The New York Knicks hold a 3-1 lead over the San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 NBA Finals after Jalen Brunson scored 36 points on 12-of-25 shooting in a 29-point comeback victory in Game 4 on June 10.
Brunson has averaged 10.3 points in the fourth quarter across the series, the highest mark in the Finals since the 1996-97 season. He has posted 105 fourth-quarter points on 59 percent shooting in the playoffs overall. He added seven assists, five rebounds and three steals in Game 4 with just three turnovers, improving on his 30-point Game 1 output that included 13 fourth-quarter points alongside OG Anunoby.
Brunson has repeatedly attacked mismatches created by Victor Wembanyama on ball screens, turning the 7-foot-4 defender into a liability in space and generating 34 points on 23 such possessions in Game 4 alone at a 1.48 points-per-chance rate. His willingness to drive into the teeth of the defense and draw help has opened driving lanes for teammates and forced the Spurs into uncomfortable rotations late in games.
This run marks the Knicks' first Finals appearance since 1999. Brunson earned Eastern Conference Finals MVP honors after averaging 25.5 points and 7.8 assists against Cleveland. The front office's 2022 free-agent addition has evolved from a complementary piece into the clear engine of a roster built around physical wings and interior scoring.
Game 5 tips off Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC, with the Knicks one win from their first title in 53 years and the Spurs facing elimination at home.
Brunson's late-series surge shows how a 6-foot-2 guard can dictate terms against elite length when timing and decision-making align.
New York Knicks 
