Heroes and zeros from the Knicks’ 94-90 NBA Finals-clinching Game 5 win over the Spurs on Saturday night in San Antonio.
Hero
Any more questions about Jalen Brunson?
Any more talking heads want to doubt him? All he did was lead the Knicks to their first championship in 53 years with a virtuoso effort.
He scored 45 points on 14-of-27 shooting.
Fifteen of his points came in the fourth quarter to rally the Knicks from yet another double-digit deficit.
Zero
De’Aaron Fox’s gaffe at the end of Game 4 cost the Spurs, and the veteran shot them out of Game 5. His brutal finals ended with a 3-of-15 shooting performance.
Coach Mitch Johnson said he was going to stick with Fox, and that decision paid off — for the Knicks.
Unsung hero
Mitchell Robinson was pressed into extended action due to Karl Anthony-Towns fouling out, and the longest tenured Knick enjoyed his best game of the finals.
He had 10 rebounds and two assists in 20 minutes. His offensive rebound of a Josh Hart missed free throw with the Knicks up three and 22 seconds remaining was a monster play.
Key stat
47.8: Percentage of Knicks points scored by Brunson in the clinching Game 5.
Quote
“It’s everything I dreamed of. This is why I came to New York,”
— Jalen Brunson.
