Jalen Brunson delivers ‘big-time game’ as Knicks regain control of series over Hawks

Jalen Brunson struggled over the first four games of the Knicks’ first round series with the Hawks.

>The All-Star continued to get things done as a playmaker for New York’s offense, but he was missing some open looks he’s usually able to knock down with ease.

>Heading into Thursday night’s crucial Game 5 matchup at the Garden, Brunson was shooting just 37 percent from the field since the first quarter of Game 1.

>But the captain stepped up and delivered when the Knicks needed a win the most.

>Brunson led all scorers with 39 points on an efficient 15-of-23 shooting from the field to help the Knicks regain control of the series with a massive Game 5 win.

>It was the captain’s first 30-point showing this postseason and the 25th in his playoff career, which puts him in a tie with OKC's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the league-high.

>He also dished a game-high eight assists and turned the ball over just one time.

>"Jalen was phenomenal," Mike Brown said. "Just a big-time game from a big-time player."

>Of Brunson’s 39 points, 22 of them came in the second-half.

>He made just two buckets coming out of halftime, then the rest of them came in the fourth quarter as he put any doubts about this one to rest for good.

>Brunson knocked down all five shots he took in that final frame takeover, and he went on a stretch where he scored 12 consecutive Knicks points at one point.

>"The ball went in, but I was just happy that we were able to keep the lead and play well with it," he said. "They are a team that is capable of going on runs, as we know from earlier in the series, so I like how we played to keep the lead."

>Brunson finding his scoring touch while Karl-Anthony Towns continues dominating certainly bodes well for the Knicks as they look to close this series out in Game 6.