“Was spectacular”- Stephen A. Smith reacts to Jalen Brunson’s terrific performance against the Detroit Pistons

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Apr 28, 2025, 19:20 IST

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Jalen Brunson's resilient performance, overcoming an injury to score 15 crucial points in the fourth quarter, fueled the New York Knicks' narrow victory over the Detroit Pistons. Stephen A. Smith lauded Brunson's impact, warning other NBA teams to take notice. Coach Tom Thibodeau praised the team's collective effort and Brunson's comeback, emphasizing the difficulty of playoff wins.

“Was spectacular”- Stephen A. Smith reacts to Jalen Brunson’s terrific performance against the Detroit Pistons, Image via- Getty Images and Instagram

He came, he conquered, he left-—this particular saying goes extremely well for Jalen Brunson. The New York Knicks’ talented shooting guard not only helped his club attain victory over the Detroit Pistons in a nail-biting face-off but also went on to earn praise from a few prominent faces in the NBA fraternity. During a recent appearance on ABC, ESPN’s NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith not only praised Jalen Brunson but also pointed out that the other NBA clubs should be careful about Brunson’s current version.

Stephen A. Smith believes the NBA should fear the current version of Jalen Brunson

New York Knicks’ star Jalen Brunson’s spectacular comeback has become the talk of the NBA world. As the Knicks defeated the Detroit Pistons, leading their way to the Eastern Conference first-round series, Brunson’s contribution and his killer instincts during the game brought the much-needed momentum for the New York Knicks. Reportedly, Jalen Brunson’s return from rehab during the middle of the game changed the trajectory of the match.
ESPN’s prominent face, Stephen A. Smith, spoke about Brunson’s terrific performance and even sent out a message to all the other NBA teams with respect to the Knicks’ shooting guard. The NBA analyst said-
“Hey, it is what it is. Detroit lost this game, and Big Body Brunson, as you affectionately call it, was spectacular, got injured, came back, and still dropped an extra 15.”

NBA should fear this Jalen Brunson - Stephen A. Smith on Game 4 Knicks def. Pistons 94-93 for 3-1

New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau even reacted to the spellbinding performance by the team and as well as Jalen Brunson’s comeback. During a post-game press conference, he said-
“Playoff wins are tough. It’s hard to get them. We didn’t have much going our way to start the fourth and dug down and found a way to win.”
He further added-
“In the end, a lot of tough plays, guys stepping up, KAT (Towns) hitting the big shots, Jalen (Brunson) big shots, Mikal’s (Bridges) defense, OG’s (Anunoby) defense, Josh’s (Hart) hustle plays, the rebounds we needed everybody, and just find a way to win. And that’s the bottom line.”

Tom Thibodeau on Jalen Brunson returning after injury, Knicks' Game 4 win

Game 4 of the series went on to bring the real action in the stadium, as during the fourth quarter Brunson went on to add 15 points with an injured ankle, whereas Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 27 points, leading the New York Knicks to defeat the Detroit Pistons with an overall score of 94-93, whereas Josh Hart secured 10 rebounds along with 14 points.
Also Read: Detroit Pistons fend off Jalen Brunson’s dominance to edge New York Knicks in NBA playoff Game 2

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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