Reggie Miller, a Hall of Famer whose most notable NBA accomplishment was torching the New York Knicks in the final eight seconds of a famous fourth quarter, gave the Knicks some praise for their closing superstar.
Miller, on TNT's playoff broadcast, called Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson the "best closer in the game."
He's right, based at least on this one historic Brunson stat.
There's only been 3 players to score 75+ 4th-quarter points through their first 7 games of a postseason run in the play-by-play era (1997-98).
— NBA (@NBA) May 6, 2025
Jalen Brunson, 2025
Steph Curry, 2023
Kobe Bryant, 2008 https://t.co/dVUsqpJ72z pic.twitter.com/MTAEEzfxXs
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Any time you can join an NBA list that previously only included Kobe Bryant and Stephen Curry, that's pretty legendary.
Brunson has been heroic throughout these playoffs. To average more than 10 points per fourth quarter is insane, especially when you consider that Brunson will usually have at least a couple assists in those stretches, too.
Obviously, the Celtics never wanted to blow a 20-point lead.
But the costliest part was that it opened the door for Brunson. And when that guy gets an open door in the fourth quarter, he barges in, shoves out the occupants of the room and then slams the door shut in their face.
Boston has to keep its big leads to win this series comfortably. Otherwise, Brunson might just mess things up again for the Celtics.
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