BOSTON — There’s always a defender tasked with stopping Jalen Brunson. It rarely goes as planned.
In the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers threw their length at him, deploying Kelly Oubre Jr. and Nicolas Batum in hopes of smothering the Knicks’ All-Star guard. It worked — for a moment. Brunson opened the series shooting 16-of-55 from the field. Then came the avalanche: 39, 47, 40 and 41 points on 47 percent shooting or better across four straight wins to send the Sixers home in six.
The Indiana Pacers tried next. They leaned on Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard to contain him in Round 2. But it was injury — not defense — that slowed him down. Even while hampered, Brunson averaged nearly 30 points per game in a hard-fought series loss.
The most recent example? Detroit’s defensive standout Ausar Thompson. A second-year wing billed as one of the league’s top stoppers, Thompson drew the assignment in Round 1. Brunson averaged 31.5 points in the series — and with the season on the line, broke Thompson’s ankles and buried a game-winning three to send the Knicks through.
And now? His biggest test yet.
The reigning champion Celtics built their backcourt around defense. Jrue Holiday and Derrick White are not Thompson, Nesmith, or Oubre. They’re perennial All-Defensive candidates, high-IQ disruptors with the length and anticipation to bother even elite scorers.
They’re the next wall standing in front of the player the Knicks’ playoff hopes revolve around.
“I think the one thing that’ll be very similar [between Thompson and White/Holiday] is that they’re going to compete and be tough, play as hard as they can. I think all of them are different when it comes to defenders,” Brunson said after morning shootaround at TD Garden ahead of Game 1 tipoff on Monday.
The Knicks are doing their best to block out the 0-4 regular-season sweep. They believe the playoffs reset everything. And Brunson, specifically, gave them reason to believe. He averaged 26.8 points on 53% shooting from the field and 43% from deep in those four matchups. The year before? Nearly 28 points per game against the Celtics on equally efficient shooting splits.
“He’s mastered the fundamentals. He’s had size on him, He’s had small quick guys. He’s had everybody,” said head coach Tom Thibodeau. “He’s dealt with the double teams. He knows how to create spaces, he’s not gonna fight the double teams, he’s gonna make the right play, and then he’s gonna keep moving. He knows how to get open when he’s handling the ball and he plays well off the ball as well.”
Still, Boston has dominated the matchup. The Knicks are 1-8 in their last nine games against the Celtics. Holiday and White have played central roles in tilting those results.
“I think defensively they’re terrific. The length, the ability to challenge shots, guard multiple positions, play very well off each other,” Thibodeau continued. “And then it’s what they turn their defense into, so we have to be aware, we have to take care of the ball. Both are great kick-ahead guys, so if you turn it over, they’re gonna make you pay.”
Boston won’t let Brunson beat them on his own. That’s been true all season. The challenge for New York’s captain is not just creating shots for himself — it’s toggling between hunting offense and generating looks for others. He struck that balance at times in the Detroit series. Other times, the ball stuck.
And if it sticks against Boston, the Celtics will pounce.
“You don’t want to predetermine. I think for the most part just reading the game and making sure I’m making the right play at the right time,” said Brunson. “Noticing that there are going to be a lot of eyes and so to give up the ball and make plays for others could be the play most of the time, but still being aggressive to get in the paint and make plays for myself and others I think is the key just for us to be at our best.”
Thibodeau said Brunson’s greatness comes in pressure moments. He doesn’t rise to match his opponents. He raises his standard when it matters most.
“We’re just out there competing. I don’t think [elite defenders] bring any type of level,” Brunson said on Monday. “Just what’s it going to take to win? So just doing my best to give my team the best opportunity to win. There’s no extra level to it. Just what can you do to be successful to help your team win.”
The Celtics are the league’s measuring stick. White and Holiday were brought in for this exact reason: to stifle players like Brunson in games like this. And how the Knicks star responds could determine whether this series goes six hard rounds — or none at all.
“Just from my point of view, I’ll have to be ready and be sharp,” Brunson said ahead of tipoff on Monday. “It’s a tough task at hand, and I’ve just got to be ready for it.”
