Jalen Brunson Gets Message From Knicks Teammate Following Game 2 Win

The New York Knicks are now two wins away from their first NBA Finals appearance in decades, and it wouldn't have been possible without stars like Jalen Brunson. Similar to many others, even Brunson's teammates understand the role he has played in the Knicks' success.

The Cleveland Cavaliers continued their struggles at Madison Square Garden with a 109-93 loss. While Brunson finished the game with 19 points, it was his playmaking that won hearts, including those of his teammates. Miles McBride, who scored five points and recorded four rebounds off the bench, addressed Brunson's importance to the roster.

"He's about winning and we've known that from the jump," McBride said of his teammate in the press conference. Deuce then pointed out how Brunson is a team player rather than someone focused on his personal stats. The 25-year-old added, "He's one of the best scorers in the league but the fact that he's willing to be selfless and give up the ball when guys are double-teaming him proves he just wants to win."

Brunson was constantly defended aggressively by the Cavaliers. It is quite common for the 3-time NBA All-Star to be heavily guarded, especially in the playoffs. Instead of forcing shots, Brunson trusted his teammates by consistently passing to them. This led to him handing out 14 assists throughout the game, becoming the first Knicks player to record that many assists in the postseason in 28 years.

Charlie Ward recorded 14 assists against the Miami Heat during the first round of the 1998 NBA Eastern Conference playoffs. Fans waited nearly three decades for another New York player to record 14 assists in a playoff game. Courtesy of Brunson's memorable night, his teammates thrived.

Josh Hart led the Knicks in scoring with 26 points. Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns added 19 and 18 points respectively, while OG Anunoby recorded 14 points. Brunson now has 20 total assists after Game 2, making him the leading assist provider in the entire series.

The veteran point guard averaged 6.8 assists per game this season, the 16th-best mark in the NBA. As the Knicks now head to Cleveland for Game 3, everyone will expect Brunson to continue his passing spree before possibly leading the team into the NBA Finals.

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This story was originally published May 22, 2026 at 9:53 AM.