On Saturday night in New York, Jalen Brunson reinforced his status as the NBA‘s 2025 Clutch Player of the Year by leading the Knicks’ 18-point rally against the Houston Rockets. Though he was scoreless through much of the first half, Brunson dominated the final six minutes of the fourth quarter, delivering critical shots that turned the tide in New York’s favor.
Before Brunson returned to the court with 6:27 remaining, the Knicks had already trimmed Houston’s advantage during his absence. Brunson came in shooting a perfect 4-for-4 and promptly nailed a mid-range jumper with just under 30 seconds left to give the Knicks the lead. This clutch shot marked his 14th game-tying or go-ahead basket since joining New York, ranking him second in the NBA in this category behind only DeMar DeRozan, according to ESPN.
Brunson Reflects on Shift in Mindset Driving Fourth-Quarter Dominance
After the win, Brunson emphasized that his late-game success wasn’t a product of luck but a conscious change in approach during the contest. He described adjusting his mindset as the key factor in producing aggressive, decisive plays.
“I didn’t like how I was playing and saw that I had to switch it, that simple. It has nothing to do with shooting. It’s the mentality of trying to get downhill and making plays. And not being hesitant and not being passive. If there are mistakes, they’re aggressive mistakes. They want you to be on your heels. And I feel like in the first few quarters I was,”
the Knicks’ captain told the media on Saturday.
Coach Brown Calls for Improvement Despite Narrow Victory Over Rockets
Head coach Mike Brown addressed concerns about the Knicks’ tendency to struggle against lesser opponents and their habit of needing late surges to win. Brown compared this team with previous squads he coached, such as the Golden State Warriors teams featuring Kevin Durant, noting that while those teams had a unique “switch-flipping” ability, New York’s current group is different and requires a sharper focus on steady progress.
“We found a way. But we have to be better,”
Brown stated after the game.
With a back-to-back game set against Chicago on Sunday, Brown and his players are intent on refining their process as they approach the final 24 games of the regular season. The team’s future success will depend on strengthening their consistency and executing near-perfect basketball as they aim to elevate their performance beyond last night’s uneasy win.
JALEN BRUNSON IN THE CLUTCH 💰
Brunson now has 14 game-tying or go-ahead FG in final 30 seconds of 4th quarter/OT since joining Knicks in 2022-23, second most in NBA in span (DeMar DeRozan – 15) 🔥 pic.twitter.com/7uYzIm9xos
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) February 22, 2026
