LAS VEGAS — A chorus of “M-V-P” echoed through T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night as Jalen Brunson erupted for 40 points, guiding the New York Knicks to a 132-120 victory over the Orlando Magic and into the NBA Cup championship game.
The guard hit 16 of 27 shots in his first 40-point performance of the season, helping New York claim its ninth win in the past 10 contests. “When you have an MVP candidate like Jalen Brunson, he makes the game easier for everybody,” first-year head coach Mike Brown said postgame. “That’s what MVPs are supposed to do, and he did it tonight.”
Saturday’s meeting was the clubs’ fourth in fewer than two months. Orlando captured the first two matchups before New York evened the season series last week at Madison Square Garden. The Magic wiped out a double-digit deficit in the third quarter, but Brunson steadied the Knicks by setting up OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson and Mikal Bridges for key baskets while adding 15 points after halftime.
Beyond the $500,000 prize each player would receive for winning the in-season tournament, the game carried potential playoff implications should the teams clash again in the spring. “It’s beautiful to see him do what he’s capable of on a national stage,” Brown said, lobbying for Brunson to enter the league’s early MVP discussion headlined by Nikola Jokic and reigning winner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Through 25 games, Brunson is averaging 28.3 points and 6.3 assists. His highest finish in MVP voting was fifth in 2023-24; he placed 10th last season. At 6-foot-2, he would join Allan Iverson, Stephen Curry and Steve Nash as the only players that height to capture the award since media balloting began in 1980.
The Knicks sit second in the Eastern Conference behind the 20-5 Detroit Pistons, whom they will face in early January. Brown insisted Brunson deserves equal billing with other frontrunners. “When you’re first or second in your conference and putting up his numbers, his name has to be one of the first mentioned,” the coach said.
Brunson brushed aside the MVP talk. “I don’t read into that stuff,” he noted. “It just shows the trust Coach has in me. Our relationship keeps growing, and I’m thankful for it.”
Source: ESPN
