Jalen Brunson elevated his status to certified NBA star in Game 3, not just for his numbers, but for the way he was perceived by a passionate Detroit crowd. Amid hostile chants and high-pressure moments, Brunson delivered 30 points and nine assists to lead the Knicks to a crucial 118–116 win and a 2–1 lead in their first-round series.
Jalen Brunson didn’t just show up in Game 3—he officially arrived.
Already considered an All-NBA caliber player, Brunson took yet another leap on Thursday night, not only for his fourth-quarter poise in the New York Knicks’ 118–116 win over the Detroit Pistons, but for how loudly and clearly the basketball world acknowledged his presence.
In the first NBA playoff game in Detroit since 2019, Pistons fans brought the energy—and the fury. The moment Brunson became the center of their collective scorn, you could tell something had shifted. “Fk you Brunson**” echoed throughout Little Caesars Arena, a chant that, ironically, signals a player’s arrival in the highest echelon of NBA stardom.
Crowds don’t waste that kind of venom on just anyone—they save it for the players they know can break their hearts.
The heat stemmed partly from a flagrant 1 foul Brunson received in the first quarter, after he accidentally caught former teammate Tim Hardaway Jr. in the eye on a contested three-point attempt. But the frustration quickly turned personal as the Knicks guard began to take control of the game.
Brunson finished with 30 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds, shooting 9-of-20 from the field. More importantly, he made the right decisions in the clutch and didn’t let the noise—or the chants—rattle him.
After the game, Brunson showed nothing but class in response to the rowdy Detroit faithful.
“I give them a lot of credit,” he told reporters, via SNY Knicks Videos. “They made an environment special for their home team. We just found a way to win the game, but that was definitely a lot.”
It was a vintage playoff atmosphere, and Brunson proved he could not only handle it—but thrive in it. Whether stepping into his role as the Knicks’ floor general or embracing the “villain” energy from opposing fans, he did what stars do: lead his team to victory when the lights are brightest.
With Game 4 looming on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, Brunson and the Knicks will look to build on this momentum—and perhaps quiet the crowd just a little more.