clippers ahead when the Nuggets threatened a comeback after being down 15 points in the fourth quarter. Kawhi Leonard finished with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, and the difference in the game was a 12-0 Clippers run that pushed them into a double-digit lead. Leonard made history in the contest by passing NBA legend Julius Erving to become 25th on the all-time career playoff points list. Kawahi is also within single digits of surpassing Dennis Johnson for 24th.

However, the most jarring performance came from Ivica Zubac, who held three-time MVP to five points, two rebounds, and four assists in the second half. Veteran Nicolas Batum had a big impact on the game when he was on the floor in a series-high 34 minutes, in which the Clippers outscored the Nuggets by 11 points. Jamal Murray scored 21 points in the loss and acknowledged that the Clippers were the more aggressive team. He stated, “They were quicker to the punch,” Murray said. “They played with a lot more desperation because their backs were against the wall, and you’ve got to give them credit. The whole game, they brought it.” The Clippers win sets up a must-see Game 7 on Saturday Night in Mile High City.