Jalen Brunson Dropped 35 Points and the Knicks Just Became the First Team in NBA History to Do This

The New York Knicks are on an absolute tear, and the numbers are getting historic. Jalen Brunson went nuclear in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday night, pouring in a game-high 35 points (27 of them in the first half alone) as New York demolished Philadelphia 137-98. That's now four straight wins for the third seed, and they're about to walk into Game 2 Wednesday night looking to put the 76ers away.

The Knicks Just Did Something No Team Has Ever Done

This isn't just a hot streak. This is historic. The Knicks are the first NBA team ever to win three straight playoff games by at least 25 points apiece. They're also only the second team to end one series and begin another with consecutive victories by at least 30 points. The only other team to pull that off? The 1986 Boston Celtics, who went on to win the championship. New York beat Atlanta 114-98, then routed them 126-97 and 140-89 in Games 4 and 5, before destroying Philly in Game 1. Eleven wins away from an NBA title, and the Knicks know better than to get ahead of themselves. Brunson made that crystal clear.

Brunson Pumps the Brakes on the Hype Train

"Honestly, you've got to take this game with a grain of salt and just kind of move forward," Brunson said after the blowout. "I don't think we're going to see that team that we saw in Game 1 in Game 2. They're going to be ready to go."

He's got a point. The 76ers pulled off the first comeback from a 3-1 deficit in franchise history against Boston just days ago. They won Game 7 against the Celtics 109-100 with barely 48 hours to prep for the Knicks. Paul George acknowledged the emotional whiplash caught them off guard in Game 1, but expect Philadelphia to show up Wednesday with better focus. They held their own against Boston in stretches (even if they got torched by 32 points twice), and George made clear they're not counting themselves out. "It's a game of adjustments," he said. The Knicks, though? They're rolling like nothing we've seen in playoff basketball.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.